Top activities in Kidepo valley national park; Kidepo valley national park is the most isolated and the most stunning national park located in northeastern part of Uganda in Karamoja district between Uganda’s border with Kenya and south Sudan. Kidepo valley national park was gazetted in 1962 and it’s a home of over 77 mammal species including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, Uganda kobs, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bush bucks, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest and over 476 bird species. Kidepo valley national park offers a number of interesting activities that tourists can engage in during the Uganda wildlife safari including,

Top activities in Kidepo valley national park

Game drives

Game drive is one of the top safari activities in Kidepo valley national park where you will be able to explore the park in a comfortable pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Kidepo valley national park can either be done very early in the morning when animals are more active or in the afternoon and they are carried out in two sections that is the Narus valley and the Kidepo valley. During the game drive, you will be able to view animals like waterbucks, elephants, bushbucks, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetah, hippos, elands, bohor reedbucks, oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, view some bird species among others.

Bird watching

Kidepo valley national park is a home of over 480 recorded bird species including 28 species from the Somali-Masai and Sudan-guinea savanna biome, migratory birds among others which makes Kidepo national park the second best bird watching destination in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth national park. Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park can either be done early in the morning or in the evening with an experienced bird guide who will help you to sport different bird species like the Broad-tailed Warbler, Superb Starling, Nubian Woodpecker, Black-breasted Barbet, Mosque Swallow, Clappertons Francolin, Vinaceous Dove, Marsh Tchagra, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Black Coucal, African Moustached Warbler, sSecretary Bird, Jacksons Hornbill, Singing Bush Lark, African Grey Flycatcher, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Singing Bush Lark, Red-winged Lark,  Black-headed Plover, Hartlaubs Bustard, Little Green Bee-eater, Ostrich, Karamoja Apalis, Slate-coloured Boubou, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Red Billed Oxpecker, White-bellied Tit among others.

Nature walks

Nature walk is another interesting activity in Kidepo valley national park where tourists will get an opportunity to explore the national park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. Nature walks in Kidepo valley national park including short hikes to the Lamoj Mountains, Namamukwenyi valley, Kidepo plains among others. During the guided nature walk, you will get up-close and personal with different wildlife species, enjoy stunning views of the scenery, landscape, view different bird species, animals like waterbucks, warthogs, elephants, , enjoy the cool breeze, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, take beautiful pictures among others.

Cultural tour

Cultural tour is an exciting and adventurous activity in Kidepo valley national park where you will be able to interact with the Karamojong people who live in the neighboring villages, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, dress code, visit their Manyata homesteads, listen to their ancient stories, enjoy their traditional performances, visit the museum where they sell art and craft items among others.

Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park can be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be short which allows you to view different wildlife species clearly. During the dry season many animals gather around the water bodies to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view abundant animals.

Kidepo valley national park can also be visited in the wet season in the months of March to May and October to November because that’s the best time for bird watching where you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.

Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park has accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari including Zebra safari lodge, Kidepo savannah lodge, Karatunga safari camp, Apoka safari lodge, Nga Moru wilderness camp, Adere safari lodge, Apoka rest camp among others.

How to get to Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is located in north eastern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means. When using road transport means, there are four routes that you can use for example the route from Kampala via Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then to the park headquarters which takes about 10 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala via Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kaabong and then to Kidepo park headquarters which takes about 12 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala via Mbale, Sironko, Mororto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 12 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 13 hours’ drive.

Kidepo valley national park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.

Activities in Kidepo valley national park can be combined with other activities like gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, bird watching, Batwa cultural tour among others. For more information about the top activities in Kidepo valley national park, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.