Kidepo Valley National Park safari
Kidepo Valley National Park safari
Uganda’s most magnificent park with spectacular landscapes comprised of savanna grasslands, hills, and woodlands, dotted by acacia trees home to unique diverse flora and fauna that offer exceptional wildlife and cultural experiences.
The park is well known as “The True African Wilderness” because of its exceptional scenery natural beauty with unique blue skies, and savanna rangelands that offer good spots for photographic and filming safaris.
Kidepo Valley is located in the Karamoja region in the northeastern part of Uganda covering an area of 1442 Sq. Km covered by open grasslands, scattered acacia trees, rock outcrops, and home to big cats and mammals.
Kidepo Valley National is a stunning isolated, remote, and semi-arid virgin park that offers off-the-beaten-path wildlife encounters.
The parks’ vegetation is comprised of open wood savannah grassland, Miombo woodland, and montane forests; Riparian woodland, rocky kopjes, and swampy vegetation favor the habitation of wild and bird life.
Things to see on Kidepo Valley National Park Safari
Wildlife/Animals
The parks are Africa’s magnificent adventure destination boasting over 89 wild mammals waiting for any safari encounter. Among the mammals include the Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalos, elephants, Burshell’s zebras, Elands, Kobs, Klipspringers, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Oribi, Bohor Reedbucks, wild cats including Lions, Leopards, cheaters, Hyena, striped jackals. Herds of several mammals can be seen wandering across all directions of the park as well some species are endemic to the park in Uganda including Cheetah, Elands, and Kudu, and white-eared kobs which have been sighted crossing from South Sudan.
Birds
Kidepo Valley National Park is a true birding paradise with several colorful bird species which include Silver birds, Yellow-billed Shrikes, Vinaceous Doves, Hoopoes, Nubian Woodpeckers, Mosque Swallows, Starlings, Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Little Weavers, Red-cheeked Cordon-blue swallows, Yellow-rumped Seed eaters, Sand grouses, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, African Mustached and Broad-tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra and Crimson-rumped Waxbill among others.
The Morungole Mountain and Lomej Hills
Mt. Morungole lies in Kidepo NP rising 275m high, crossed by the park’s 2 rivers Kidepo and Narus Rivers. It is an exceptional hiking spot and also the best access point to the IK community on its summit.
The mountain Hikers, Kidepo Valley National Park offer a scenic hiking experience to the Morungole Mountain. Hiking this mountain provides great views of the Karamoja plains.
Lomej Hills straddle just a short distance off Kidepo National Park headquarters and are the best spots for you to explore the diversity of birds and also sight the mountain reedbucks.
The Narus Valley
The Narus Valley is the best place to spot wildlife animals quenching their thirst at the Narus River. It is the most endowed area with wildlife including a large concentration of Buffaloes and elephants. It is an area most explored during the guided game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda.
Kanangorok Hot springs
Kanangorok Hot Springs offers the most impressive views of beautiful mountains like Lomej Hills. The hot springs lie 11kms off from Kidepo River and you navigate through thickets, shrubs, etc to access these natural wonders. They are powerful natural features noted to have a boiling rate of about 50 degrees Celsius. Also, while on your tour, you can enjoy the sight of wildlife, birds like ostriches.
Unique IK & Karamajong cultures
The park is surrounded by community homesteads of the Ik people who live on Mount Murungole and Karamajongs who possess unique culture and traditions. The community visits in the area will take you into a real African lifestyle.
Things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
A safari to Kidepo Valley National Park offers exciting activities ranging from game viewing, walking safaris, sightseeing, and community visits all, of which make a safari a remarkable one.
The beautiful national park though rarely visited has wonderful scenic viewing, game viewing, visit to the hot springs, hiking on Morungole Mountain, bird watching, and community walks while learning the ancient customs and beliefs of the Karamojong people and dancers.
Game Viewing
The park is home to a medley of animal species and has the best game drive trails followed while viewing animals in the Kidepo and Narus valleys as they actively graze and roam around the savanna plains.
Game viewing is done in the open savannah grasslands where big cats are seen hunting as herbivores are browsing. The common animals sightseen include giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, lions, warthogs, and Uganda kobs along with various bird species.
Wildlife is mostly seen in the Narus Valley due to the remnant water pools that survive in the dry season as the source of water in the entire national park drawing a high concentration of wildlife for fresh grass and drinking water.
Night game drives are also done to experience nocturnal animals such as cheetahs and pattas, hyenas, side-stripped Jackals, wild dogs, leopards, aardwolves, and caracals among others. The night game viewing is always accompanied by park rangers who use spotlight torches for clear viewing.
Nature walks
Bush walks are a fantastic way to get closer to nature as you witness the harmony of life in the African bush you gain an insight into the delicate balance of the ecosystem and how plants, and animals support and sustain the intricate web of life.
The nature walks are done on foot with a park ranger. In Kidepo nature walks are done in the Narus Valley, Namamukweny Valley, and Kidepo Plains which lead to the Morungole Mountains which give picturesque views of the countryside as well as interact with the IK people the first dwellers of the Karamoja region.
Guided nature walks a close eye view of buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, Ostriches, beautiful scenery, and landscapes as well as listen to the sweet sounds of nature.
Bird Watching
Kidepo Valley National Park is a birders’ haven with over 465 species recorded including endemic birds, savannah birds, and migratory birds.
Birding safari in Kidepo is done while on game drives, and nature walks as you look out for the common bird species including the ostrich and the Kori bustard, Karamoja Apalis, yellow-rumped seed eater, superb starling, yellow-necked spurfowl Jackson’s hornbill, white billed buffalo, rufous crowned roller. Listen and enjoy the melody and sounds of colorful birds.
Hiking and Scenery Viewing
The scenic hikes are carried out on Lamoj and Morungole mountains just a few kilometers from the Park Headquarters.
The hiking at Lomej Mountain allows you to explore the wilderness and discover nature wonders on foot. The hikes begin at 7:00 am at Apoka Tourism Center with a briefing and later take your next footsteps into the wilderness that offers wonderful sightings along the way.
Cultural encounters
The cultural encounters in Kidepo Valley National Park will immerse you in the vibrant cultures of the Karamojong and IK people living on Mount Morungole.
During the community visits, you will interact with local people and learn about their cultures, lifestyles, and history and visit their locally built Manyattas homesteads. You can take part in local activities such as milking, grazing, and preparing local foods, which provide them with an extensive understanding of traditional local life.
5-Day Kahuzi Biega Congo Gorilla Trekking & Chimp Safari in Rwanda
$ 2500
per personIn conclusion
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the iconic destinations in Uganda for game viewing, photography, and filming safari that offers scenic sightings and unforgettable experiences.
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Low season
Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, may
Peak season
Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Dec
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