Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park

Activities in Kidepo valley national park: Kidepo valley national park which is located in the north eastern part of Uganda in Kaabong district at Uganda’s border with Kenya and Sudan. The national park was gazetted in 1962 and covers a total area of 1,442 square kilometers which is composed of savannah grasslands, woodlands, mountain forests and acacia forest. Kidepo national park is a home of about 86 mammals including elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, bush pigs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, African hunting dogs, caracal, jackals, waterbucks, bushbucks, and more than 475 bird species including Ostriches, Kori bustard, Karamoja apalis among others.

Activities in Kidepo valley national park

Game drives in Kidepo valley national park

Game drives in Kidepo valley national park are done in the comfort of a 4WD safari vehicle with a professional guide who will help you to spot different animals. Game drives in Kidepo valley national park are done in different groups for example

Morning game drives which are done early in the morning at around 6:00am. During the morning game drives you will have high chances of sighting a wide range of animals when they are most active. You will be able to view animals like elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, elands, oribi, Jacksons hartebeest, klipspringer, reedbucks, greater and lesser kudus, guenthers dik-dik among others which will be grazing in open savannah plains with due, view predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, bat eared fox, side striped jackal if you are lucky, bird species among others. During the game drive you can also visit the Kanangarok hot springs where you will enjoy spectacular views of the mountains.

Evening game drive which starts after lunch at about 2:00pm and during the game ride you will be able to visit the Narus valley which has permanent water sources that attract large concentrations of wildlife especially during the dry season. During the game drive in the Narus valley you will be able to view animals like reedbucks, buffaloes, giraffes, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest and different bird species. The big cats like lions, leopards, cheetahs may not be easily encountered because they will be in their hiding areas due to the hot sun.

Night games which are conducted after dinner, during the night game drives you will be accompanies by a park guide who will help you to spot nocturnal animals and spotlight torches for clear viewing. You will therefore be able to spot nocturnal animals like caracal, leopards, cheetahs, aardwolf, hyenas, wild dogs, side striped jackals among others.

Nature walks/hiking in Kidepo valley national park

This is an interesting activity in Kidepo valley national park which gives visitors an opportunity to explore the park on foot. During the nature walks you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who is well conversant with walking trails in the park and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. Nature walks in Kidepo valley national park are conducted in different areas including Narus valley, Namamukweny valley, Kidepo plains which lead you to Morungole Mountains where you will meet the IK people, hike to the Lomej Mountains among others. During the guided nature walks which start at 7:00am at Apoka tourism office you will get an opportunity to get spot animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, reedbucks, waterbucks, zebras, giraffes which will be grazing, different bird species like ostriches, beautiful scenery, landscape, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, enjoy the cool breeze among others.

Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is a home of more than 475 recorded bird species including endemic birds, savannah birds, migratory birds which makes it one of the best birding areas in Uganda. During your birding safari in Kidepo valley national which can be done during the game drives and nature walks you should look out for common bird species like Karamoja apalis, yellow rumped seed eater, superb starling, yellow necked spurfowl, ostrich, white bellied bustard, four banded sand grouse, black breasted barbet, pygmy falcon, kori bustard, greater kestrel, slate coloured boubou, scarlet chested sunbird, African swallow tailed kite, long tailed nightjar, African grey flycatcher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, rufous crowned roller, red billed oxpecker, Jacksons hornbill, white billed buffalo, speckle fronted weaver, black breasted barbet, brown backed woodpecker, singing bush lark, grey capped social weaver, purple heron among others.

Cultural encounters in Kidepo valley national park

Cultural encounters in Kidepo valley national park give you an opportunity to interact with the local people such as the Karamajong who live in the neighboring villages and the IK people who live on top of Morungole Mountain. During the cultural encounter you will be able to learn about their culture, lifestyle, history, way of living, visit their locally built Manyatta homesteads, learn how to make their traditional instruments like beads, stools, spears, learn how bride price is determined in their culture, buy some craft items from the gift shop, enjoy their cultural entertainments inform of music, dance and drama.

Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park can be visited all year round through the best time is during the dry/peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. The dry season is the best time for game viewing in that vegetation in the park will be thin which helps you to have clear views of animals. During the dry season animals gather around the water bodies to drink water which makes wildlife viewing much easier.

Kidepo valley national park can also be visited in the wet/low season during the months of March to May and November. During the wet season you will be able to enjoy the park with few crowds, and bird lovers will get an opportunity to spot variety of bird species including migratory birds.