Overview

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best destinations in Uganda. It is blessed with many species of wildlife and features. It offers a lot of activities including game drives. It is a must-visit while on a wildlife safari in East Africa.

Kidepo Valley National Park animals

Kidepo Valley National Park animals are the main attractions in the park. It is a perfect place to see elephants and lions. You can spot herds of elephants of about 1,000 members. Dry-country species such as lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik-dik, greater kudu, and caracal are present in the park.  It is home to primates such as the patas monkey. You can also spot Rothschild’s giraffe, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and wild dogs among other species. The best time to see these animals is during the dry months. Animals are usually around water sources. During the wet season, they are mostly on higher ground. It is harder to spot them in such locations.

Birdlife

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to more than 470 bird species. 60 of these species are only found in this park. It is a great place to spot the common Ostrich in Uganda. It has over 56 raptor species. Some of the common species are red-and-yellow barbet, kori bustard, and a rose-ringed parakeet. Resident birds are common in the park across the year. Rain may not interfere with birding in this semi-arid area. But you can only spot migratory birds between November and April.

Scenery

Kidepo and Narus valleys are two important tourist attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park. Narus Valley is a grassland plain that has permanent water which attracts wildlife. It is enclosed by distant mountains. Water holes and the Narus dam offer superb views across the valley. The Kidepo River is an attractive feature. Tourists stroll along its bed of white sands covered with palms. Beyond the river is the Kanangorok Hot Springs. It is a perfect spot to enjoy the views of the mountain in the park.

Climate

Kidepo Valley National Park has a semi-arid climate. Drought is common. Temperatures range between 17°C and 40°C. The dry season is between September and March.  Between September and November, some days may rain. But it is mostly dry. Temperatures range between 17°C and 29°C. Between December and February, rain is rare in the park. This is the hottest season. Temperatures range between 18°C and 40°C. This is the best time to visit the park.

The wet season is between April and August. The rain is not as heavy as recorded in other parks in the south. Temperatures range between 17°C and 27°C. Rain may not interfere with most activities in the park.

FAQs About Kidepo Valley National Park

• Kidepo Valley National Park location?

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Karamoja region in Uganda. This is in the northeast side of the country. It is about 200 km from Moroto, the largest town in Moroto District in the northern region. Its coordinates are 3.7274° N and 33.6931° E. It is close to the borders of Kenya and South Sudan.

• Why visit Kidepo Valley National Park?

Tourists engage in many activities in Kidepo Valley National Park. Game drives are the main activities. They allow visitors to spot many species of wild animals in the park. Other common activities are birding and wildlife walks.

• Which is the best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park?

You can visit the park at any time across the year. But the dry season is best for viewing wildlife. This is between September to March. But April to August (wet season) has its surprises too. It is the best time for spotting migratory birds. It has beautiful scenery and is perfect for colorful photography.

• How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park

You can get there by road. It is located about 571 km from Kampala. Some tourists get there from Murchison Falls. It takes about 7 hours to reach the park. You can get there by air. There is an airstrip close to Apoka.