Located a long the North Eastern border of Uganda and Kenya and Sudan to the North in the Karamoja Land, Kidepo Valley National Park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers of true wilderness. It’s the most inaccessible of Uganda’s national park but the fact remains that it was very unique feature that the quest to visit it is inevitable.  The vast savannah plains and rugged mountain landscape of Kidepo Valley National Park makes it by far the most spectacular of Uganda’s parks. At the highest point in the park is Mount Morungole 2,750m in the southern boundary of the park while to the north with the border of Sudan is the Loukei mountain range. Situated in the southwest of the park is the Narus Valley and along the western boundary is the rugged Napore-Nyagia mountain range. The Natira and Lokayot Hills separate the park in the northeast from the Kidepo Valley. While mountain forest dominates the high places, the areas along the Lorupei River support dense acacia forest. The varying structure and composition, huge latitudinal range and wide climatic conditions result in a diverse flora and fauna more typical of western Kenya than the rest of Uganda.  Kidepo boasts a diverse range of animal species with a list of more than 80 mammal species including 28 species found in no other Ugandan park. Dry plains game can be found here such as the greater kudu and cheetah along with bat-eared foxes, caracals and Klipspringers. As with man other Ugandan Parks Kidepo is still recovering from the Amin era when poaching and indiscriminate killing of game depleted herds. Those less common and perhaps locally extinct are the striped hyena, lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and beisa oryx. However other large mammals have made excellent recovery and healthy populations of elephant, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, Rothschild giraffe, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, bonhor reedbuck, waterbuck and kongoni can be found in the park today.  Plentiful numbers of carnivores such as leopard, lion, spotted hyena, black-backed and side-striped jackals are also seen. Kidepo is also home to five different species of primate, including the Kavirondo bush baby, which is endemic to this area. The dry thorn thicket landscape in the north of the park is home to Guenther’s dik dik and Senegal galago. A rich and diverse reptile fauna is also found in the park. Bird species recorded upwards of 475 second only to Queen Elizabeth Park.  Some of East Africa’s rarest and most sought after birds can be found here such as the black-breasted barbet and Karamoja apallis. An outstanding amount of birds of prey are found in Kidepo and of the 58 species recorded, 14 are believed to be endemic to the Park and the wider Karamoja region. Among those seen are Verreaux’s eagle, the Egyptian vulture and pygmy falcon. Four species of hornbills have been recorded and the red-billed, yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbill are peculiar to Kidepo and the giant Abyssinia ground hornbill is also common. Not only is Kidepo an animal safari adventurer and birdwatchers paradise but the park also offers hiking trips to the Lamoj Mountains, a few kilometers from the park headquarters. Views of the spectacular Kidepo River Valley and Borassus palm forest can be seen and from Kidepo Valley visitors can make a trip to the Kanangorok Hot Springs located just 11kms from the river valley. The Karamajongo people have a culture that is closely related to the Masai and the Turkana of Kenya. There is an opportunity to learn more about their fascinating way of life hence tribal visits to their homesteads can be arranged to complement your safari. You can also buy unique curio items that are designed by their talented arms. Kidepo Valley National Park is accessible either by road or by air. Chartered flights are available from Entebbe International Airport to the Park Headquarters. Distance from Kampala: 705 Km: Estimated transit time 12 hrs. |
Kidepo Valley National Park
