Road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park
Road trip to Kidepo valley national park; Kidepo valley national park is Uganda’s most isolated but one of the most magnificent national parks in Uganda located in north eastern region in Karamoja district between Uganda’s border with South Sudan and Kenya. Kidepo valley national park is a home of over 77 mammal species including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, mountain reedbucks, aardwolf, Guenthers dik-dik, caracal, hyenas, elands, oribi, klipspringer, Uganda kobs, bat eared fox, Jackson’s hartebeest among others and over 480 bird species. Kidepo valley national park offers a number of activities that tourists can engage in during the safari including,
Safari activities to do in Kidepo valley national park
Game drives
Game drive is one of the popular activities in Kidepo valley national park where tourists will be able to explore the park in a comfortable pop up safari vehicle and a professional driver guide. Game drives in Kidepo valley national park can either be done very early in the morning, in the afternoon or at night where you will be able to view nocturnal animals. During the game drives which are conducted in the Narus valley and kidepo valley, you will be able to view different animals like buffaloes, giraffes, lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas, Uganda kobs, zebras, oribi, elands, Jackson’s hartebeests, reedbucks, among others.
Bird watching
Kidepo valley national park is a home of over 480 recorded bird species including endemic birds, forest birds, savannah birds and migratory birds which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. During bird watching which is done in different areas like around Apoka rest camp, Narus valley and Namamkwenyi valley, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species such as Karamoja Apalis, Yellow-billed Shrike, Nubian Woodpecker, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Clappertons Francolin, Ostrich, Black-headed Plover, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Secretary Bird, Mosque Swallow, Superb Starling, Broad-tailed Warbler, Kori Bustard, Egyptian Vulture, Red Throated Bee-eater, Purple Heron, Marsh Tchagra, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Red-winged Lark, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Karamoja Apalis, Ethiopian Swallow, Little Green Bee-eater, White-bellied Go Away Bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Singing Bush Lark, Crowned Sparrow Weaver, Standard-winged Nightjar, Rufous-crowned Roller among others.
Nature walks
Nature walk is an adventurous activity in Kidepo valley national park where you will be able to explore the national park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed ranger guides to protect you from any danger. Nature walk in Kidepo valley national park can be done around the Apoka rest camp, along Rionomoe trail, Namamkwenyi valley, Lomej mountains, along the Kidepo valley between the banks of Borassus palm forest among others. During the guided nature walk, you will get up-close and personal with different animals like zebras, elephants, reedbucks, giraffes, buffaloes, view birds, colourful butterflies, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, meet people from IK tribe, enjoy the cool breeze, take beautiful pictures among others.
Cultural tours
Cultural tour is an interesting activity in Kidepo valley national park where you will be able to interact with the local people that is the Karamajong and the IK people, learn about their culture, tradition, lifestyle, way of living, dress code, listen to their ancient stories, enjoy their traditional dances, buy craft souvenirs among others.
Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park can be visited anytime throughout 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 rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be short which gives you an opportunity to view animals clearly. During the dry season, access roads and game drive tracks in Kidepo national park will be dry and passable which makes game drives easy compared to the rainy season the roads and game drive tracks are muddy and slippery.
Where to stay during your safari in Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your road safari including Mara Safari Lodge-Kidepo, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Adere Safari Lodge, Zebra Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Karatunga Safari Camp, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp among others.
How to get to Kidepo valley national park
Using road transport to Kidepo Valley National Park is the most common option for tourists due to the fact that you will be rewarded with stunning views on the way and a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking. There are four routes that can be used to access Kidepo Valley National Park depending on your starting point or itinerary for example
Route from Kampala via Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then Kidepo Valley National Park which is the most common route that takes about 10 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via lira, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo Valley National Park which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo Valley National Park which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to Kidepo Valley National Park
A part from using road transport, Kidepo Valley National Park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flight with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
For more information about the road trip to Kidepo valley national park, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various safari packages.
