Planning a safari trip to Kidepo valley national park
Planning a safari trip to Kidepo valley national park; Kidepo valley national park is an isolated but one of the most beautiful national parks in Uganda located in northeaster region in Karamoja district between Uganda’s border with South Sudan and Kenya. Kidepo valley national park is a home of different animals including buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, side striped jackals, bat-eared fox, Uganda kobs, klipspringer, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, elands, hyenas, mountain reedbucks, greater and lesser kudu, dik-dik and different bird species. When planning a safari trip to Kidepo valley national park, there are a number of factors that you who consider and this article will highlight all the factors for example the Uganda safari activities to engage in while in Kidepo valley national park, best time to visit the park, where to stay during the safari, how to get to the park among others.
Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park can be visited anytime of the year 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 or little rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be short and many animals will gather around the water bodies to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view different wildlife species clearly. During the dry season access roads and game drive tracks will be dry and passable which makes game drives easy.
Safari activities in kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park offers a number of safari activities that you can engage in during the Uganda wildlife safari including,
Game drives
Game drive is one of the major activities in Kidepo valley national park where tourists will be able to explore the savannah plains in a comfortable 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 most active, in the afternoon or in the evening following different game tracks in the Narus and Kidepo valley. During the game drive, you will be able to spot animals like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, Uganda kobs, giraffes, bushbucks, waterbucks, lions, leopards, hyenas, Jackson’s hartebeest, elands, oribi, bohor reedbucks among others.
Nature walks
Nature walk is an interesting activity in Kidepo valley national park where tourists will get an opportunity to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger to protect you from dangerous animals. During the guided nature walk, you will be able to get up-close and personal with different animals, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, view colourful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze, take beautiful pictures among others.
Bird watching
Kidepo valley national park is a home of over 480 recorded bird species including savannah birds, migratory birds among others which makes it one of the best bird watching destinations in Uganda. bird watching in Kidepo valley national park can be done very early in the morning or in the evening during the guided nature walk or game drive where you will be able to spot different bird species like Yellow-billed Shrike, Ostriches, Red-winged Lark, Black-headed Plover, Nubian Woodpecker, Little Weaver, Clapperton’s Francolin, Superb Starling, Broad-tailed Warbler, Red-fronted Barbet, African Swallow-tailed kite, Little Green Bee-eater, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Karamoja Apalis, Secretary Bird, Kori, Crimson Rumped Waxbill, Black-breasted Barbet, Singing Bush Lark, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Black Coucal, White-crested Turaco, Ethiopian Swallow, Red Billed Oxpecker, Standard-winged Nightjar among others.
Cultural tour
Cultural tour is an exciting activity in Kidepo valley national park where you will be able to interact with the Karamajog people, learn about their culture, lifestyle, way of living, visit their manyatta homesteads, enjoy their traditional homesteads, listen to their ancient stories, buy souvenirs and art pieces among others.
Where to stay in kidepo valley national park
There are few accommodation facilities in Kidepo valley national park where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Apoka safari lodge, Kidepo savannah lodge, Apoka rest camp, Nga Moru wilderness camp, Adere safari lodge, Zebra safari lodge among others.
How to get to Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park is located in the north eastern part of Uganda and can be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road. Domestic flights to Kidepo valley national park can be organized by your tour operator.
Kidepo valley national park can also be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then to the park headquarters which takes about 10 hours’ drive. The other route is from Kampala via Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Are you planning a safari trip to Kidepo valley national park, do not hesitate to contact us for more information or visit our website to book an affordable safari tour.
