KIDEPO NATIONAL PARK

March 11, 2023
Uganda National Parks

True African wilderness

Kidepo valley national park is occupying an area of about 1,442 km² and is located in northeastern Uganda with an altitude of 914m above sea level and 2,750m above sea level on the peak of Mt Morungole. This park is famously known to be untouched and the expression of the true African wilderness, with two seasonal rivers Kidepo and Narus that are functional during the rainy season and dry away in the dry season. Featuring about 77 mammal species and 440 birds, the park borders Kenya and southern Sudan with semi-arid savannah, low mountains, and seasonal rivers which affords you a priceless safari experience.

Things to do at Kidepo national park

Game drives

Kidepo national park is the 3 largest national park in Uganda, which makes it more than able, to carry 77 mammal species. The game view will wow you with opportunities to see lions, leopards, herds of elephants, giraffes, eland, cheetahs, a huge number of buffalos, giraffes, spotted hyenas, zebras that can only be found in Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo national park, in Uganda the bat-eared fox, cheetah, black-jackal, caracal and the Aard wolf can only be found in Kidepo valley national park.

Bird watching

The park has got a variety of birds that will leave you with amazing memories to remember as you look through your gallery for shots taken during your adventure in Kidepo National Park. Birding experience can also be done on the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny The activity can be arranged both in the morning and evening. Possible spotting of birds like Karamoja Apalis, Egyptian vulture, Yellow-billed Shrike, Pygmy falcon, Ostrich, Verreaux’s eagle, Marsh Tchagra, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Black coucal, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Black-breasted barbet, Broad-tailed warbler, Silver bird, Clapperton’s Francolin, common ostriches.

Wild nature walk

With just 2 to 3 hours on your sleeve, take time to go for the popular 5 km walk in the park enjoying the sight of animals and a backdrop with amazing scenery of the landscape in famous Kidepo valley national park see elephants, antelopes, buffaloes tree species and so much more. This walk is a plus, especially for the guests that travel by road, the distance is relatively long and this leg stretch will be very rewarding if you wish to do this then speak to your operator to plan this on your African safari.

Community encounter

The communities around Kidepo national park have benefited a lot from the travelers and tourist activities in their community. The Karimajong people are the inhabitants of the Kidepo national park surroundings and have a culture similar to the Masai people in Kenya and Tanzania.  The Karimajongs are pastoralists and put a high value on their cattle spending days, weeks, or even months away from their homesteads called the manyattas in search of water and pasture for their livestock.

The Karimajongs derive their name from their local language ‘Ekar ngimojong’ meaning ‘the old men can walk no further.’ The Karamojong are believed to have migrated from the Jie tribe from Abyssinia 400 years ago. Upon reaching the East African region they split into different groups forming the Turkana of Kenya, the Toposa of southern Sudan, and the Dodoth of northern Karamoja.

While others settled after getting tired from the trek hence the name Ekar Ngimajong the old men can walk no further where the name comes from the old people who could continue no more while others continued trekking and today, the Karamojong people have settled all in northeastern Uganda like the Matheniko around Moroto, the pian in south and Bokora in the west. There, other additional tribes were formed like the Kumam, Langi, and the Ateso, these are believed to be part of the migratory group as they also used the phrase ‘the old men can walk no more

The IK

These are believed to be the first settlers around this region and were later evicted from Kidepo national park, apart from that it is also believed that they were trying to run away from their cattle warriors who were marking their territory then. The ik people are hunter-gatherers and live in the mountain Morungule; these people speak a distinct language from the Karamojongs and together with the Batwa are considered to be endangered as they have the smallest population in the world.

Aside from hunting the ik people also practice subsistence farming, beekeeping and ancient ways of living as their community is quite isolated and very improvising in nature.

It will require an early morning drive and a late hike to the steep mountain to be able to sit and meddle with interesting locals.

How to get there

By road

Kidepo national park is 571 km and can take about 10 hours to drive from Kampala, and 7 hours from Murchison falls national park. The park can be accessed by different routes by road that is;

  • Access the park from Kampala via Lira, Kotido, Kaabong, and then to Kidepo national park.
  • The park can also be accessed from Kampala via Mbale to Soroti to Kotido and on to Kidepo national park.
  • One can also reach the park from Kampala through Gulu to Kitgum and to Kidepo national park.

By air

Travel to far destinations has been made easy with multiple aircraft companies that can be chattered to Kidepo National Park. Aside from that there are also aircraft that require a certain number of travelers to depart so you choose which is more convenient. The charter is however expensive but can do well for group travels. Fly to the airstrip near Apoka lodges and from there, your operator will arrange for a vehicle to transfer you to your respective lodge.

Where to stay

Kidepo national park has a variety of accommodations located just outside the park or near the park therefore, depending on your budget you may consider our various classifications that is budget, Midrange, and high-end/luxury. Feel free to work with your operator on which type of accommodation works best for you but also consider making payments in advance, especially for the peak season when availability may be questionable due to high guest turns up, this makes it easy to have a smooth customized safari as all are pre-arranged.

Luxury

Apoka lodges: Is composed of 10 expansive rooms each with inside sitting rooms and private verandas that will aid you to read, relax, and sprawl with natural canvas walls surrounding a rocky kopje with endless views across the savannah. Big beds with soft duvets, mosquito nets, hand-woven woolen carpets, extra large plush towels, and oversized dressing gowns. The beauty of this place is enormous and will only be experienced while there. Feel free to step outside to a sheltered terrace and slip into your own outdoor stone bathtub, big enough to fit the whole family. Rates start from $1605pp per night.

Midrange

Kidepo Savannah Lodge: This lodge boasts twelve beautifully appointed safari tents on raised decks. All safari tents have an ensuite bathroom with 24-hour hot showers, running water for hand basins, and a flushing toilet. They also have spacious private verandas offering splendid views of the mighty savannah and are comfortably furnished with either 1 double or 2 single beds. The rate starts from 110 pp per night

Budget

Kidepo Savannah Lodge: If you want to have some privacy and a real in the Bush experience, the lodge will offer two self-contained tents a little distance away from the lodge. All tents are placed under a grass thatched roof which creates your private terrace and provides some welcome shade. It is recommended that this accommodation is for the adventurous and those who have their own transportation as walking to and from the main camp is not recommended during the night. Charges are from $55pp per night.

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