Kidepo’s Wildlife safari experiences range from game viewing, walking safaris, sight seeing and community visits all, which make a safari fantastic. A wide range of vegetation comprised of open wood savannah grassland, Miombo woodland, montane forests; Riparian woodland, rocky koppies and swampy vegetation favor the habitation of wild and bird life. The beautiful national park though rarely visited has a wonderful scenic viewing, game viewing, visit to the hot springs, hiking on Morungole Mountain, bird watching, community walks while learning the ancient customs and beliefs of the Karamojong people and dancers.
There are lots of things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park;
Game Viewing
The park harbors a great diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. These include carnivores, ungulates, and primates. There are high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sits on sauces trees along Narus valley or on the rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter. Right from Apoka Rest Camp other animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, bush bucks, bush pigs, Kavirondo bush babies, buffaloes and much more.
There are well-developed game driving trails that are usually followed by tourists to view the major wildlife species in the national park. Important to note is that remarkable and most rewarding game drives are usually carried out in the Narus valley because of the different wildlife species present there.
Game drives are done in the open savannah grasslands. Game driving is a suitable way to see herbivores browse while predators hunt down their preys. Game driving exposé travelers to a variety of wildlife such as giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, lions, warthogs, and Uganda kobs along with various bird species done in the morning and evening hours. Travelers together with experienced guides follow various tracks and the starting point depend on the location of their accommodation facilities. Night game drives are also done to experience nocturnal animals such as the cheetahs and pattas. Wildlife is mostly seen in the Narus valley due to the remnant water pools that survive in the dry season as the source of water in the entire national park drawing a high a concentration of wildlife for fresh grass and drinking water.
Bird Watching
The Park boasts of an extensive avifauna. 465 species have been recorded birds of particular interest include the ostrich and the Kori bustard which are principally associated with arid regions. The park also has outstanding numbers of birds of prey. In this category, 58 species of birds that have been recorded. Amongst these 14 are believed to be endemic to Kidepo and the Karamoja region.
Birds are mostly seen in the swampy vegetation and in the forested areas of the park. The most seen birds include lesser kesrel, Egyptian vulture, Karamoja appalls, pygmy falcon, yellow-billed stork, kori bustard, sand grouse, red-billed hornbill, and Jackson’s horn bill among others. Interestingly, travelers to kidepo valley national park are blessed to see the common ostriches, which are only seen in kidepo in the whole of Uganda. Ostriches are one of the rare bird species and the Uganda wildlife authority has put strategies to ensure all ostrich eggs are harvested for breeding purposes all aimed at increasing the population of this bird specie in the country hence promoting avian tourism.
Hiking and Scenery Viewing
Hiking is carried out on Lamoj Mountains just a few kilometers from the Park Headquarters.
Community visit
Karamoja region also known as the wild west of Africa is one of the regions with rich traditional cultural experiences that was left out by the British in the times of colonization. Cattle grazing is the major activity done in the region where people feed mainly on cattle products such as meat, milk and blood as their source of food and income thug people arte presently practicing subsistence farming. In community visits, travelers interact with local people and stay in their Manyattas, which make them feel as part of the local community. Interestingly, travelers are allowed to take part in local activities such as milking, grazing, preparing local foods, which provide them with an extensive understanding of traditional local life.
Since karamoja is semi arid land with little rain fall, there is inadequate water and pasture for cattle which force people to move from one place to another in search of fresh pastures and water.
Forest walks
Not only does kidepo valley national park offer best wildlife views but also a best place for bush walks. Bush walks can be done both inside and outside the park on foot. Areas outside the park where nature walks can be done include the Morungole mountains where travelers interact with the IK people the first dwellers of the Karamoja region. The other site visited on foot is the never accomplished Idi Amin’s dream lodge. Bush walks are done with the help of an experienced armed ranger approved by the Uganda wildlife authority.
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. Prospective visitors should contact UWA Headquarters or Wild places (the Apoka lodge operator) to obtain up-to-date advice about road conditions and safety to identify the preferred choice of route.
Charter flights to Kidepo may be arranged from Kampala (Kajjansi), Kampala Aero club, or Entebbe with Eagle Aviation. Flights take about two hours. The Civil Aviation Authority has plans to make Lomej, to the east of Apoka, an international airport to enable visitors to fly direct to Kidepo from other countries.
Other Activities
Nature Walk and cultural visits to the Karamajong manyattas (homesteads) where you will be able to see kraals belonging to local communities, traditional costume, stools, spears headdress, knives, bows and arrows and jewelry among others. Visit the splendid Kidepo River Valley dominated by Borassus palm forest. Visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs, located only 11 km from Kidepo river valley. Picnicking from the sand.