Safari activities to do in Kidepo National Park

Safari activities to do in  Kidepo Valley National Park are predominantly wildlife related. In Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park may seem to be the furthest but is a game rich destination with species that are rare or absent in other Uganda National Parks.

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Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Karamojong sub region where the people of this area are stuck in there traditional way of life. The Karamojongs have a life style similar to that of the Masai worriers in Kenya. They are cattle keepers whose life barely depends on the existence of cattle and its products. Even with the influx of modernity, the Karamojongs are stuck to there culture

Hiking the Morungure Mountains is a moment to view the plains of this park at a more elevated point. You need a ranger guide to the led the way.

Birding experience in Kidepo Valley National Park is unmatched with over 463 bird species recorded as residents the park.

Brief Details about Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park sits on about 700 kilometers of land in the North Eastern corner of Uganda. the Park is located within the border of Uganda, Southern Sudan and Kenya. Even though Kidepo Valley National Park is the most isolated park in Uganda, it is a prime game viewing destination in the country.

The climate of Kidepo Valley National Park is mainly semi-arid with mainly one recognized wet season that is normally April to September with light rains experienced, people still survive under these conditions.

The Narus river is one of the main sources of water in Kidepo Valley National Park but during the severe dry season, even this river may dry up. The only possible water source in Kidepo National Park is the Narus Valley where remnants pools and wetlands are situated.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a game rich area hosting animals including lion, cheetahs, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, elephants and others are quicker to spot on the plains of the park.

What Safari Activities To Do In Kidepo Valley National Park

Game Drives in Kidepo Valley National Park

An early morning game drive through the tracks of Kidepo Valley National Park is rewarding. While driving on the tracks within the park, you may come across animals including cheetahs, lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, Zebras, striped hyenas, jackals, bat eared fox, aardwolf, klipspringers, greater and lesser kudus, elands, bush duikers, caracals and others.

Most of the wild animals in this park tend to spend time around the Narus valley which is one of the water source that survive the dry spell. During the game drive, tourists may get the chance to drive in through the three loop circuit in the valley around Apoka. 

On the way using the southern part of Katurum loop, you get the chance to enjoy the Katurum kopje. The Morungule mountain ranges look stunning. The long list of fauna in Kidepo Valley National Park is attributed to the varied vegetation that the park has that is open savannah, dry montane forest, Acacia forest, rock kopje and others

Hike The Morungule Mountain

Hiking the Morungule mountains is a moment you can grab to test your fitness level. This is a guided hike so you need to be in company of a professional ranger guide. The Morungule ranges rises from the plains a few kilometers northeast of Apoka. While hiking the mountains, you enjoy the stunning beauty of the surroundings.

Visit Kidepo Valley

Even though the Kidepo river dries up during the extreme dry seasons, a tour of its plains is refreshing. This season River Kidepo with its 50 meters wide bed of white sand which are covered by Borassus palm trees forest is lovely. Even though fewer animals may be spotted around the River Kidepo especially during the extreme dry seasons, paying a visit to it usually course is exciting.

While exploring the remnants of River Kidepo, you may get to the hot springs that are situated 11 Kilometers at the border of Sudan and Uganda.

Birding In Kidepo Valley National Park

The birding adventure to Kidepo Valley National Park is overwhelmingly fantastic with more than 463 bird species recorded in the park. It is best to start the birding adventure early morning or before the sun gets too hot to distract you or the birds dispersing into far spots of the park.   

While searching for the birds in Kidepo Valley National Park, you may spot birds including ostriches, kori bustards, Abyssinian scimitarbill, yellow billed hornbill, Egyptian vultures, Abyssinian  roller, secretary bird, red throated bee eaters, carmine and others.

Cultural experience around Kidepo Valley National Park

The Karamojongs are the main locals living around the Kidepo Valley National Park. Their main economic activity is cattle keeping an experience that they have engaged in over the years. The Karamojongs live in homesteads called Manyattas from where they communally protect there cattle from rustlers.

During the visit to the Karamojong communities, you may get the chance to participate in milking a cow an experience of a lifetime. You may have the chance to see some of the tools they use including traditional made knives, stools, spears, traditional dressing, headdresses, bow and arrows and much more.

How To Get To Kidepo Valley National Park

From Kampala, there are four routes some of these include

Via Mbale to Soroti to Moroto to Kidepo for about 792 Kilometers

Via Karuma to Lira to Kotido to Kidepo for a distance of about 705 Kilometers

Via Karuma to Gulu to Kitgum to Kidepo for a distance of 571 Kilometers

The roads to Kidepo Valley National Park is quite bumpy and may get messy so having a vehicle in good condition and 4x4 wheel drive is most preferred.    

Flights both scheduled and charters are available from Kajjansi or Entebbe Airport to Kidepo Valley National Park however advance booking is required. You need to hire a transfer vehicle from the airstrip to your lodge in Kidepo National Park.

Which Accommodation To Book For Safari In Kidepo Valley National Park

 Even though accommodations options are limited in Kidepo Valley National Park, some of those available include Apoka Lodge, UWA Cottages,

When Is The Best Time To Do A Safari In Kidepo Valley National Park

The best time to do a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park is when you are ready but the most interesting season is the dry season. Kidepo Valley National Park has semi-arid climate and most of the year the park the North Eastern part of Uganda where the park is dry.

The tracks in the park to use when navigating Kidepo Valley National Park are easier to drive through in the dry season providing better visibility of the parks’ residents including lion, leopards, zebras, elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas and many others.

Most of the wild animals in the park tend to congregate closer to the water sources that is around the Narus valley in the dry season. This may give you an opportunity to enjoy the carnivore drama as they prey on the herbivores that find there way to this part of the park.

Note that the dry season is normally the peak tourism season in Uganda so you may encounter more tourists on the parks during the game drives.

The wet season is not bad timing to do a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park as this season is normally April to September but it is characterized by light rains. Even the animals may tend to find shelter away from the rain so you may not get the chance to see most of these animals.

How Safe Is Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is safe to visit any time since there is peace prevailing in this area. In the past, there used to be cattle rustling but since the Karamojong disarming program started, there has been peace. On ground there are well trained ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority who are on ground to keep law and order in and around the park.

In Kidepo Valley National Park, there are guidelines expected to be followed by tourists on ground to help them enjoy the activities and stay within the park.

When you meet the Karamojongs, try to be nice to them and do not deal in activities that may make you look suspicious especially when it comes to matters concerning cattle. When on community visit in the Karamojong homesteads, you may witness some things they do that may not tally with your everyday life but try to appreciate there life style order not to offend them.

What Is The Cost Of Safari To Kidepo Valley National Park

The cost of Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park is packaged into upscale, midrange and basic. The cost of Park entrance fees is compulsory for every tourists hoping to visit Kidepo Valley National Park no matter which package you choose. At the moment, the cost of Park entrance fees for Kidepo Valley National Park are $40 person per 24 hours from the time of entering the park. This includes security, conservation support and others.

The additional safari costs you may incur while on safari in Kidepo Valley National Park include transport costs, accommodation costs and others.

Is A Safari In Kidepo Valley National Park Worth The Money And Time

The safari in Kidepo Valley National Park, is worth the time and money because this is one of the game rich destinations in the country despite it being isolated. Those wishing to do a safari in a more relaxed environment with not so many vehicles on the same tracks Kidepo Valley National Park is that ideal destination. The wild animals are calm and when taking photos, there are normally not so many distraction that can cause them to change position.

To support the sustainable existence of Uganda National Parks, part of the funds collected as park entrance is used to support this agenda. Community sensitization is still necessary so part of the funds collected are used for this purpose.

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to number of unique animals that are normally not found elsewhere in Uganda. They live freely in this park with nothing to obstruct there movements. By visiting the Karamojong people and purchase some of there crafts, you contribute to there livelihood a move than makes them appreciate the relevancy of sharing the same space with this National Park.

Rules Of A Safari In Kidepo Valley National Park

• No feeding the wild animals because they are wild animals that must look for there own food and not  depend on human provision.
• Dangling your arms and legs out of the windows during Uganda safari is forbidden. You can also be hurt by pricking plants that protrude into the tracks.
• Off track driving is forbidden as you may drive over some small animals and hurt them. This amounts to a penalty. Seek permission from Uganda wildlife authority in case you intend to drive off track.
• Drive according to the speed allowed in the park to avoid animal accidents.
• Littering Uganda National Park is forbidden as this alters the nature of the park where wild animals thrive.
• Wear wilderness friendly colors like tan or khaki to prevent chances of attracting the stinging insects like tsetse flies.
• Provoking or mimicking wild animals is forbidden because you may not know what you are communicating.
• Do not touch wild animals no matter how calm they may seem to be because they are wild animals whose traits can change any time.
• Do not surround wild animals when taking photos during game drives because you may cause them to get agitates and feel ambushed.
• Making noise or driving with loud music in the game park is forbidden as you may distract the wild animals and push them into hiding.
• Do not step out of your vehicle without an escorting ranger guide because you are not sure of where the wild animals are.
• Carry nothing out of the park and leave nothing so as to maintain the natural environment of the National Park.