Apoka Rest Camp | Kidepo National Park
Apoka rest camp is a budget accommodation managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority, situated in the northern part of Uganda specifically in the Karamoja region on the hill adjacent to the Narus Valley inside Kidepo National Park. One can be at the lodge by road from kampala city Via Gulu- Kitgumu taking approximately 8-9 hours’ drive (571 kilometers) then flying with Aero link from Entebbe international airport to the close Apoka airstrip it takes 2 hours and few minute to be transferred to the lodge . The camp is affordable to budget visitors who want to explore uganda’s wilderness in kidepo valley national park with the beautiful view of the narus valley and surrounding areas.
Apoka rest camp is more like a hostel contains 16 spacious and comfortable self contained chalets with cold showers and flushing toilets, and 14 non self -contained bandas where toilets and batherooms can be accessed outside the bandas . The camp reflects African traditional building style with natural materials and grass thatched roofs. Rooms are well equipped with comfortable clean beds , wrapped mosquito nets , free bottled water in the rooms , chairs , tables, slippers and other personal facilities. The beds varies depending on single , doubles, twin and triple with different rates that is not constant always go high during peak season than in low season. There are campfires to the guests who are interested in the wilderness camping where one is required to travel with their own camping amenities like tents, beddings and sometimes food and drinks for the period they will be staying at the camp and it’s a must to be with a ranger while camping .
Apoka rest camp offers more services and facilities which include; A restaurant that serves different meals ; breakfast ,lunch and dinner in and out door dinners especially if the friendly staff arranges to cook for the guests at their cost in case they have no packed food , The camp offers airport picks and drop-offs, solar electricity for full time available ,Free parking space available, Laundry services available , wifi available at the camp that enables visitors to keep in touch with their families and friends, camping offered , walking safaris, Excellent rooms with comfortable clean and washed beddings, Craft shop available at the camp with more African style gifts like shoes, safari essentials ,travelling guide books etc.
Kidepo valley national park is found in northern east near kareng in Kaabongo district karamoja region in Uganda. The park occupies the total area of 1,442km squared. The park lies between Uganda’s border with Sudan an Kenya just 700 km from kampala. Kidepo valley national park is rugged savannah, hills and narus valley .it is dominated by dominated by the 2,750 metres Mount Morungole and transected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers. Kidepo valley national park has few different accommodations; budget , mid range and luxury accommodation. The park has various animals over 86 species of which includes; elephants, buffaloes, lion even some tree climbing lions in savannah grounds , zebras both black and white, antelopes, cheetahs ,spotted hyenas etc and 463 different bird species like; the Kori bustard, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary bird, ostrich, carmine, yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbills and some ostriches. March to April is the best time to be in kidepo national park for the variety of animal species migrating to look for food. Chances are high of spotting the tree climbing lions which usually rest in the branches of the sausage trees close to the Narus Valley or on the rock just as you drive to the Apoka Park Headquarters. The local communities around the park are pastoral karamojongo people which are similar to the masaai of Kenya. While in kidepo you can do different activities which include; game viewing in the vast savannah ,you spot variety of animals like ;herds of cape buffaloes, African elephant ,cheeters ,lions and other animals, hot spring visit in kanangorok and kidepo valley , nature walks in the park community visits in the local village of karamoja(traditional dances), hiking mount morungule, bird watching since the park has different bird species and many more activities.
