Tourist Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park; Are the hallmark experience done by the tourists on their safari to Uganda’s national park. Kidepo Valley national park is one of the most beautiful Uganda safari destination though is less visited because its far location. The park is located in the northeastern part far off from Entebbe or Kampala ‘’Uganda’s capital City’’, approximately 520 kilometers by road but the most convenient means of transport to access the park on time is travelling by Air –get a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Lomej Airstrip. Despite the fact that, Kidepo covers a total area about 1,442 square kilometers in the Karamoja region in the northeast Uganda. The park is rugged with open savannah dominated by the 2,750 meters of Mount Morungole and bisected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers.
Kidepo Valley national park lies near Karenga Kaabong district in the northeastern side of Uganda and it boost with a lot thrilling attraction opted by the tourists such as wildlife, notable bird life, nature and climate, scenic landscape among others. Over all, Kidepo is home rich in diversity of wildlife species and other species with over 86 mammals ,500 species of birds and consists of the two major valley systems of the Kidepo and Narus Rivers. The valley floor lies between 3,000feet and 4,00 feet.
Kidepo wildlife species can be explored in one of the two famous valleys which is Narus valley and Kidepo valley that comprises of dotted palms and acacia bush. Animals to encounter along here include; lions, elephants, cape African buffaloes, wild dog, elephants, giraffe, zebra, African buffalo, bat eared foxes, Rothschild’s giraffes, leopard, spotted hyena, lion, cheetah among others.
Below is the highlight of tourist’s attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park, however, the park can be visited yearly although conditions in the park are more difficult during the rainy season. More then, the park is quite hot since it locates in semi-arid region of Uganda which experiences too much sunshine. Even when it rains tome the temperature still remains warm and storm which rarely last more than an hour and travelers are advised to use 4×4 wheel drive in the park for your comfortable traveling journey as well as easy wildlife viewing.
Accommodation in kidepo and around the park, tourist can sleep in few reasonable options such as Nga More Wilderness camp and Apoka safari camp. The most booked accommodation is Apoka Safari Lodge or you can sleep in a budget accommodation available at affordable fees which is Apoka Rest Camp managed by ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Kidepo Valley –Tourists Attractions
Game viewing –This is the most done activities by the tourist on their visit to kidepo valley national park. Game drive is best enjoyed while using 4×4 wheel vehicle with comfortable seats and pop roof for your great sights of herds of elephants, buffaloes and other species and can be spotted along Narus Valley. All you need to do is to book your tour package with a recognized tour operator. Note, a visitor can book your activities from the Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices in Kampala or by help of tour agent thus Tourist Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Travelling by road; estimates 12 hours’ drive from Kampala. Or book a scheduled flight by Aero link, a flight that takes about 2 hours and fly into Kidepo from Entebbe Airport. Charter flights are also available you can contact any of the flight operators or through your tour operator.
Apoka Tourism center
Apoke tourism center has great impact on Kidepo tourism where ranger guides are booked from who accompanies you to the game drive and nature walks for the safety against the cats. Visitors without transport trucks can also be hired from here. The center is touched with craft shop where you can do souvenir shopping from or buy historical tourism books, drinks like bottled water, sodas and other beverages all are purchased here. Food is cooked on request and cooking gas and utensils can be hired at the Centre by individuals who wish to cook for themselves.
Narus Valley
Narus Valley is scenic with its rolling, grassland enclosed by distant mountains. This valley has permanent water and number of the park’s wildlife congregates here. The area provides a fabulous game truck with four loop circuits exploring the valley around Apoka. Animals to be spotted include lions, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes, Oribis, buffaloes, reedbucks among others. If your luck you can come across cheetahs and leopards. Along the Narus dam and the water hole you can get closer to Tourism Centre, perfect area to observe lots of game, mostly during the dry season. On your visit to Kidepo never leave the park without reaching the southern end of the Katurum loop, Katurum kopje it acts as an attractive destination with superb view north across the valley towards the Morungule mountain range.
Kidepo Valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs
This part of the park lacks water source meaning there are few wildlife to see around, though the area is worth the drive to visit the dry kidepo River toward its 50meter wide bed of white sand between banks covered with borassus palms. The word Kidepo is in local word which means pick from below. The valley was visited by people coming to gather to pick borassus fruits for fermenting to make drinks ‘’beer’’ thus also one of the Tourist Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The kanangorok Hot Spring is quite rewarding with its beautiful springs.
Mount Morungule
Mount Morungule measure at 2,750meter and goes through Kidepo and Narus Rivers that nourish the park’s wildlife and nature. It also marks the southern boundary of the park and rises from the plains in the northeast of Apoka. It can be explored on foot with a ranger. The mountain slopes are home to the IK people who are the smallest ethnic group in Uganda.
Namamukweny Valley
This is a great location for viewing numerous species of bird such as common bulbul, Abyssinian Roller, green wood Hoopoe, Eastern Paradise Whydah. White crested turaco, located in the northwest of the park and can be out reached on foot.
Lomej Hills
The lomej hills takes short drive from the headquarters. The hills are viewing points for birds and wildlife species like mountain reedbuck.
Lonyii Mountain
To primate’s lovers on your visit to the park, you can reach out this area and view several monkeys around and also visits montane forest but always visit the places with armed park ranger
