Kidepo Valley National Park is a true gem of the African wilderness, it has several times been nominated as the best safari destination in Africa due to its impressive list of unique endemic species, when you imagine Africa, the topography you think of is the vast grassy savannah, mountain, hills, wildlife, all is this in one compass can be seen in the Kidepo valley national park. The park sectors into the Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley. It is tucked in the fur north a semi-arid climate region of Uganda and yet beautifully supporting life, Kidepo Parkboasts the highest concentration of African Buffaloes compared to other national parks. The park is drained by 2 rivers the Narus and the Kidepo Rivers which dry out during the dry season it occupies a total land area of approximately 1442 square kilometers in the Kabong district.
The golden grassy plains dotted with rock Kopjes, rocky outcrops, and the distant hills of the Morugule mountains encompass the conservation area, they are habitats for wildlife in the national park, there are endemics of the park, for example,bat-earedfoxes, cheetahs, ostrich, rock hyrax, side stripped hyenas and other abundant animals like the Rothschilds giraffes, elands, waterbucks, lions, leopards, warthogs, zebras, African elephants, buffaloes, reedbuck, greater and lesser Kudus,Uganda Kobs, and over 400 species of birds have been recorded in the national park common species include the Karamong Apalis, northern crime bee-eater, little green bee-eater, Abyssinian ground horn bill, eagles, to mention a few.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a virgin remote place in Uganda, it is less visited than the 10 conservation areas but the few travelers who reach the park truly find it amazing, the conservation area was gazette in 1962 at a time when the country was liberated from colonial rule. The main attractions of the park include the Kidepo Valley, the NarusValley, the Kanangorok hot springs to the north, the Morungule Mountains, and the local communities including the IK tribe, Lorukul community, and the Kawalakal among others, these are originally pastoralist’s tribe. The presence of so many attractions gives a chance to participate in tourist attractions below
Game drives, a visit to the conservation area minus game drives is like no visit, these are both day and night drives conducted with the help of a Uganda wildlife game ranger, through the well-distributed trails of the park, expect an encounter a vast of wildlife, Guided nature walks up through the mountains of Morungule, visiting the local communities this will give a chance to immerse and understand deeply ofthe few diverse cultures in the pearl of Africa.
Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited all year round, it is mostly dry during the seasons but best visited in the dry times between December-February and June- early September, the paths of the conservation area are easier to pass and access, the park are managed by the Uganda wildlife authority, there is a mandatory park and conservation fees paid directly to them or through your ground handler, $40 foreign nonresidents, $35 foreign residents and 20,000 shillings for east African citizens
The national park is accessed by road or air transfer, it is a long-distance drive through the northern part of Uganda via the Kampala Gulu -Kitgum highway, it takes approximately 11 hours drive to arrive at the destination. Charter or scheduled flights are arranged from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala Kajjansi. There is available accommodation within the park and outside the conservation area, the few facilities are ranked from Luxury to the best budget for example Apoka Safari Lodge right in the heart of the Kidepo after the Uganda Wildlife gate,offers incredible services travelers, Adere safari lodge, Kidepo savannah lodge to mention a few.