KIDEPO-THE THIRD BEST SAFARI NATIONAL PARK IN AFRICA

Are you interested in wildlife and wilderness safaris in Africa? Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s remotest, isolated and third biggest national park in the extreme Northeast of Karamoja region, lying at South Sudan border in Northwest and Kenya border in the East. It spans to about 1442 square kilometers and features as one of Uganda’s most attractive safari destinations. Its breathtaking landscapes and exceptional herds of Buffaloes position it as Uganda safari destination and it is of no doubt that it featured in the 2017 CNN travel ranking as the third best Africa’s safari national parks  out of all the 10 in the list. In 2013, Kidepo Valley National Park still featured as the 3^rd best wilderness park in Africa. The park comes with outstanding wildlife viewing especially along the Narus Valley with its concentration of lions, buffaloes, elephants and several smaller ungulates. Kidepo the Africa’s wilderness destination was listed after the Maasai Mara National Park which is popular for the great migration and the central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana famous for its vast wilderness and dangerous lions.

It is known to be the most distant destination for Uganda safaris beginning from Kampala but it features the unexploited African wilderness that come with wide range of wildlife especially the big 5 apart from the Rhinos; Burchell’s Zebra, Kobs, Rothschild giraffe and over 480 bird species and the most exceptional landscapes which have withstood the forces of nature with less human impact. It is a home to the native Karamojong dwellings in the Morungole Mountains, which offers visitors opportunity to experience the incredible wonders of the ancient African wilderness where natives and nature co-existed in a symbiotic relationship. There are extended game drives at Narus and Kidepo valleys for tourists prior a life changing hike to Mount Morungole to meet the amazing indigenous Ik people. The Narus valley features open grassland Savannah with tall sausage trees-the Kigelia Africana. The park inhabits over 77 species of mammals but features the second destination after Queen Elizabeth National Park with several bird species. This park straddles in an elevation of 914 meters and 2750 meters above sea level. The highest point in this protected area is Morungole Mountains 2750 meters south-eastern border and Mount Lutoke 2797 meters.

Other safari destinations that featured among the ten (10) best safari national parks in Africa in the 2017 CNN travel ranking include the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in Tanzania which is ideal for big 5, Etosha National Park in Namibia for cheetah spotting and waterhole stakeouts, the national parks along the Gambia River best for birding and West African aquatic wildlife safaris, Ahaggari National Park in Algeria ideal for Tuareg nomadic culture and vast sweeping Sahara landscapes, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Okavango delta in Botswana for huge crocodiles and mokoro safaris, Perinet Reserve in Madagascar.

Exciting things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park

Game viewing

Kidepo is a home to numerous wildlife species and this makes it the best safari destination. Game viewing is therefore the most exceptional activity that most tourists to this park participate which offers them opportunity to sight at the rare carnivore species in the park especially the bat eared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, cheetah and hunting dog. There are also lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and Beisa Oryx, Rothschild giraffe, cape buffaloes, elands, bush buck, bush duskier, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi and many more. 5 primate species especially the Kayirondo bush baby.

Other activities include Scenery viewing which is conducted at the park headquarters on Mount Lamoj. The stunning Kidepo River valley which is dominated by Borassus palm forest; picnic, cultural encounters in the Karamojong community (Manyatta village), nature walks and others.

THE CAPE BUFFALOES

Lodges to stay in Kidepo National Park

There are notable accommodation facilities for you to spend a night over especially the Apoka Rest Safaris Camp, Apoka Safari Lodge and Kakine Campsite just a short distance from Apoka.

Getting to Kidepo Valley National Park

By air:

Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kidepo Valley National Park. Alternatively, you can drive from Kampala to Gulu and Kitgum to Kidepo National Park. The distant but most stunning route is through Kampala-Mbale-Moroto. This route comes with amazing stopover in Sipi falls, hike in Mount Moroto or visit the cultural Manyattas and explore the life styles of the Karamojong-the great pastoralists. Other routes include the Kampala-Lira-Kotido-Kidepo, Kampala-Mbale-Soroti-Moroto-Kidepo route; Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Kotido-Kidepo.

In conclusion, Kidepo Valley National Park shouldn't miss in your itinerary. It is one of the best safari destinations to visit on Uganda safaris. There is lot in offer waiting for you to explore in this virgin protected area and you will be filled with life time experiences.