Kidepo Valley National Park- A guide to gorilla safaris,hiking and tracking tours, primate safaris and wildlife experiences,hotels, lodges, car hire in Uganda's National Parks of Bwindi National Park, Kibale, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Mt Elgon, Mghahinga.    Hire Safari Mini an Nairobi Kenya

Kidepo Valley National Park, Safaris, Attractions - Apoka Safari Lodge

Kidepo Valley National Park (Kidepo National Park) is one of the most endowed of Ugandas’ National Parks. A safari to Kidepo Valley is a whole cultural experience as one learns.  Our safaris include visits to Karamoja cultural Kraals and homesteads-Manyattas.

Kidepo National Park is located at the North Eastern tip of Karamoja Province bordering Kenya to the East and Sudan to North. Kidepo Valley is Uganda's most remote national park.  With 475 species of birds, Kidepo Valley in an ornithologist’s paradise.

Access to Kidepo Valley National Park

Two routes are

• Kampala –Mbale-Soroti-Moroto to Kidepo (840Km takes 12 Hrs in a 4 WD vehicle

• Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Kotido-Kidepo

• The best option is to fly into Lamoj near the park headquarters from Entebbe.

Altitude: Kidepo  Valley Park lies at an altitude of 914m on Kidepo valley floor to 2749m a top Mount Morungole.

Size: Kidepo occupies an area of 1442 km Sq. and was gazetted a national park in 1954.

Activities:  Game drives, cultural visits to kraals and karamojong homesteads called Manyatas. View the rolling savannah grasslands. Nature walks.

Habitats: Kidepo Valley has a diversity of habitats-semi-desert scrub, open thorn-scrub, open thorn-bush, long and short-grass open tree savannas, riparian woodland including Borassus and Kigelia woodland, thick, "miombo- like" woodland, montane forest and granite out-crops. This makes among the best places to watch birds in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth National Park.  The best time to visit the park is between April and March.

WILDLIFE:

With such diverse habitats, wildlife is profuse.

Mammals in Kidepo National Park: 

80 species of mammals have been recorded in Kidepo Valley. These includes carnivores like Bat-eared Fox, Striped Hyena, Aard Wolf, Caracal, Cheetah, Black Backed and Side Stripped Jackals and Hunting dog.  Tree climbing lions can be spoted at Narus valley or on rock as you enter the park at Apoka Park Headquarter.

Ungulates include, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Chandler’s mountain Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Bright’s Gazelle; Beisa Oryx, Roan Anterlopes, Elephant, Burchell's zebra, Bush pig, Warthog, Rothschild Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Eland, Bush Buck, Defassa Water Buck, Bohor’s Reed Buck, Jackson’s Hartebeest and Oribi. Five species of primate are found in the park of which the Kavirondo bush baby is endemic.

Bird life in Kidepo Valley National Park:

Among the 475 species recorded in Kidepo Valley are, Ostrich, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel, Stone Partridge, Clapperton's and Heuglin's Francolins, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Kori, White-bellied and Hartlaub's Bustards, Violet-tipped Courser, Black-headed Plover, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-crested Turaco, White-bellied Go-away bird, White-faced Scoops Owl, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, Little Green Bee-eater, Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned Rollers, Abyssinian Ground, Eastern Yellow and Jackson's Hornbills, Red-fronted and Black-breasted Barbets, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Singing Bush lark, Red-winged Lark.

Hiking ,trekking and Scenery in Kidepo Valley Park:

From park headquarters one can hike to Lamoj. One can also enjoy the splendid view of Kidepo River Valley dominated by Borassus palm forest; You may also visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs. 

Other features are:

• The Narus valley is situated in the South West of the park.

• The rugged Napore-Nyagia mountain range that forms its western boundary

• Natira and Lokayot Hills

• Lotukei mountains in the North (Sudan)

• Morungole marks the southern border of the park.

Accommodation in Kidepo Valley  Park:

• Private Apoka Lodge overlooks the Narus Valley has comfortable rooms.

• National Park Bandas at Apoka have beddings, mosquito nets, hot showers, fresh drinking water and firewood provided. Bring all your own food, you can be assisted to cook. Drinks are available from the camp shop.

• Kakine Campsite has drop toilet, fresh drinking water and firewood will be brought to you. Bring your camping gear.

• Hotels at Moroto can serve as a base to explore the park.

Due to periodic poaching it is recommended you be accompanied by rangers at all time you are Kidepo Valley National park.  This can be arranged at Apoka headquarters.

Kidepo Valley 4 days 3 Nights Safari

Day1 Fly Entebbe-Kidepo Valley

You will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to board a chartered light aircraft to Kidepo. Arrive at Apoka Lodge. After lunch, enjoy panoramic views of the Narus River Valley and photographic opportunities of wildlife from the verandah of the lodge. An evening game drive along the Narus River Valley for game Viewing and photography of Elephants, herds of Buffaloes, Jackals, Jackson's Hartebeest, Klipspringer and possibly Lions. Dinner and overnight at Apoka Lodge.

Day2 Full day Kidepo Valley Cultural and Wildlife Safari

After an early breakfast, go for morning game drive to Kanangorok hot spring. You are likely to spot a variety of  animals including Ostrich. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon have a cultural experience that will bring into contact with Karamjong peoples at Karenna and Kapedo. Meet the local elders and have an opportunity to interact with them. They will show you the kraals, the grinding stones and many more interesting items. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day3 Full Day Kidepo Valley Safari

Full day at Kidepo enjoying the beautiful landscape. Full board accommodation in Apoka Lodge.

Day4

After breakfast, visit the bird hide and enjoy a guided nature walk. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch board your chartered flight back to Entebbe. Airport pickup to return to Kampala late in the evening.

Gorilla Safaris Rwanda, Doris House, Tom Mboya Street, Meru,  Kenya, TEL:-+254 723 684 974,Email us: rnxploresafaris@gmail.com or info@gorillasafarisrwanda.com