Top Things to do in Kidepo valley national park in 2022

Top things to do in Kidepo valley national park in 2022; Kidepo valley national park is the most isolated national park located in north eastern part of Uganda in Karamoja region at Uganda’s border with Kenya and south Sudan. The park covers a total area of 1,442 square kilometers which is comprised of open savannah woodland, grassland, shrubs, wetlands among others which act as habitat for different wildlife species including the big four of the big five mammals including lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants, other animals like giraffes, zebras, side backed jackal, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, bush pigs, elands, cheetahs, hyenas and variety of bird species like Kori bustard, ostrich among others. There are a number of interesting activities in Kidepo valley national park that you can engage in during your safari in 2022 including,

Top things to do in Kidepo valley national park in 2022

Game drives in Kidepo valley national park

This is the most popular activity in Kidepo valley national park where tourists get an opportunity to explore the open savannah plains in a comfortable 4 WD safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Kidepo valley national park are conducted in two sections that is Kidepo valley and the Narus valley. During the game drives which can either be done very early in the morning or in the afternoon you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, zebras, giraffes, bohor reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, elands, kudus, dik dik, view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs among others.

Kidepo valley national park also offers night game drives where tourists will be able to explore the park at night with an armed park ranger and spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals. During the night game drive you will be able to nocturnal animals like cheetahs, lions, leopards, view hippos feeding among others.

Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is a home of more than 470 recorded bird species including endemic birds, savannah birds and migratory bird species which make it the second best birding destination in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth national park. Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park is best done around Apoka rest camp, fringes of Narus valley and Namamukweny valley. During bird watching you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species such as black breasted barbet, rufous chatterer, African moustached francolin, Egyptian vulture, red billed oxpecker, pygmy falcon, Karamoja apalis, superb starling, Ethiopian swallow, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African grey fly catcher, black coucal, purple grenadier, red throated bee-eater, white bellied go away bird, fox kestrel, Abyssinian roller, golden pipit, chestnut weaver, northern carmine bee-eater, red and yellow barbet, dark chanting goshawk, kori bustard, little bee-eater, ostrich among others.

Hiking/ nature walks in Kidepo valley national park

Hiking/ nature walk is a fascinating activity in Kidepo valley national park which gives tourists an opportunity to move out of the comfort of a safari vehicle and explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed park ranger to protect you from dangerous animals. Nature walks in Kidepo valley national park are done around Apoka camp, Rionomoe trail, Lomej Mountains among others. During the guided nature walk, you will get up close and personal with different wildlife species, birds, enjoy the cool breeze, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, take beautiful pictures among others.

Cultural tour in Kidepo valley national park

Cultural tour is an interesting activity in Kidepo valley national park where you tourists will be able to interact with the Karamajong and IK people who live in the neighboring villages. During the cultural tour, you will be able to learn more about their culture, tradition, lifestyle, dress code, visit their Manyata houses, taste their traditional dishes, visit the museum where they sell craft items like stools, arrows, beads, spears, bows, knives, enjoy their traditional songs and dance 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. During the dry season the park receives little rainfall therefore vegetation will be thin which helps you to clearly view different animals, access roads and hiking trails will be passable and abundant wildlife species will gather around water bodies to drink water hence giving you an opportunity to spot different animals.

Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park has a number of accommodation facilities where you can stay during your Kidepo Uganada safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange, budget and campsites including Apoka Safari lodge, Kidepo Savannah lodge, Adere Safari lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, Apoka Rest Camp, Kakine self-catering campsite among others.

How to get to Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is one of the finest protected areas in Uganda located in north eastern region and can be accessed by both road and air transport means

Air transport, when using air transport means you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road. Scheduled flights to Kidepo valley national park only operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with a minimum of 7 passengers and can be booked by your tour operator.

Road transport, there are different routes where you can pass when travelling to Kidepo valley national park including

Route from Kampala through Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then Kidepo valley national park which takes about 10 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala through Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo valley national park which takes about 12 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala through Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo valley national park which takes about 13 hours’ drive.

Route from Kampala through Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo valley national park which takes about 12 hours drive.