Which national park is the most remote in Uganda? Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the magnificent national parks in Uganda, located in the remote Karamoja region in the Kaabong district between Kenya and the South Sudan border. Kidepo Valley National Park is the country’s third-largest national park and was gazetted in 1958 due to its beautiful and breathtaking landscape and abundant wildlife species. The park covers a total area of 1442 square kilometers and is comprised of savannah vegetation, hills, and valleys like Kidepo and Narus Valley, and Mount Morungole, among others. The park houses about 77 mammal species, 475 bird species, several reptiles, and flora such as the smallest antelope, cheetahs, ostriches, and Karamoja Apalis, which are endemic to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Safari experiences in Kidepo Valley National Park the remote Uganda National park
Game divers
A game drive at Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the ways you can explore the hidden gems of the park. Game drives in the park offer exceptional opportunities for visitors to explore the park’s diverse wildlife and its stunning environment. During the game drive safari in the park, you’ll have a chance to spot a variety of the park’s habitats, such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, waterbucks, Jackson’s Harte beast, white-striped jackals, porcupines, pangolins, and other different types of antelopes, as well as colorful birds’ species like the ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, among others.
Hiking and nature walks
Hiking and nature walks are one of the most exciting activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. The hikes and walks in the park will take you to the mighty Lomej Mountains, which can be reached on foot. The hike takes four hours and starts at 7 a.m. There are also shorter guided walks that take about two hours and are taken through the Narus Valley, extending over a 5-kilometer radius from Apoka Tourism Centre. Visitors on Uganda safaris in Kidepo can also take the opportunity to walk on the stunning 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 with the IK tribe to the Morungole Mountains located outside the national park. While on hiking and nature walks, you will have the opportunity to meet a variety of wildlife species, such as buffaloes, lions, leopards, elephants, warthogs, zebras, and antelopes, as well as colorful bird species.
Bird watching
Bird watching is also one of the top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is home to about 475 bird species, and more are still being unspoiled by tourists who come for birdwatching tours in this remarkable park. Visitors who come on our safaris for bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park will have a chance to spot a variety of colorful bird species such as the superb sterling, ostrich, Abyssinian roller, purple heron, Abyssinian ground hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which are 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.
visiting Kanangorok hot springs
Visiting the Kanangorok hot springs is one of the most exciting activities offered while on a Uganda safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. The word Kanangorok means “place of black stones.” In Karamojong native language. The hot spring is located at the border of South Sudan, just a few kilometers from Apoka, the headquarters of Kidepo National Park. The water in Kanangorok hot springs boils at a temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough for one to boil an egg in and just lovely enough to have a stay at. Visitors to these stunning hot springs have the opportunity to trek through various verdant vegetation zones and are offered memorable opportunities to explore the raw beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park. Along the way to this awe-inspiring hot spring, you will have the opportunity to see lots of wildlife species, including Rothschild giraffes, cheetahs, Burchell’s zebras, giant eagles, greater kudus, lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, and lots more.
cultural visit
Kidepo Valley National Park is surrounded by welcoming communities. A cultural visit to Kidepo Valley National Park offers unique opportunities to visitors. A cultural visit to Kidepo Valley National Park involves touring the indigenous communities that inhabit the surrounding area, particularly the IK people and the Lorokul cultural group, a community bordering the park. During a cultural visit, you’ll have a chance to interact with indigenous and remote members of the Karamojong community and learn about their traditional way of life, customs, and cultural practices. You will also engage in their cultural performance and practices like dance and music, visiting the Manyattas, visiting the Kraals, making beads, milking, and storytelling with the elders.
When to embark on a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park
The time to go on a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park depends mutually on your preferences and what you need to see and experience. The Karamoja region consists of two weather peals, that’s to say, the long dry peal and the shorter wet peal. However, the dry season, which runs from December to February and then June to September, is generally considered the best for safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park. During this season, the weather is typically dry and sunny, making wildlife viewing easier as wildlife gathers around the water sources. The vegetation is less dense, and the roads are good. The worst time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park is April and May, which are the wettest months in the area.
Where to stay while on a Uganda safari in Kidepo Valley National Park- Uganda’s remote protected area
Kidepo Valley National Park offers a range of accommodation options to suit various preferences and budgets, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the wilderness while enjoying comfortable lodging such as Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, Mara Safari Lodge, Kidepo Karatunga Safari Camp, Katurum Lodge, Apoka Rest Camps, Kidepo Savannah Lodge and Zebra’s Safari Lodge, Kidepo, among others.
Contact our trusted tour operator for more information and inquiries about Uganda safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park, and book with our tours and travel companies, such as Achieve Global Safaris, who offer the best tour packages while on a Uganda safari.
