KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES
The Kidepo Valley National Park is nestled in Uganda’s remote, far northeastern corner in the Karamoja region, on the verge of Uganda’s border with South Sudan.
Kidepo Valley National Park is amidst a pristine savannah landscape. It ranks as one of Africa’s virgin destinations since it is less explored.
This rugged, isolated wilderness of the Kidepo Valley was gazetted into a national park in 1962. The main reason was to reduce the poaching of animals by the people from South Sudan and the indigenous Karamojong, who are permanent residents of this protected park.
The Kidepo Valley National Park landscape extends across 1,442 square kilometres. It has an altitude range from 914 m above sea level on the valley floor to the 2,750 m peak of Mount Morungole, which dominates the horizon.
The park is inhabited by the Karamojong and Ketebo people living in Torit, South Sudan. They are famously known as the people who have survived in the park as farmers and hunters since 1800.
This untouched and preserved wilderness with a backdrop view of the transecting mountain Morungole that beckons you as you approach this small piece of heaven and the Narus and Kidepo rivers, which disappear in the dry season, is the primary source of water for the wildlife in this park.
Graceful and fierce, the leopard prowls through the wilds of Kidepo Valley National Park, a true master of its domain.
Kidepo is an enthralling place of semi-arid savanna, seasonal rivers and beautiful, majestic low mountains, yet it is accessible at any time of the year. The destination has only recently become accessible by both air and road; this is blamed for its years of conflict in varying forms, but those who have witnessed the exceptional wildlife sightings on thrilling game drives can understand that Kidepo Valley National Park is a true gem with a vast abundance of wildlife for wildlife enthusiasts.
Kidepo is home to numerous mammals that move earthward within this wildlife sanctuary, with over 77 mammal species, some of which cannot be found elsewhere in Uganda; hence, the park offers excellent opportunities for game viewing.
Over 20 predators are present, including lions, leopards and spotted hyenas; other animals endemic to the Kidepo valley are the aardwolf, bat-eared fox, cheetah, eland, caracal, and black-backed jackal. Kidepo also has a population of over 650 elephants. Buffalos are estimated to exceed 10,000, with 50 Rothschild giraffes and numerous zebras wandering around the savanna as they feed and the spectacular kudu roaming through the thick bushes.
If the time is right, you may glimpse up close with a white-eared kob commonly found in South Sudan and Ethiopia. Kidepo Valley National Park is blessed with wildlife and a birders’ haven with specific African birds of prey of around 470 species as recorded currently.
East African collection of Clapperton’s francolin and a rose-ringed parakeet is only endemic to this national park; other birds you expect to witness, including vultures, raptors, and the majestic ostrich, can also be encountered in the Kidepo valley.
Kidepo is best visited in the dry season from December to March because, generally, the temperature soars to around 40 degrees around this time of year. Still, you could also arrange your visit in the middle or end of the dry season.
The dry season is the best time to visit this park because, at this time, you have the chance to view the wildlife; Since the park is arid, the animals will then inhabit the reliable water streams and holes, giving you the best
game sightings at this time, you could spot a cheetah hunting its prey on the short grass plains of the park.
Animals are scarce and difficult to spot during the wet season because they will relocate to high grounds, automatically making it difficult.
As I mentioned earlier, the park can only be reached by road and air, and one could embark on a 7-hour drive from Murchison Falls on the sealed road. If you drive from the capital (Kampala), the distance is only 10 hours, approximately 571 km using the Gulu-Kitgum road.
Kidepo is reached by air through a light aircraft that sets off from Entebbe airstrip to an airstrip close to Apoka, the park headquarters; it’s the best option over the circling drama of Murchison Falls and the fastest means as well
