Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda, Africa

Basic Facts - Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park measures approximately 1,442km2 and is located at an altitude ranges between 914m and 2,750m above sea level. Kidepo Valley National Park contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife. The local communities around Kidepo Valley National Park include pastoral Karamojong people, similar to the Maasai of Kenya, and the IK, a hunter-gatherer tribe whose survival is threatened. Kidepo Valley National park is located near Karenga in Kaabong District, in the northeastern corner of Uganda. The park is approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi), by road northwest of Moroto, the largest town in the sub-region. It is approximately 520 kilometres (320 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The northwestern boundary of the park runs along the international frontier with Bira, South Sudan and abuts against its Kidepo Game Reserve.

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More About Kidepo Valley National Park

Nestled in the wild frontier region of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is apparently the most isolated national park in Uganda but still stands out to be one of the best virgin places every wildlife viewer can ever visit in Uganda. This virgin national park is undoubtedly among the best wilderness areas in Africa, harboring a couple of extinct species of wildlife that can't be found in any other Ugandan national park. Kidepo is right at the core of a Savannah landscape right next to a few mountainous bodies. The reasons for planning your safari here are endless, something you will definitely see when you set foot on Uganda's soil. Besides the exceptional wildlife safari experience, this national park is another great spot for a cultural trail especially to those who would like to see the Karamojongs, Acholis plus other great tribes. Some of the other exciting tourism activities in the wilderness of this area include nature walks, birding and hiking.

Kidepo national park is a true gem with huge abundance in wildlife. It remains a true rendition of tourism in Uganda but remains unknown to many! Kidepo Valley National Park was gazetted into a national park in the year 1962 and currently hosts over 75 species of mammals and 470 species of birds. All these fall in a prime game viewing location. This national park is situated in Kaabong district in Northeastern Uganda. By estimate, it is about 510 Kilometers by road form Kampala – Uganda’s capital and Moroto is apparently the largest town in the sub region. Being named the 3rd best national park in Africa, this national park is definitely a must visit for any traveler to Uganda. The outstanding lodging / accommodation options of Apoka safari lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Nga'Moru Wilderness camp coupled along with the cool environment, exceptional views of the Savannah grasslands plus so many more attractions, Kidepo Valley National Park was truly gifted by nature.

Climate and weather: Kidepo Valley National Park is a semi arid region with average annual temperatures of 290C. In extreme cases, day temperatures get to 400C. Kidepo Valley National Park receives one season of rains per year April-September. The rain season may seem long in time, but is erratic and the volume low on average 700mm per annum. The soils in large parts of Karamoja region are sandy with low plant nutrients and cannot hold the rainwater for long periods. The combination of climate and types of soils influence the vegetation patterns in the entire Kidepo Valley National Park.

During the rainy season, vegetation is all green, grasslands, shrubs sprout and the wilderness is agog with a visible vibrant wildlife presence. Vegetation stunts and withers at times to sand and bare ground during long periods of drought. The open vegetation cover for the large part of Kidepo Valley National Park is ideal for spotting a wide range of game on safari into Uganda. For more information regarding Kidepo Valley National Park, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.

The national park derives her name from the kidepo valley. In the indigenous community dialect, Kidepo loosely translates “to pick” from under. The Kidepo valley is famous for scenic borassus palm trees; a delicacy of elephants as well as indigenous communities, that are beautifully scattered all through the valley. Possibly the name was coined from the many communities who wander into the valley to pick fallen ripened borassus palm fruits for domestic use during the dry season. In Kidepo valley is seasonal Kidepo river that flows north into South Sudan where Narus River supplements it before pouring into the White Nile. During the rainy season, the valley floods and Kidepo river is a threatening giant that only the stone hearted creature can dare cross.

The vegetation is lush and there is a very vibrant mammal presence in all corners. Wildlife species congregate in the Kidepo valley and there are possibilities of spotting any of the game that reside in the Kidepo National Park. In the dry season, vegetation in Kidepo withers to bare white sand dunes. The blood vessel, Kidepo river slumbers and snores till the next rains come. Most wildlife species desert the Kidepo Valley to Narus Valley searching for resources to survive on. To the adventure travelers on tour into Uganda, this is an ideal time for nature walk safaris in the valley to explore the wilderness, discover and hold the beauty of Uganda wilderness within your hands. This is an ideal time for walking safaris in the valley to explore the wilderness, discover and hold the beauty of Uganda wilderness within your hands.

Narus Valley: Narus in the local Karimojong dialect means muddy or soggy ground. Karamoja is a semi arid region with high temperatures, low rainfall and semi arid vegetation that gets bare ground after prolonged droughts. The soil texture in the valley is soggy and holds water for longer periods after the rain season creating temporary swamps, bushes and oases. The Narus river floods during the rainy season and flows northwest of Kidepo Valley National Park through the valley. The Narus valley retains oases even during the long drought of the dry season when most of the Karamoja region gets semi desert. The valley is a big blessing to the indigenous Karimojong nomads who roam the Karamoja region in search of watering holes and fresh pasture for their large herds of livestock.

To the travelers on tour of Uganda in Kidepo Valley National Park, the valley is the arena of tourism drama. The Narus Valley is an oasis in the semi arid conditions of Karamoja region where wildlife congregate to cool off the heat from the burning sun. The valley has a clear track system leading to secret spots that make wildlife sighting an easy sport. It is highly advisable to pick a ranger at Apoka tourism office close by, who interprets wildlife scenarios, is conversant with wildlife habits in the area and is aware of their hideouts. The Narus valley is a recommended location to spot lions, buffalos, zebras, hartebeests, giraffes, cheetah, leopard, waterbuck, several species and many beautiful bird species. Katurum track has magnificent views of the rest of the Narus valley and is an ideal spot to gaze in amazement and appreciate the choice of tour into Uganda. The Narus River joins the larger Kidepo river further north 13 km into South Sudan that later joined the White Nile.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a popular Uganda safari game drive / viewing destination with a wide range of game. The Karamoja region has in excess of 80 mammal species and travelers on tour into the Kidepo Valley National Park have high opportunities of spotting a wide range of them. 28 of the mammal species are endemic to only the Karamoja region in Uganda and travelers on Uganda safari into Kidepo Valley National Park have high opportunities of sighting them. Much of the Kidepo Valley National Park is a flat terrain with scenic undulating hills scattered in a few spots.

The vegetation is eye-catching grassland and savannas that spread into the horizons beyond the eyes can see. The natural conditions make spotting game less bothersome and game viewing safaris highly successful. It is highly advisable to use a safari customized car and be within the game viewing zone around 6am to have opportunities of spotting nocturnal wildlife species and interact with game when very active in the coldness of the morning. Be within the same zone by 4pm for the evening game viewing safaris and catch game winding up the activities of the day. Picking up a ranger at Apoka tourism office maximizes opportunities of wildlife sightings since the rangers are conversant with wildlife habits and monitor their movements.

The wildlife species within Kidepo Valley National Park like many other wildlife places, drastically reduced by insurgencies of 1980s where poaching game for economic purposes seemed a lucrative business. Rhinos were hunted to extinction for their horns. There is relative calm in entire of Uganda and wildlife species statistics are on the upward trend. Travelers on tour in Kidepo Valley National Park have opportunity to spot amongst others; lions, cheetah, leopard, mane less zebras, kudus, buffalos, Oryx, gazelle, elephants, giraffes, elands, roan antelopes, striped hyenas, jackals, hyenas, zebras, reedbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, Nile crocodiles, duikers and many others.

The best time to visit Kidepo national park for game viewing is during the dry season months of July and August when animals are concentrated near water points. During the rainy seasons, animals disperse from the valleys, moving to higher and drier ground where they are not so easily seen. Keep in mind however; that these are the two hottest months as well considered to have the worst weather with average temperature of 27.5°C with daily variations from 21.5°C to 34°C making it very hot and dusty. You can as well visit Kidepo during the short rains from September to December in the comfort of our 4X4 safari vehicles. Let’s compare the seasons looking at the advantages and disadvantages if you are to visit Kidepo in certain months of the year.

AfriChoice operates a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to Kidepo Valley National Park by providing transport and booking a hotel for you. Our safari consultants will always be at your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding Kidepo Valley National Park, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.