Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park: Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park offer a unique and thrilling wildlife viewing experience in one of Uganda’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas. Kidepo National Park is situated in the remote northern eastern corner of the country, this park is one of the most isolated and untouched areas in Uganda, making it a perfect destination for those looking to explore the beauty of Africa’s wildlife without the crowds. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the four for of the big 5 animals including lions, buffaloes, elephants and leopards. Other animals include giraffes, zebras and various antelope species. Game drives at Kidepo Valley National Park offer visitors the opportunity to see these fascinating animals up close in their natural habitat, providing a truly authentic safari experience
Kidepo Valley National Park is known for its stunning landscape, with vast savannah plains, rugged mountains and deep valleys creating a picturesque backdrop for your game drive. As you venture through the park on an open-roof safari vehicle, you’ll have the chance to spot wildlife their in their natural habitat, from majestic elephants grazing in the grassland to swift cheetahs hunting for their next meal.
In addition to the wildlife sightings, the game drives at Kidepo Valley Park also offer the opportunity to interact with the local Karamojong people, who live in the surrounding communities. you can learn about their traditional way of life, visit their villages and even participate in cultural activities such as dancing and storytelling. whether you choose to go on a morning, afternoon, or full-day game drive safari, you are sure to have a memorable and exciting experience in Kidepo Valley National Park. don’t miss the opportunity to witness the incredible wildlife and natural beauty of this remote and untamed wilderness area.
Are there other safari activities I can combine with game drives at Kidepo Valley National Park?
Certainly, Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda, offers a variety of safari beyond game drives. Here are some options you can combine with your game drives;
Bird watching
Kidepo Valley National Park is not only a haven for wildlife enthusiasts bit also a paradise for bird watchers. This hidden gem in the remote northeastern corner of Uganda is home to over 450 bird species including endemic and migratory birds, making it one of the best bird watching destinations in Uganda. during your bird watching tour in the park, you’ll have a great opportunity to spot a variety of different colorful bird species Karamoja Apalis, Abyssinian roller, Fox kestrel, ostrich, Brown rumped bunting, Dark chanting goshawk, Superb starling, Purple grenadier, Brownback woodpeckers, Fan tailed raven, Ethiopian swallow, Violet tipped courser, Vinaceous dove, Bruce’s green pigeon, White billed buffalo weavers, Mosque swallow, Rufous chatter, Jackson’s hornbills, Red winged lark among others.
visiting Kanangorok hot springs
Visiting the Kanangorok hot springs is one of the most exciting activities offered while on a wildlife safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. The word Kanangorok means “place of black stones.” In Karamojong, the native language. The hot spring is located at the border of South Sudan, just a few kilometers from Apoka, the headquarters of Kidepo National Park. The water in Kanangorok hot springs boils at a temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough for one to boil an egg in and just lovely enough to have a stay at. Visitors to these stunning hot springs have the opportunity to trek through various lush vegetation zones and are offered a memorable opportunity to discover the raw beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park. Along the way to this stunning hot spring, you will have the chance to see lots of wildlife species, including Rothschild giraffes, cheetahs, Burchell’s zebras, giant eagles, greater kudus, lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, and lots more.
Cultural encounter
Cultural encounters in Kidepo Valley National Park give you an opportunity to interact with the local people such as the Karamojong who live in the neighboring villages. the park is situated in the remote Karamoja region, home to the Karamojong people, who have a unique and vibrant culture that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park not only have the opportunity to witness the beauty of the natural landscape and see the exotic wildlife but also engage with the local community and experience a truly authentic cultural encounter. While on your cultural encounter in the park, you will have the chance to visit some of the communities near the park such as the IK people who live on top of Morungole Mountain. During the cultural encounter, you will be able to learn about their culture, lifestyle, history, and way of living, visit their locally built Manyatta homesteads, learn how to make their traditional instruments like beads, stools, and spears, learn how bride price is determined in their culture, buy some craft items from the gift shop, enjoy their cultural entertainments in form of music, dance and drama. Visitors also have the opportunity to taste the traditional food of the Karamojong people.
Hiking and nature walks
Hiking and nature walks are also top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. The hikes and walks in the park will take you to the mighty Lomej Mountains, which can be reached on foot. The hike takes four hours and starts at 7 a.m. There are also shorter guided walks that take about two hours and are taken through the Narus Valley, extending over a 5-kilometer radius from Apoka Tourism Centre. Visitors on Uganda safaris in Kidepo can also take the opportunity to walk on the stunning Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive Borassus palm forest or Namamkweny Valley, which can be reached in one hour from Apoka. Visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park can also take a hike with the IK tribe to the Morungole Mountains located outside the national park. While on hiking and nature walks, you can enjoy hiking and landscape viewing in Kidepo Valley National Park as well as the opportunity to meet a variety of wildlife species, such as buffaloes, lions, leopards, elephants, warthogs, zebras, and antelopes, as well as colorful bird species.
Contact our trusted tour operator for more information and inquiries about game drive safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park, and book with our tours and travel companies, such as Achieve Global Safaris, who offer the best tour packages while on a Uganda safari.