Kipedo valley national park is located in northeastern, Karamoja district Uganda. The park, was established in 1962, occupies an area of 540 square miles (1,399 square km) in wooded grasslands and mountainous scenery in the northeastern corner of the country. Its rivers, including the Kidepo River, are in generally dry, the park adjoins the frontiers of Kenya and South Sudan. The landscape is dominated by Mount Morungole on the east and by the Lotuku Ridge, which rises in South Sudan, to the north.
Attractions in Kidepo valley national park.
Wildlife.
Kidepo valley national park supports a wider diversity, with a far greater biomass of animals, of 80 mammal species in the 29 cannot be found in any other park in Uganda including Caracal, Stripped Hyena, Aardwolf, Cheetah, Bat-eared Fox, Hunting dog. The park harbors 5 species of primate like Kavirondo Bush Baby which is unique in the area, the park also contains rare ungulates like the Greater and Lesser Kudu, Chandlers Mountain Reedbuck, Klipspringers, Dik-dik, Bright Gazelle, Beisa Oryx, Roan Antelope. Other animal species in the park includes the lion, elephants, zebra, Bush pigs, Rothschild Giraffes, Eland, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Buffalo, Oribi, Leopard, Spotted hyena, Black-backed and Side-backed Jackal, Crocodiles and many others. Kidepo valley national park is the best park in Africa for great buffalo herds.
Bird species.
Kidepo valley national park is a birding destination, with over 480 bird species with some of the Africa’s rarest and most sought-after birds occur in the park like Black-breasted Barbet, Karamoja Apalis, the park is good for semi-arid species which cannot be found in other parts of Uganda such as Ostrich, it’s also outstanding for its birds prey with 58 species recorded in the area. The bird species in the park includes Abyssinian roller, Black-breasted barbet, Fox kestrel, Golden pipit, Greater kestrel, Jackson’s hornbill, Purple grenadier, Pygmy falcon, Rode-ringed parakeet, Rufous chatterer and many more.
Apoka Tourism center.
Apoka tourism center is the tourists center of the Kidepo valley national park, the ranger guides accompany holiday makers on the game drives and walks, the tourists that do not come with their means of transport hire a park trucks, the center has books and souvenirs, packed water, sodas and other beverages can be purchased from there.
Narus valley.
Narus valley, consists of the rolling grassland plains which are surrounded by the distant mountains and Narus River which is situated down at the valley. Narus valley has permanent water which attracts abundant wildlife species which gather to drink water especially during the dry season.
Namamukweny valley.
Namamukweny valley is a great birding spot in Kidepo valley national park hosting many bird species such as Eastern Paradise Whydah, White-crested Turaco, Common Bulbul, Abyssinian Roller, Green Wood Hoopoe, paradise Whydah and many others.
Lomej Hills.
Lomej Hills are the attraction in Kidepo Valley national park, these hills are the haven of birding paradise in the park and whenever travelers who visit the park on their bird watching, this is the perfect place for them to do birding.
Lonyili Mountain.
Lonyili Mountain in Kidepo Valley national park is located between Kitgum and the Sudan border, the Lonyili Mountain is largely covered in montane forest and home to primates such as colobus monkeys and many others.
Mount Morungole.
Mount Morungole is found in Kidepo valley national park and is raised about 275 meters above the sea level and the mountain is crossed by the Narus and Kidepo rivers, it offers the best destination for hiking safaris and it is where the IK people stay thus a good cultural experience, Kipedo valley national park.
Kidepo valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs.
The Kanangorok hot springs are located in Kidepo valley national park in the far north eastern part of Uganda, the springs are located in the northern part of the park beyond Kidepo River bordering South Sudan border it’s one of the best places to sit and relax in Kidepo national park while viewing the wilderness.
Activities done in Kidepo valley national park.
Game drives.
Game drives in Kidepo Valley national park are the main activities done in the park, the game drives in the park are done in the morning or late in the evenings they are named the day game drive and night game drives. During the day game drive, the tourists can be able to spot various animals like the zebras, hyenas, cape buffalo, lion, leopards, elephants, warthog, bush duiker and many more while getting closer to those animal species in your 4×4 wheel vehicle or safari van, while the night game drives are usually the highlights for a safari trip and a sun set a way of ending your day in Kidepo national park in a 4×4 safari van, the night game drive is the only game viewing that exposes you to the nocturnal animas.
Bird watching.
Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park is best done during the low season in the months of March to May and November that’s when the bird lovers during their birding tour will be able to view the migratory and the most colourful birds like the Karamoja Apalis, Pygmy falcon, Purple grenadier, Black-breasted barbet, Golden pipit, Greater kestrel and many more, during the bird watching activity a birder is reminded to come along with a pair of binoculars.
Nature walks.
Nature walks in Kidepo valley national park especially around Apoka are done at any time of the day and visitors are able to view of animals such as zebra, elephant, Reedbuck, Buffalo, lion, there also trails and circuits which visitors can walk in the early morning to observe species at close range and enjoy the beautiful wilderness.
Climbing Mount Morungole and visit IK tribe.
The activity of the climbing Mount Morungole leds you to meet the IK people, during the climbing Mount Morungole which involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain commanding spectacular views of Kidepo valley national park also the tourists will get exposed to dances from IK, their history and many others.
Karamojong Community Tour.
Karamojong tribe is the main tribe found in the Karamojong community and also in the park, the Karamojong culture and way of life is as undisturbed and Kidepo’s wilderness, the guests do enjoy the culture of the Karamoja people, their traditional houses called Manyatta, their traditional dances, traditional handcraft stools, beads, hand bungles and many others.
Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park.
Kidepo valley national park has got different accommodation facilities for the tourists during their visit in the park, as they are ranged into Budget, Mid-range and Luxury accommodations like Kidepo Savannah lodge, Adere Safari Lodges Kidepo, Apoka Safari Lodge, UWA Bandas and many others, Kipedo valley national park.
Entrance fees if Kidepo valley national park.
| Category | Foreign Non Residents(US) | Foreign Residents(USD) | East Africa Citizens(UGX) |
| Adults | 40 | 30 | 20,000 |
| Children | 20 | 10 | 5000 |
| Ugandan Pupils and or Students(Groups) | 3000 | ||
| Tertiary, Institutions, Universities | 5000 | ||
| Uganda Wildlife Clubs | 2000 |
Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park.
The best time to visit Kidepo valley national park is July and August for game viewing which are the dry months that’s when the animals are concentrates near the water points, Kipedo valley national park.
How to get to Kidepo valley national park.
Kidepo valley national park can be accessed in two different ways that is the road and air means of transport from Kampala to the park.
By Road transport.
Kidepo valley national park can be approximately reached in 12 hours from Kampala to the park.
By Flight transport.
The regularly scheduled flights by the Aero Link takes about 2 hours and fry into Kidepo from Entebbe airport, the charter can also be easily got if you contact any of the fight operators or through your tour operator.
Kidepo valley national park is an important birding safaris area in Uganda with close to 480 bird species and a dream Uganda tour destination for bird watching expeditions, while a dozen out of the 50 birds of prey species in Uganda are endemic in the Karamoja region, still the Kidepo valley national park is a hallmark of unique wildlife species that cannot be found elsewhere in Uganda’s national parks and offers the best beautiful scenery of savannah grassland which is unparalleled by any other national park within East Africa.
