Kidepo Valley National park is the only park in Uganda that stands in the best virgin places with the best wildlife viewer that anyone can never miss out on a Uganda safari, the park has got most of the extinct wildlife species that can only be found in this national park, Kidepo valley national park is known for the most blissful ostrich bird species in the entire country. Kidepo valley national park is located in the Northeastern Uganda in Kaabong district and the park is known as the best third national park in Uganda with a variety not be missed on Uganda safari.
Attractions in Kidepo valley national park.
Wildlife.
Kidepo Valley National Park has got many animal and bird species that attract many tourists to the park, like the park is a home of over 77 mammal species, over 20 species of predator like leopard, lion, spotted hyena, cheetah, the park is also known for the endemic species like black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and among others, to add on that the park has a variety of elephants, Rothschild’s giraffe , zebras, greater and lesser kudu and if you’re lucky you can spot the white-eared kob and among others that makes the park to be most popular safari destination in Uganda.
Bird species.
Kidepo Valley national park has over 480 bird species, not only that the park is famous known as the areas where bird enthusiasts can encounter the majesty of the common ostrich. The other bird species to be spotted in the park includes the Abyssinian roller, Chestnut weaver, Fox kestrel, Golden pipit, Greater, Jackson’s hornbill, Purple grenadier, Pygmy falcon, Rufous chatterer, Northern carmine bee-eater and among others without forgetting the migratory bird species from Europe that goes to the park in the period of November to April.
Narus Valley.
Narus valley is a great attraction in Kidepo Valley National Park this is a rolling, grassland plain enclosed by distant mountains, most of the wildlife in the park congregates here and the area has permanent water sources, the Narus valley harbors a variety of wildlife like lions, buffaloes, giraffes, oribis, reedbucks and many others can be spotted for this area.
Apoka Tourism Center.
Apoka generally in Kidepo Valley National Park is known as the park’s tourism hub, that’s where you find the park guides and rangers, there is also a craft shop with books and souvenirs and variety of drinks can be got from here like sodas, alcohol, beverages and the food can be prepared though on the order.
Kidepo valley and Kanangorok Hot springs.
Kidepo valley and Kanangorok hot springs are major delight attractions in Kidepo valley national park, the park means to pick from below and the valley can be visited by the people coming to gather fallen borassus fruit to make beer, the Kanangorok hot springs is the most attractive place in the park where the tourist can view various wildlife that are present in the area, the serene landscape of the place and the tourists enjoy viewing the mountains beyond the frontier.
Mount Morungule.
Mount Morungule is found in Kidepo valley national park at the southern boundary of the park and rises from the plains a few kilometers northeast of Apoka, Mount Morungule is best explored by the tourists on foot with the park guides or rangers, the place is known as the home to the IK people which is known as the smallest ethnic group in Uganda these people are best visited on a unique culture during Uganda safaris.
Namamukweny Valley.
Namamukweny valley in Kidepo Valley National Park is a great birding destination in the park so the tourists are always attracted to the place to view various bird species in the park like Common Bulbul White-crested Turaco, eastern paradise whydah and many others.
Lomej Hills.
Lomej Hills in Kidepo Valley national park are known as the best viewing points in the park this is the best area where you can spot most of the wildlife in the park.
Lonyili Mountain.
This is the mostly covered by the montane forest and Lonyili Mountain in Kidepo Valley national park it is a big attraction in the park famous for the colobus monkeys the tourists who visit the park do spend the time to the Lonyili Mountain to have the unforgettable memories while spotting the most unique primates in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Game drives.
Game drives this is the best way how the tourists explore the entire in the open 4WD vehicle in the open savannah plains with the well experienced park guides, game drives in the park are done in two sections that is morning and afternoon game drives and this gives the tourists to explore almost wildlife of the park like lions, leopards, reedbucks, giraffes, zebras, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, elands, dik dik, hyenas, elephants and many others, if you feel like spotting the nocturnal animal species then Kidepo valley national park is the right place to be in that is the park offers the night game drives using the spotlight torches that aids the viewing of nocturnal animal species like the hyenas, lions, leopards and among others.
Bird watching.
Kidepo valley national park is a birding paradise with over 480 bird species including the endemic, savannah, migratory bird species and therefore the park is accredited as the best birding safari destination in Uganda and the activity is best done in areas like Apoja rest camp, fringes of Narus valley and Namamukweny valley, bird watching can be amazing in that it can be done with the help of the park experienced park guides and various bird species can be identified like Egyptian vulture, pygmy falcon, black coucal, Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian ground hornbill, golden pipit, ostriches, chestnut weaver, kori bustard, little bee-eater and many others.
Nature walks.
Nature walks gives the tourists the opportunity to explore the park on foot with the experienced park guides and rangers to protect the tourists from the dangerous animal species, mostly the nature walks in the park are done around Apoka camp, Rionomoe trail and among others as the activity offers the tourists get close with various animal species, bird species while enjoying the cool breeze in the park.
Cultural tours.
A safari can never be complete minus encountering or doing the cultural tour, in Kidepo valley national park the tourists interact with the Karamojong people and IK people who leave near the park on the cultural tour the tourists do learn more about the tradition, lifestyle, dressing code, visiting their homes the visitors can grab some items done by the local people through supporting them like arrows, beads, spears, knives and among others and lastly they enjoy their traditional songs and dances.
Entrance fees at Kidepo Valley National Park.
| Category | Foreign Non-Residents | Foreign residents | East African citizens |
| Adult | USD 40 | USD 30 | USD 6 |
| Children | USD 20 | USD 10 | UGX 5000 |
Best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo valley national park can be visited in the dry season that lasts from September and through to March, the vegetation can be sparse, and sighting animals around watering holes is very easy, and July and August are the next best months to visit as the rainy period transits to the dry season.
