Uganda Safaris
Kidepo Valley National Park
Location: North Eastern on the border of Uganda, Sudan and Kenya.
Size: 1,442 square kilometres.
Status: National Park since 1954
Habitat: Semi-desert scrub, open thorn-bush, open thorn-scrub, long and short-grass open tree savannas, riparian woodland including Borassus and Kigelia woodland, thick, "miombo- like" woodland, montane forest and granite out-crops.
Special attractions
- The rolling savannah grassland and rugged spectacular mountain landscape,
- More than 60 of the 480+ birds listed under the park have been recorded in no other Ugandan national Park,
- The black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cheetah and caracal are found in no other Uganda national park,
- Among the twelve antelope species in Kidepo, the greater kudu, lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik-dik and mountain reedbuck occur nowhere else in Uganda.
Other attractions:
- 80+ species of mammals,
- Splendid Kidepo River Valley dominated by Borassus palm forest
- The Kanangorok Hot Springs, 11 km from Kidepo river valley,
- Karimajong manyattas (homesteads) and probably kraals to see traditional costume, stools, spears headdress, knives, bows and arrows and jewelry,
- pre-arranged traditional dance
- 465 species have been recorded Birds of particular interest include the ostrich and the Kori bustard which are principally associated with arid regions,
Accessibility
By road 7-9 hours
- Kampala-Lira-Kotido-Kidepo-705 km
- Kampala-Mbale-Soroti-Moroto-Kidepo-792 km
- Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Kotido-Kideop-740 km
- Kampala-Soroti -Kotido via Amuria 656 km
By air transport: See Kidepo Wildlife Safari
A chartered light aircraft takes you to Apoka Lodge in the park.
Safari activities
- Game viewing
Kidepo valley national park harbours a great diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. These include carnivores, ungulates, and primates including elephants, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, bush bucks, bush pigs, kavirondo bush babies, buffaloes and if you are lucky, the tree climbing lions.
- Birding
The Park boasts of an extensive avifauna with more than 480 species recorded to date.
- Hiking and Scenery viewing
Hiking can be carried out on Lamoj Mountains just a few kilometers from the Park Headquarters.
- Cultural Performance
The local community near the park also stages cultural dances and performances. Traditional dances such as the Emuya of the Naporre and Nyangia, Larakaraka and Apiti dances of the Acholi.
- Nature Walk and cultural visits to the local communities.
- Visits to the splendid Kidepo River Valley dominated by Borassus palm forest. Visits to the Kanangorok Hot Springs, located only 11 km from Kidepo river valley. Picnicking from the sand.
Kidepo National Park Accommodation
- Apoka safari Lodge
- Apoka Rest Camp
- Bandas at a Hostel at Apoka
