Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda

An impressive variety of wildlife species survive in Kidepo’s harsh, semi-arid environment. Grassland, bush and forest habitats in the 1442km² park support 86 mammal species and 475 bird species – a number second in Uganda only to Queen Elizabeth National Park’s 604 species. Kidepo is the only Ugandan refuge for cheetah, bat-eared fox, striped hyaena and caracal while eland and zebra only occur in Kidepo and Lake Mburo. Elephant, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, lion, leopard, spotted hyaena and black backed and side-striped jackal are also present.

A distinctive birdlist includes over 100 ‘dry country’ residents of northern Uganda and Kenya including a number that are endemic to the Kidepo region e.g. rose ringed parakeets, clapperton’s francolin and Karamojaapalis. Other highlights include the ostrich, secretary bird, kori bustard, red-throated bee-eaters, the Abyssinian roller and the Abyssinian ground hornbill. Kidepo is also notable for 56 raptor species including the rare lappet-faced vulture, lesser kestrel and Denham’s bustard.

ACCESS TO THE PARK

By Road

A road trip to Kidepo is an exciting adventure with various road conditions so a sound 4WD vehicle is required. The quickest and most popular route from runs via Gulu and Kitgum (571km). If travelling via Kitgum, try to return to Kampala through the vast, undeveloped Karamoja region (661km) passing through PianUpe Wildlife Reserve and close to Mount Elgon National Park.

By Air

Charter and scheduled flights fly to Kidepo air strip from Kajjansi and/or Entebbe International Airport.

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS.

Narus Valley Game Drive

The southerly Narus Valley contains the park’s only permanent water points and wildlife congregates in this area for much of the year. Look for buffalo and elephant in the swamps along the valley floor, giraffe and eland on the drier slopes above and scan the rock outcrops for lions.

KIDEPO VALLEY DRIVE

The dry Kidepo Valley is short on big game but massive on scenery. 30km north of the park’s tourism hub at Apoka, the road crosses the dry, sandy bed of the Kidepo River to enter an expansive plain lined to the east by the Morungule mountain range and to the north by the looming, 2975m-high Jebel Lotuke in South Sudan. Mammals are rare in this area but ostriches and secretary birds are often seen.

NATURE WALKS

Opportunities for guided walks range from short nature walks around Apoka Rest Camp to longer walks through the open grasslands of East Kakine, and a hike along part or all of the 15km Rionomoe Trail which follows the southern side of the Narus valley. The Morungule range, which rises from the plains to the north east of Apoka, can be explored on foot with a ranger guide escort.

BIRD WATCHING

Experienced ranger guides are available at Apoka to help locate and identify birdlife in the park’s various habitats.

COMMUNITY WALKS

Community walks outside the park provide the opportunity to learn about life in the local karamojong manyattas (homesteads) at Kawalakol, Lorukul and Karenga.