Best top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley National park is 1,442km2, was gazetted as a national park in 1962 and lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya. It is the most isolated national park in Uganda and few who made it here agree that it has the finest wilderness in Africa. It is home to about 77 mammal and 475 bird species. Below are some of the top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Top Activities to do in Kidepo Valley National park
Safari Game drives.
One of the top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National park are safari game drives. The take place either in the morning, afternoon or evening. Game drives are guided and can be done from a 4 x 4 WD safari vehicle or a traveller can opt for a guided walking safari, with an armed ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Game drives are the main activities that entice tourists to come on Uganda safaris. Animals seen on game drives in Kidepo include lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, jackals, warthogs and different types of antelopes that include the beautiful klipspringer.
Bird Watching
Birding watching is also popular of the most top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National park. The park is home to about 475 bird species and more are still being discovered by tourists who come for bird watching in this beautiful park. Visitors who come on our safaris for bird watching in Kiedpo Valley National park will see the superb sterling, Ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Clapperton’s Francolin which is only found here. The list of the many bird species goes on and on. There are many birds sighted from Apoka Rest Camp, Narus valley and Namamukweny which can be seen in the mornings and in the evenings
Cultural activities.
The park is surrounded by local communities of the Karamajong and IK people. So travellers to this wilderness national park can include a cultural tour on the top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. The Karamajong and IK are similar to the Masai of Kenya and a cultural tour to these people will help you discover the unique culture of this remote tribe with the Lorukul Cultural Group or other cultural groups bordering the park.
Hiking / Nature walks activities in Kidepo Valley National Park
Hiking and nature walks are also top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National park. The hikes and walks will take you to the Lomej Mountains which can be reached on foot. The hike takes four hours and starts at 7am. There are shorter guided walks that take about two hours, be taken through the Narus Valley extending over a 5km radius from Apoka Tourism Centre.
Visitors on Uganda Wildlife safaris in Kidepo can also take walks on the beautiful Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive borassus palm forest or Namamkweny Valley which can be reached in one hour from Apoka.
Visitors to Kidepo Valley National park can also take a hike to the IK tribe to Morungole Mountains located outside the national park. This hike has to be pre-organized
Best time to visit Kidepo Valley National park
Kidepo Valley National park is open for tourism activities through out the year. However, the best time to visit is September to March which perfect for game viewing. Animals gather at the Narus valley for water. This is the dry period too
The worst time to visit Kidepo valley National park is April and May which are the wettest months of the area.
The best weather and the peak season months are September, October, November and March.
The park is very hot and dusty during December to February.
Cats seen in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The most common cats seen on a game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park are lions. These are seen lying under trees, resting on rocks or hunting.
Occasionally, cheetahs have been sighted too.
Other Animals seen in Kidepo Valley National park
Other animals include elephants, buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, water bucks, Jackson’s Harte beast, white striped jackals, porcupines, Pangolins, and other different types of antelopes
Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park
Luxury safari Lodge- Apoka safari Lodge
Mid-range- Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Budget- Apoka Rest Camp
Suggested packages to Kidepo Valley National Park
4 Day Luxury Fly-in Wildlife safari to Kidepo Valley NP
5 Day Uganda wildlife road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park