Getting to Kidepo National Park is either by road or air while on Uganda safari. Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) sits in the farther Northeast, Karamoja Region near the Uganda border with South Sudan and Kenya.
The park can be reached by road and by air. Driving is rewarding, as much of Karamoja, like Kidepo itself, is a vast and unspoiled wilderness. However, road conditions are sometimes poor and a 4WD vehicle is essential.
By Road Transport
Kidepo is easier to access using a comfortable 4WD vehicle. Alternatively, you can access the park by public means though this may be delayed since buses tend to make several stops while dropping off passengers. This is why it is better to rent a car from a reputable Uganda Car Hire company to ease your travel to Kidepo Valley National Par.
There are different routes leading visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park to experience a Uganda safari. The Eastern routes take you from Kampala via Jinja adrenaline adventure capital of the world to Mbale, connecting via Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, and finally to Kidepo NP-792kms route. Or Kampala via Jinja, Mbale, Soroti to Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and get to Kidepo NP.
Northwestern route; getting to Kidepo NP starts from Kampala through Karuma, Gulu to Kitgum, Kaabong and access Kidepo 10 hours’ drive. The Kampala through Karuma to Lira to Kotido, Kaabong and then be at Kidepo NP, approximately 12 hours’ drive. The Northwestern routes offer Uganda safari travelers a great opportunity to make a stopover at Ziwa Sanctuary to track Rhinos in the wild, view the scenic Karuma Falls etc.
Popular Routes
There are four possible routes by road as listed below. Optimum driving times are given
Routes passing west of Lake Kyoga through Acholiland
- Kampala – Karuma – Gulu – Kitgum – Kidepo = 571km (10 hours)
- Kampala – Karuma – Lira – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo = 705km (12 hours)
Routes passing east of Lake Kyoga through Karamoja
- Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo = 740km (12 hours)
- Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kotido – Kabong – Kidepo = 792km (13 hours)
The most usual route passes through Gulu and Kitgum Ideally, travellers should plan to stay overnight in one of these towns or at Chobe, near Karuma in Murchison Falls National Park.
Visitors should note that the road mainly in use from Kotido to Kaabong passes via Kanawat not via Losilang as indicated on most maps. Enquire at Kotido for details.
Prospective visitors should contact UWA Headquarters or the Apoka Lodge to obtain up-to-date advice about road conditions and identify the preferred route, particularly if considering an approach through Karamoja.
Taking the Eastern Safari Circuit is amazing as it comes with en-route visits and depending on the time, the different sites worth visiting en-route to Kidepo include Ssezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest, Jinja-at the Source of the Nile, Sipi Falls-The Triple Falls.
How to get to Kidepo National Park by road-via Eastern or Northwestern routes.
How to get to Kidepo National Park by air;
Kidepo National Park is accessible by air transportation.
Domestic flights (mainly Aerolink Uganda Ltd) connect visitors to Kidepo NP, take off starts from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and land at Kidepo Airstrip or Apoka Airstrip. You will spend lesser than 2 hours when using air transportation means to Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda.
Charter flights to Kidepo may be arranged from Kampala (Kajjansi), Kampala Aeroclub, or Entebbe with Eagle Aviation. Flights take about two hours. The Civil Aviation Authority plans to make Lomej airstrip near Apoka, an international airport to enable visitors to fly direct to Kidepo from other countries.
There are currently no scheduled flights to Apoka.