The Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Kaabong area of northern Uganda. The town of Kaabong is located close to the South Sudanese and Ugandan borders. The Morungole Mountains surround the rugged Savannah, hills, and large valleys that make up the majority of this secluded and lonely national park. The colonial authorities converted Kidepo into a game reserve in 1958 as a result of excessive poaching and vegetation degradation by the Ik and Dodoth in an effort to reduce the population of Tsetse flies at the time. The game reserve was transformed into Kidepo Valley National Park four years later, in 1962.
Narus and Kidepo are the two principal valleys in the park. At the heart of each of these valleys is a river bearing the same name. In the middle of the dry season, the Narus and Kidepo rivers dry up, leaving the animals dependent on the few surviving tiny pools for survival. Kidepo is the park in Uganda with the nicest terrain because of the park’s semi-arid climate, mountains, Savannah grasslands, plains, and wildlife. Due to the large concentration of animals at Kidepo, it is also the ideal national park to visit in order to watch wildlife. Kidepo is one of the top three most beautiful national parks in the world, according to CNN Travel.
Kidepo is the only park in Uganda where visitors can visit to view the African wilderness as it was before modernity, thanks to its incredibly lovely terrain and animals (with 76 species of mammals and 474 species of birds). It is the only park in Uganda with surroundings that can compete with Kenya’s Maasai Maraa or Tanzania’s Serengeti.
Wildlife species like Maneless Zebras, the ostrich, the orx, cheetahs, and wild canines are only found at Kidepo National Park in Uganda. Additionally, there are aardwolves, buffaloes, caracals, jackals, Klipspringers, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, leopards, and lions. The antelope species include the eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, Uganda kob, and oribi, as well as the bohor reedbuck, bush buck, bush duskier, and defassa water buck. Why does Kidepo National Park have so few people if it is such a pure wilderness with wonderful terrain and animals? One factor, as previously indicated, is the park’s remoteness, which necessitates visitors who cannot afford a chartered flight from Entebbe or Kampala to drive for many hours to get there.
Due to its isolation, Kidepo is rarely visited by Ugandans in general. They are more familiar with the national parks of Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls, which they enthusiastically suggest to their international friends who are interested in going on safari. The global perception of the park was also impacted by the Kony insurrection between the 1980s and the late 1990s. Frequently after invading and killing people in the communities of northern Uganda, the Kony rebels would cross the park.
Many foreign embassies labeled the park hazardous for visitors, deterring many potential visitors. The park’s deplorable neglect by Uganda’s previous and present administrations is another factor. The Karamoja region, where Kidepo is situated, rarely appoints locals to important government jobs. The park’s access roads weren’t renovated to tarmac for many years. Few high-quality hotels and lodges that welcomed guests interested in a safari were available near the park.
The Kidepo National Park has often not been well advertised by the present and previous governments, which is a final but significant explanation for the decrease in safari tourists. While other national parks and tourist destinations in Uganda also struggle with the issue of poor marketing, it is particularly pronounced in Kidepo.
Tourism and wildlife are extensively promoted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Despite being a small nation, Uganda has a lot to offer in terms of variety. However, this is not constantly and adequately communicated to the outside world. Many detractors of Uganda’s tourist sector accuse the government of selecting managers for the sector who lack a genuine enthusiasm for wildlife and travel.
Places To Visit While on A Safari in Kidepo National Park
Apoka Tourism Centre: This Center was thoughtfully constructed with the magnificent Narus Valley in mind. It serves as the center of the park’s activities. The majority of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s (UWA) employees are located here. There are a few lodges being built nearby, some of which are owned by UWA. All of the park’s armed rangers and guides are stationed here and ready to accompany guests on game drives and nature hikes to the park’s farthest reaches.
The craft stores sell books, sodas, alcoholic beverages, drinking water, and other mementos. Those who want to reserve cooking gear for a camping trip can do so from this page. For those without suitable safari vehicles, there are even tour vans available for hiring. During the dry season, visitors can easily see animals as they travel to the Narus valley and dam for water from the Apoka Tourism Center.
The Narus Valley: One of the most well-known wildlife gathering places in Africa is the Narus valley. The valley is made up of gently rolling savannah grassland and is surrounded by steep terrain. Down in the valley is where you may find the Narus River. The only remaining sources of drinking water for the animals are the man-made Narus dam and small, muddy ponds during the hottest time of the year when this river dries up. Buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, leopards, lions, oribris, and reedbucks are just a few of the wild animals that can be seen in the Narus valley.
Kidepo Valley: One of the best spots in the park to see wildlife is the Kidepo valley. The water supplies here, in contrast to the Narus valley, are extremely sparse throughout the dry season. The majority of the river Kidepo dries up and exits the valley via a lengthy white stand route. Ostriches are among the many bird species that reside here, making it worthwhile for birders to pay a visit.
Kanangorok Hot Springs: Along the border with South Sudan, these hot springs are situated past the Kidepo valley and river. It’s wonderful to see the mountain ranges from the hot springs.
Morungule Mountains: One of the boundaries of the park is formed by these 2,750-meter-tall mountains. On top of these Mountains reside the Ik people. A park ranger can assist visitors who want to explore the area around the mountains on foot.
Namamukweny Valley: The game park’s northwestern region contains the Namamukweny Valley. In the Napore dialect, the name “Namamukweny” refers to a desolate area with few creatures, including birds. This is not at all the case with regard to birds. In this remote valley, several species including the Abyssinian Roller, Common Bulbul, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Green Wood Hoopoe, and White-crested Turaco flourish.
Lomej Hills: These hills are close to the park’s administrative building. The highlands are great for observing wildlife like the mountain reedbuck and watching birds.
Lonyili Mountain: Small primates like the Colobus Monkey, which thrives in the mountain’s montane forests, are abundant on this mountain. The mountain is located near the South Sudanese and Ugandan borders in the Kitgum District of Uganda. Unfortunately, the roads leading up the mountain are not very well constructed. Before hiking the mountains, visitors must obtain special authorization and instructions.
Things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the top three national parks in Africa, according to CNN Travel. Mountains, hills, and semi-arid terrain make the park ideal for photography. Kidepo receives less than ten visitors each day, leaving many areas of the park largely virgin, undisturbed, and unspoiled. Fewer parks in Africa than Kidepo give you the impression of being alone yourself in the African wilderness. Some of the activities that one can participate include the following:
Game drives: They allow visitors to identify the majority of the park’s animals. This is primarily due to the enormous number of mammals and birds that congregate in the park’s vast valleys for feeding. The majority of the minor roads leading to the distant areas are difficult to travel on during the wet season, even though the main park roads are made of sturdy murram and are open all year. Most roads require a stable four-wheel drive safari vehicle for travel. Visitors are always escorted on wildlife drives by an armed ranger from UWA to protect everyone’s safety.
Nature Walks and Hikes: Under the direction of an experienced park ranger, these treks and hikes can be done on foot. One of the most popular things to do in the park is to hike up the Morungole Mountains. Some tourists enjoy strolling to the dream lodge that infamous Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin began but never finished.
Birdwatching: The number of bird species present in the park is not fully known because some areas are uninhabited and infrequently visited. The Egyptian Vulture, Pygmy Falcon, and Verreaux’s Eagle are a few of the resident birds of prey in Kidepo Valley National Park that are well-known for their presence. Only Kidepo and the Karamoja region are home to these birds. The most noticeable and largest bird in Kidepo is the ostrich. Only at Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda can one see this enormous bird. The country’s various wildlife reserves, including those around Entebbe, contain the others. The Uganda Wildlife Authority gathers bushes’ eggs and artificially hatches them to enhance the number of these animals in the park.
Visiting the Karamojong: The Karamojong are pastoral nomads who inhabit parts of north-eastern Uganda, notably the vicinity of Kidepo National Park. Their lifestyles revolve around their animals, and the Karamojong are related to the Maasai of Kenya. The Karamojong consider themselves the rightful owners of all cattle on earth. They think that at some point in the past, any cattle that were not their own were stolen from them. This mindset causes the Karamojong to raid other tribes for cattle without feeling guilty since they believe they are reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. When they acquired guns during the years of unrest in Uganda between the 1970s and 1980s, their raids became bloodier.
Recently, the authorities disarmed them, which decreased the frequency of cattle raids. Because the Karamojong are one of the few tribes in Uganda that continue to live as they did thousands of years ago, visiting them is an extremely intriguing cultural experience. The Karamojong is a fantastic place to see life as it was for the majority of African tribes roughly a century ago.
Visiting the Ik People: The Morungole Mountains’ summit is home to the lonely Ik people. The Ik are thought to have originated in Ethiopia before settling around Kidepo. Before the Karamojong arrived, the Ik inhabited the Kidepo region for a considerable amount of time. They were compelled to flee to the mountain summits to protect themselves due to ongoing battles with the Karamojong and other tribes like the Dodoth. The unique language and culture of the Ik are under threat from contemporary civilization and a declining population. One of the best opportunities to experience Ugandan culture is a cultural tour to the Ik people. One is exposed to their long-standing customs, language, dances, songs, garb, and hunting techniques.
Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park
Compared to other significant parks in Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park offers fewer lodging alternatives. We anticipate that as the number of visitors to the park increases, more people and businesses will invest in lodges, campsites, and hotels. Though guests are always guaranteed a room in the park, it is best to reserve an accommodation before traveling for a safari to prevent any difficulties. Similar to other places, the lodges and hotels are broken down into three categories: budget, mid-range, and luxury. To allow guests to marvel at the magnificent terrain that distinguishes the park, all of the hotels and lodges are thoughtfully positioned within it.
Apoka Safari Lodge: This luxury lodge is situated such that its occupants can see the Narus river from a distance. Large beds, plush carpets, towels, and duvets are included in the rooms’ furnishings, which are constructed from local resources. The room’s walls are covered with local artwork to give guests a sense of being outside. At the back of the lodge, there is a communal living area with a sizable stone bathtub. Solar energy and electricity work together to keep the lights on continuously. Visitors are flown by the lodge’s tiny plane from Entebbe to the local airfield.
Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp: Without compromising quality, Nga’Moru (the location of rocks) provides both high-end and low-cost accommodations (safari tents). The camp also has a great view of the park’s Narus Valley, where animals come to eat and drink water from the Narus River. In the evenings, a campfire is typically lit to encourage socializing and to take in the stunning African night. The camp has parking and laundry facilities.
Apoka Rest Camp: Additionally, the lodge provides both affordable and upscale accommodations. Because the lodge is owned by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, lodging costs are considerably lower here. The camp features 16 self-contained chalets and 14 bandas. The bandas are meant for economical travel and offer few amenities. If you’re staying in a banda, you’ll need to provide your own food and beverages. For visitors staying for extended periods, food can be prepared upon request by park employees. Anyone interested in camping must bring their own tents or rent them from the staff for a fee.
Kidepo Savannah lodge: This resort has tents built close to the park’s Kalokudo gate that are both luxurious and basic. The self-contained, luxurious tents provide stunning views of one of Africa’s last unexplored wildernesses. Visitors on a budget can stay in the basic tents, which can be shared. Outside of their tent or lodge space, visitors may see the stunning hills that form the boundary with South Sudan, the Morungole Mountains, and the Narus valley. Visitors can make arrangements to see the adjacent Ik and Karamojong populations. The bar and restaurant serve food and cold beverages, and laundry services are available whenever needed. The lodge offers car rentals, has a sizable parking lot, and security guards.
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