Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda
KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK.
Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s most spectacular National Park and one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas. It is Located in North Eastern Uganda, bordering Sudan, it is 1436 kms2 in size.
The popular and easy way to reach the park is by a charter flight from Kampala to Apoka airstrip, however, a day drive from Kampala via Mbale; Moroto requires a good 4WD safari vehicle. Rewarding game safari across the Narus valley is the main activity. This is the only park in Uganda where visitors can view both the Zebra and Giraffe. Also here we can have a chance to see the unusual White Buffalo and many other tourist attractions.
Enjoy the isolated and unspoiled wilderness; don’t miss the traditional Karimojong pastoralists with few linguistic affiliations to rest of Ugandan groups. There are also hot springs found on the Sudan boarder 11kms beyond the river crossing.
Tour activities:
Game Drives:
Kidepo is a park very rich in game since it is still virgin. The park has one of Uganda’s high concentrations of the big mammals- elephants, buffaloes, lions, zebras, small antelopes such as the oribi or the bush duiker, reed buck, klipspringer, dik-dik and warthogs. Zebra, Buffalo, and Kongoni. Predators are plentiful and Spotted Hyena, Leopard and Lion are frequently seen.
Tree climbing lions can also be found in kidepo.
Bird watching:
465 species have been recorded .The ostrich and the Kori bustard are principally associated with arid regions. Common birds likely to be seen include Abyssinian Hornbills, a Hammer kop, guinea fowl, a number of plovers, the Jackson’s Hornbill, the mouse bird, the White Stork.
Hiking and Scenery viewing:
Hiking can be carried out on Lamoj Mountains and hikes to Kidepo River Valley dominated by Borassus palm forest; From Kidepo Valley, you may also visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs, which are located only 11 kms from Kidepo river valley.
Guided Nature Walk
Nature walk visits to the Karimajong manyattas (homesteads) and probably kraals to see traditional costume, stools, spears headdress, knives, bows and arrows and jewelry can be arranged.
Accommodation:
Kidepo National Park has got 2 visitor accommodation facilities, the Apoka Safari Lodge which is for the high range clients and Apoka Hostel which has basic accommodation bandas.
However, there are some alternative Hotels in Moroto
town, like
the Moroto Hotel which provides standard accommodation
Gulona Lodge and Golii which provide basic
accommodation.
There also some accommodations in Kotido like the
Skyline, Paradise and Kotiang Trader's lodges.
APOKA SAFARI LODGE
The lodge has 10 Cottages built of wood, with en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets, double basins and a large shower with hot and cold running water. Each room has an outside bathtub (big enough for two or three!) that has been carved out of the rock face each bathtub has its own private view across the savannah to the mountains. Every room has a private veranda and large comfortable sitting area with sofa and armchair. One can be able to view wildlife from this lodge while having breakfast. The swimming pool at the lodge is carved out of a large rock.
APOKA HOSTEL
This facility has got simple traditional bandas (self cattering) which are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. We shall have to carry our own food with us.