Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley at a Glance

Wildlife in Kidepo Valley

Most of the wildlife gathers in the Narus Valley, where water lasts through the dry season. Buffalo herds can number in the hundreds, and elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeest and oribi are common. Lions are seen regularly, sometimes resting on rocky outcrops, and leopards, spotted hyenas and black-backed jackals are present.

Kidepo is the only park in Uganda with cheetahs, though sightings are never certain, and the only one with ostriches. It also has dry-country species not found elsewhere in the country, such as greater and lesser kudu and Guenther’s dik-dik. See Kidepo’s wildlife and why Uganda’s cheetahs live only here.

Things to Do in Kidepo

Game drives in the Narus Valley

Morning and late-afternoon drives around the Narus Valley are the heart of any visit, with mountain views in every direction and very few other vehicles. See game drives in the Narus Valley.

The Kidepo Valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs

A longer drive north crosses the dry, sandy Kidepo riverbed lined with borassus palms. Further on, near the South Sudan border, the Kanangorok Hot Springs make a full-day excursion for adventurous travellers. See the Kanangorok Hot Springs.

Guided walks

Ranger-led walks around Apoka and up nearby hills give a different view of the landscape and its smaller wildlife.

Karamojong and Ik cultural visits

The Karamojong are cattle-keeping pastoralists whose traditions remain strong; a visit to a manyatta homestead, arranged through the community, introduces their way of life. The Ik, one of Uganda’s smallest ethnic groups, live in the Morungole Mountains and can be visited on a demanding guided hike. See Karamojong and Ik culture.

Birding and stargazing

Kidepo has recorded about 475 bird species, many of them dry-country birds absent from the rest of Uganda, such as the Karamoja apalis, kori bustard and secretary bird. With almost no light pollution, the night skies are some of the clearest in East Africa. See birding in Kidepo.

Best Time to Visit Kidepo

Kidepo has a different climate from southern Uganda, with one main rainy season, roughly April to October, and a hot dry season from about November to March. The dry season is best for game viewing, as animals concentrate around the remaining water in the Narus Valley and tracks are easiest to drive. In the rains the valleys turn green and wildlife spreads out, and some tracks become difficult. It is hot all year, so bring sun protection.

How to Get to Kidepo

• By air: scheduled flights from Entebbe to the Apoka airstrip inside the park take about two hours or more, depending on stops. This is how most visitors arrive.
• By road: about ten to twelve hours from Kampala via Gulu and Kitgum, usually broken with an overnight stop. The drive crosses Karamoja’s wide plains and is an adventure in itself.
• From Murchison Falls: by road via Gulu, or by connecting flights.

See flying vs driving to Kidepo and the 5-day Kidepo fly-in safari.

Where to Stay in Kidepo

Accommodation is limited, which keeps the park quiet. Options are centred on Apoka in the south of the park, from simple Uganda Wildlife Authority bandas to a small number of comfortable lodges, with a few camps outside the park. Because there are few rooms, book early, especially for the dry season. See where to stay in Kidepo.

Combining Kidepo With Other Parks

Kidepo is far from Uganda’s other parks, so it is usually added as a fly-in extension of three nights to a southern safari, or combined with Murchison Falls on a northern route. It is especially rewarding on a second visit to Uganda, after the gorillas and Queen Elizabeth. See why Kidepo deserves a place on your itinerary.