Kidepo National park Uganda, Wildlife Safari Tours in Uganda at Kidepo
Kidepo National Park is a remote National park located in the northern part of Uganda covering the rocky semi arid basins of Karamoja District found along the border with Sudan in the North and Kenya in the East.
The park was officially opened as a National park in 1962 with different populations of wildlife i.e 77 species.
To get to this destination takes one only 700 km from Kampala and those that get here have found this wilderness exceptional due to the tremendous mysteries of nature found here for example the terrain, wildlife, birds etc.
At the center of the park at Apoka you will spot the Savannah terrain that extends further than the preserved region to horizons mapped by detached Mountain ranges.
The park consists of more than 475 bird species making it second after Queen Elizabeth National Park and among these are the endangered species in East Africa that include the Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apallis. The wetlands and residue pools in the large Narus valley close to Apoka become the only permanent sources of water during the dry season which makes the whole activity very interesting and unique.
Activities at Kidepo National Park in Uganda
Bird Watching
This activity starts at Apoka Rest Camp and the park headquarters overlooking the pulled in Narus Valley in the south in both mornings and afternoons.
While relaxing/camping birds like the active Silver bird and candid collections of Yellow-billed Shrike can be seen due to the fact that these are very familiar among trees in this region. However, other bird species like the Vinaceous Dove, Hoopoe, Nubian Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, Ruppell’s and Superb Starlings, Scarlet chested Sunbird, Little Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu can be spotted.
Along the small stable water hole on the edge of the camp hat attracts birds you will spot birds like the Yellow rumped Seedeater fly by for water and seeds. The water hole is usually approached by the four banded Sandgrouse, elephant, buffalo and lion in the night too where as the clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, African Moustached, Broad tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra and Crimson rumped Waxbill can be seen in the grass along the dry stream patch bed next to the camp/Apoka lodge.
Alternatively, one can also do Bird watching in the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys and birds you are likely to spot are the Abyssinian Roller, pygmy Falcon, Varreaux’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Clapperton’s Francolin.
Game drives
A game drive in Kidepo National Park includes driving around the park as you spot various wildlife animals in their habitat for example the Narus Valley. In order to carry out this appropriately, visitors should move with an experienced guide/ranger in the mornings at 6:00 am and afternoons at 4:00 pm.
These guides will make sure you spot lions that usually rest along the rocks of the valley and other wildlife animals like the bush buck, bush pig, ostrich, leopard, elephants, bush duicker, jackal, buffalo, etc.
There is also a scenic drive provided for those intereste in viewing the magnificent terrain and vegetation along with wildlife species in the arid valley. Drive in an hour to the Kanangorok hot springs that proceed into the Mountains traversing the border with Sudan where you will find many Ostriches.
Later on, transfer to the northern region of Apoka via different rock projections and hills before sloping down into the Kidepo valley and across the Kidepo Sand River. Many different wildlife species can be seen and these include the Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, Caracal, aard Wolf, elephants, oribi, burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, bohor reed buck, warthogs, roths child giraffes, defassa water bucks, cape buffaloes, elands, bush duskier, bush bucks, lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, small cats, spotted hyenas.
Hiking and Nature walks
Hiking and nature walks in the park occurs at the beautiful Lomej Mountains and requires walking through the retracted Narus Valley where you will meet, spot and interact with the members that belong to the indigenous IK tribe that inhabits the remote Morungole Mountains outside the park.
A magnificent river valley in between the edges of the borassus palm forest can be spotted. Alternatively, hiking can also be carried out at the Lamoj Mountains located a few kms from the head quarters of the park.
The park also consists of a vast beautiful Savannah terrain that is exceptional with tremendous vegetation and wildlife , the Narus valley found in the south western area of the park, the amazing Natira and Lakayot hills in the north east, the rocky Napore Nyagia mountain range that makes a boundary in the west, the Morungole range located in the south as well as the hot springs in Kanangorok found just 11 kms from Kidepo river valley.