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Road Trip Uganda to Kidepo Valley National Park
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Road Trip Uganda to Kidepo Valley National Park

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Are you taking a road trip to Uganda? Kidepo is one place you would not love to miss visiting if really your priority in Uganda is to have an extraordinary vacation. Kidepo Valley National Park is a very popular and the most recommended national park to go to if you are a true wildlife lover – nature lover. Kidepo is in fact far ahead from being just a wildlife sanctuary but its aesthetically pleasing landscape and the various bird species are among the other things that make the Park an extraordinary one.

However, like any other Park, Kidepo is more exhilarating in the dry season when the animals are congregated near the water points contrary to the rainy season where animals disseminate from the valleys moving to higher and drier grounds where viewing them may become a hurdle. Nevertheless, there are various reasons as to why you should drive northeast wards to visit the spectacular Kidepo and below are some of them:

Its wildlife and nature

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the northeastern parts of Uganda and it is known for its varied wildlife, and the eye-catching landscape. A trip to Kidepo is surely a discovery one as you will explore a variety of amazing things such as; the bird life, wildlife, impressive culture, fantastic climate, and not forgetting the magnificent view of the entire Park – hence being an ideal spot for great photographers.

Wildlife viewing in Kidepo is a classy one if you are that traveler who would like to see almost every African wildlife species protected in one specific place. Kidepo protects more wildlife species than any other protected area in Uganda and among these include; African Lions, African Elephants, African Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Zebras, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Oribi, Impalas, Uganda Kob, Elands, Klipspringers, African Wild Dog, Jackals, Bat-eared Foxes, and many others. On the side of bird life, Kidepo protects more bird species in Uganda (500 bird species) only behind Queen Elizabeth National Park which has 600-plus bird species.

The amazing culture

The well-known cattle keepers, Karamojong, are the most popular tribe in northeastern Uganda and around the boundaries of Kidepo Valley National Park. For the travelers to Kidepo you are guaranteed with amazing cultural experiences once you immerse yourself in the Karamojong culture. According to the Karamojong culture, for a young Karamojong man to be counted as a true matured man and for him to marry a Karamojong woman should first wrestle the woman he desires to marry – this is a must-done ritual to every Karamojong man.

When he comes out victorious from the wrestling match against the woman, he is now considered to be a man and is qualified to marry the woman. This is a gesture showing that the man will be strong enough to give protection to his wife and the entire family. After a successful match, the dowry negotiations are allowed to commence.

In an instance where the young man is unable to defeat the woman in the wrestling match, he will not be considered by his people to be a man and will often leave to marry a woman from a different people-group where a test of strength is not required. Even when a non – Karamojong man wishes to marry a Karamojong woman, he is also subjected to go through this ritual too.

Good accommodations in Kidepo

As you enjoy the extra ordinariness of Kidepo Valley National Park, you will be very pleased to also sleep comfortably at night and also taste the good organic foods of Uganda in the well-equipped restaurants. Some of the best accommodations to enjoy your stay in Kidepo include: Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga’moru Wilderness Camp, and Apoka Rest Camp, among others, but all in all you are advised to consider advance booking.

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Uganda Safaris

Uganda Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park

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written by admin

Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated park nestled in the country’s distant north-eastern corner, close to Kenya and South Sudan in the farthest extremity of the remote, sparse, close to Kenya and South Sudan in the farthest extremity of the remote, sparse, close to Kenya and South Sudan in the farthest extremity of the remote, sparsely populated Karamoja region.

One of Africa’s most fantastic-wilderness, the Kidepo landscape is one of tremendous drama with grasslands roamed by big game favorites extending towards rugged mountains in all points of the compass. For travelers visiting Eastern Uganda always combine there Uganda Tours with Kidepo and Murchison Falls National Park.

Accessibility

A road trip to Kidepo is an exciting adventure with various road conditions; therefore, contact your tour company to provide you with a good-quality 4-wheel drive vehicle. The quickest and most popular route from Kampala runs via Gulu and Kitgum (571 kilometers). If traveling via Kitgum, try to return to Kampala through the vast, undeveloped Karamoja region (661 kilometers) passing through Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and close to Mountain Elgon National Park. However, Kidepo can also be accessed by air; the charter and scheduled flights fly to Kidepo airstrip from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip.

Wildlife species to see in Kidepo

An impressive variety of wildlife species survive in the Park’s harsh and semi-arid environment. In Uganda, Kidepo is the only refuge for; cheetahs, striped hyenas, caracals, and the bat-eared foxes, well as the elands and zebras can only be spotted in this Park and in Uganda’s closest Park to the capital (Kampala) – Lake Mburo National Park. Other game to view in Kidepo include; lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, spotted hyenas, Rothschild’s giraffes, black backed and side striped jackals, Jackson’s hartebeests, Oribis, Lesser Kudus, mountain reed bucks, hunting dogs, aardwolves, Grant’s gazelles, warthogs, dik dik, bush pigs, hippos, crocodiles, and white-tailed mongooses, among others.

With almost 500 bird species, Kidepo is only next to Queen Elizabeth National Park to reside the highest number of bird species thus being an ideal destination for the serious birders. Some of the bird species to see in Kidepo include; Rose ringed parakeets, Clapperton’s francolin, Karamoja apalis, Ostriches, Secretary birds, Kori bustard, Red-throated bee-eaters, the Abyssinian roller and the Abyssinian ground horn bill, rare lappet-faced vultures, lesser kestrel, and Denham’s bustard.

Activities to do in Kidepo

Kidepo is an area of rich cultural interest for the plains around the Park are dotted with the manyatta (homesteads) of Karamoja’s fiercely traditional pastoralists. Besides the cultural encounters, the other activities to do in the Park include; bird watching, nature walks, and game viewing. The Narus valley game drive, in the south of the Park, boasts the Park’s only permanent water points and wildlife congregates in this area for much of the year; look for buffaloes and elephants in the swamps along the valley floor, giraffes and elands on the drier slopes above and scan the rock-outcrops for lions. The Kidepo valley drive is short on big game but massive on scenery.

Where to stay

There is various accommodation within and around Kidepo national park for the visitors to base in, and some of them include; Apoka safari lodge, Kidepo savanna lodge, Apoka rest camp, Kakine self-catering campsite, and Ng’amoru wilderness camp, among others.

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Wildlife Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park
NewsThings to Do

Wildlife Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park

by admin
written by admin

Kidepo Valley National Park is among Uganda’s top destinations to visit on your wildlife Safari in Uganda with its wide scope of wildlife to sight.

This park is located in the North eastern part of Uganda (Uganda is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent bordering Kenya in the East, South Sudan in the North, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, Rwanda and Tanzania in the South) Kaabong district in Karamoja region.

It covers about 1442km2 of Area and its northwestern boundary runs along the international frontier with South Sudan and abuts against its Kidepo Game Reserve.

How to Reach Kidepo Valley National Park?

This great National Park is located far in the Northeast of Uganda and there are many different routes used to reach this park.

It is usually to start your Journey very early in the morning, some of the routes used passing west of Kyoga through Acholi land include Kampala – Karuma – Gulu – Kitgum – Kidepo = 571km (10 hours) & Kampala – Karuma – Lira – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo = 705km (12 hours).

Those passing east of Kyoga through Karamoja include Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo = 740km (12 hours) & Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo = 792km (13 hours).

Therefore, its better you use a shorter route which starts from Kampala to Gulu via Masindi – Gulu highway and if interested you will have en-route stopover in Nakitoma – Nakasongola for the White Rhinoceros in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary at a cost of $50 USD per person.

After continue with the Journey passing Karuma with en-route game viewing until you reach Kitgum for dinner and an overnight stay to rest a bit and refresh after a long drive.

After an overnight stay in Kitgum next day early in the morning get in touch with the Journey again up to Kidepo Valley National Park with en-route game viewing and check in at your favourite hotel of residence.

What to do and see in Kidepo Valley National Park?

This rugged savannah National Park located far North East of Uganda is commonly known for its wide scope of wildlife in its diversity with over 86 mammal species including spotted hyenas, lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, Cape buffaloes, bat-eared foxes, Rothschild’s giraffes plus almost 500 bird species recorded in the park.

Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park is not displayed on its faces but instead you have to do a game drive around the Park which issues you with 100% chances of sighting most of the species in the park.

While on the game drive you will be exposed to most of the natural outlook of this park and it’s your choice to choose whether you go for a day or night game drive, day game drive costs $20 USD and a night one will cost you $30 USD.

During the game drive you are assigned a park ranger to lead through the trails in the park as for them they know the best locations in the park to sight most of the Wildlife primates.

When you miss to sight some primates of your interest on first game drive chances are high to be in touch with it on the second game drive, Kidepo Valley National Park is very wide in that even if you wish to do over four game drives around but in different places of the park it is very possible.

For Birders Kidepo Valley National Park is among the suitable destinations for Bird watching in Uganda as over 500 bird species are recorded sightable while on your discoverable game drive around the park.

Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park costs $30 USD per person and its always advised for birders to go for bird watching either in the morning or evening time.

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