A self-drive Kidepo is an amazing experience that you need to be part. Imagine you are driving alone in your car and you come across a pride of African lions as they wait for their prey or huge population of elephants, or buffaloes as the wonder in the wilderness.

Self-Drive Safari in endowed Kidepo Valley National Park is an authentic and quite adventurous means of travel throughout the beautiful terrains of the Pearl of Africa to the mountain ringed plains of Kidepo valley national park that enables you feed not only your eyes but also the soul as the lands are perfectly molded to give perfect sceneries of lands soaring into the sky with the highest peak being the top mount Morungole of the equatorial region and watered by the seasonal rains, fresh waters of the Narus river of Kidepo.

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular and remote parks tucked in the northeastern corner bordering Kenya and South Sudan. The park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers and has an altitude ranging between 914m and 2750m. Kidepo Valley harbors scenery that is not in any other parks in East Africa. The park has a semi-arid climate with one rainy season year in the months of April – September.

The park has two rivers i.e. Narus River and Kidepo River and the two rivers are seasonal. This means that in the dry season they dry out, as such the only water in the park is in the wetlands and remnant pools along the Narus valley. Stroll along the Kidepo River in the dry season and enjoy its 50m bed of white sand between banks covered by borassus palm trees. You will be surprised to find heavily flowing rivers during the rainy season, such a unique setting, and a ‘beach’ during the dry season.

ACTIVITIES DONE IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Game drives

The major activity is game drives in search of the various exotic animals and plants. The best times for game viewing are early morning at 6 am or later in the evening about 5 pm. The game drives are usually done in the Narus valley which is a plain enclosed by distant mountains because the valley has water much of the year, many animals congregate here making it easier to sight them. Watch the animals in the grasslands across a large spectrum. Visit the Katurum kopje, which will provide superb views of the scenery across the valley.

Here is a sneak peek into the wildlife fauna that will cross your path and catch your sight: Zebras, Duikers, Jackson’s hartebeests, Elephants, Lions, Elands, Bat Eared Fox, Geunther’s Dik-Dik, Jackals, Rothschild Giraffes, Striped Hyenas, Klipsinger, Mountain Reedbucks, Buffalos, Defassa Waterbucks, Cheetah, Kongoni, Kobs, Pata Monkeys, Bush Pigs and the only park with Ostriches. The flora includes; Savannah, Borassus palms, Sausage Trees and Acacia.  To say that the list is exhaustive would be far from the truth.

Visiting Kidepo Valley National Park would add an ounce of description to every category of wildlife mentioned above. Lions will not just be lions but tree climbing lions poised in sausage trees or sprawled on rocks at the entrance of Apoka Park. You will not just tell a story of a crocodile but that of unique crocodiles adapted to the arid conditions of the park measuring 2.5 meters as opposed to the usual 4 meters. Visiting Kidepo not only gives you a chance to check the box against sights, sounds, wildlife species, and birds, but leaves you with a story to tell about each bird, animal, tree or rock.

Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park

Birding is a pleasure in Kidepo valley national park. 475 bird species and many more that have not been formally recorded thrive in this remote yet beautiful park making the park only second to Queen Elizabeth national park in the realm of bird species. The park being savannah, it is easy to spot the birds as you move along. Birding is best in the morning or evening but one is free to spend the entire day with packed lunch in the park.

Some birds in Kidepo are specific to the Karamojong region such as the Karamoja Apalis. Other species available for you to tick off your bird list are the Lammergeyer, Verreaux’s Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, Egyptian Vulture, Neophron, Black-Breasted Barbet and Ostriches and 5 species of the hornbills.

Nature and Hiking walks (Walking Safari)

All the different mountains in and outside Karamoja can be hiked but the most common hikes are to Lamoj mountains. It takes about 4 hours to hike and to start early morning before the heat picks up. Nature walks are available and they take 2 hours (Narus valley from Apoka tourism center) which is 5km. One can take 6 hours to Namamukweny valley for the beautiful scenery.

Community walks and Cultural experiences

The Karamoja region has rich cultures of the Karamajong and Ik tribe. The Ik tribe is the most isolated tribes in Uganda living on top of Morungole Mountain. It is an extremely strenuous all day hike to visit this endangered people group. They are largely peaceful hunter-gatherers who have retreated to the mountains for protection from the neighboring cattle-raiding tribes.

A visit to the Karamajong homesteads will give you a glimpse into their pastoral lifestyles, partake of the food, join the dancing, and purchase the crafts like knives, arrows, jewellery, and stools. 

The Hot springs

The bubbly Kanangorok Hot Springs loosely translated to mean the place of black stones simmers away near the South-Sudan border and is believed to have healing powers for skin diseases. The drive to the hot springs takes you past the Kidepo river which is seasonal.

BEST TIMES WHEN TO VISIT KIDEPO NATIONAL PARK

Dry Months, Best Time & High Season For Kidepo: September, October, November, December, January and February are the driest, most humid and hottest months but not the peak season of travel in Uganda (except September). Expect few guests compared to the peak season.

Dry & Wet Rainy Months, Very Good Time & Peak Season for Kidepo: July and August offer a mixture of dry and wet periods with high numbers of visitors into Kidepo.

Wet Rainy Months, Good Time & Mid-High Season for Kidepo: March and June are both rainy and peak periods with fewer numbers of tourists into Kidepo.

Wet Rainy Season, Least good Time & Low Season for Kidepo: April and May. These months are also part of the lush green season.

Best Time for Birdwatching Safaris in Kidepo: The best time for birding safaris in Kidepo Park is from March and April when the dry season transits to the wet season though the park offers excellent all-year round birding opportunities due to semi-arid ecology. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April. The rainy months of April to August bring an abundance of food that leads to a lot of avian activity though very few trails can be slippery due to its arid ecology, and also few of the roads and its airstrip can sometimes be challenging to access during rainy peak days.

ROUTES TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

The journey from Kampala is long but rewarding as you move along the different vegetation and tribal lands.

Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kidepo OR Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo OR Kampala – Gulu – Kitgum – Kidepo

You can also take scheduled or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kidepo.

ACCOMMODATION IN KIDEPO NATIONAL PARK

• Apoka Lodge
• Agamour wilderness camp
• Apoka Rest Camp
• Kakine Campsite

Conclusion

It is kick started with hiring a car in Uganda for self drive with a reputable car rental agency. Several car rental agencies guarantee renting you a car in good condition that can maneuver the tough terrains of Uganda and other extra services upon interest for example insightful driver guides, quality camping gear, and so much more.