Attractions in Kidepo valley national park : Kidepo valley national park is the third largest national park situated in Kaabong district north eastern Uganda. The national park encompasses a total land area of 1,442 square kilometers and is the ideal spot for scenery and wildlife viewing in that it has plentiful wild animals like elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, side backed jackal, waterbucks, Oribi, lions, leopards, hyenas, bird species such as the Ostrich, Kori bustard, pygmy falcon, goliath heron, fox kestrel, standard winged nightjars, Nubian woodpecker among others. Kidepo valley national park is primarily wrapped with savannah grassland which is predominated by acacia and is the list visited national park in Uganda because its locations because it takes about 12 hours’ drive and visitors who visit will participate in exciting Uganda safari activities like the game drive, nature walk, birding, cultural encounter which give you breathtaking experiences on your safari.
Attractions in Kidepo valley national park.
Animal species.
Kidepo Valley National area is home to over 77 species, 28 of which are unique to the area. The animals include the big four mammals which are the lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Aardwolf, Dik-dik, caracal, Jackson’s hartebeest, black-backed jackal, side-striped jackal, spotted hyena, giraffes, zebras, great and lesser kudu, eland, bush pigs, warthogs, bushbucks, duikers, waterbucks, Bohor reedbuck, Oribi, aardwolf, and others are among the numerous animals in the park. The greatest times to see the park’s wildlife are in the morning, afternoon, or at night when you may go on a game drive and see the predators and nocturnal creatures.
Bird species.
With over 475 different bird species, Kidepo Valley National Park is a birder’s heaven and the second-highest birding safari destination in Uganda, after Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to several bird species, including the Kori bustard, Karamoja Apalis, and ostrich, that are not found in any other national park in Uganda. The park is home to a variety of other birds, including the African swallow kite, little green bee-eater, Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture, black headed plover, brown-backed woodpecker, African grey flycatcher, red-winged lark, African grey shrike, black faded waxbill, black-breasted barbet, purple heron, and Clapperton’s francolin. In addition to other locations, Namamukweny Valley, Narus Valley, and the area surrounding Apoka Rest Camp are good places to go birdwatching safari in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Narus valley.
This is located in the park’s southern region. Because there is permanent water in this valley, a high population of animals, including elephants, congregate there to drink throughout the dry season. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, game drives along a number of the Narus Valley’s tracks offer guests the chance to see a variety of species. Animals like elephants, bat-eared fox, hyenas, cheetahs, zebras, bushbucks, waterbucks, side-striped jackals, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, Oryx, bush pigs, giraffes, and bird species like secretary bird, black-breasted barbet, Karamoja Apalis, yellow-billed hornbill, singing bush lark, and silver shrike are among the animals you will see during your game drive in the Narus Valley.
Mount Morungule.
At 2,759 metres above sea level, Mount Morungole is situated in the northeastern Ugandan national park of Kidepo Valley, where the Kidepo River and Narus River cross. In addition to being a fantastic location for mountain climbing, Mount Morungole is home to the IK tribe, one of Uganda’s ethnic tribes. A park ranger can accompany you on a walk up Mount Morungule, where you can take in expansive views of the park and its valleys as well as engage with the IK people and learn about their way of life, culture, and diet, among other things.
Apoka Tourism Centre.
Apoka tourism Centre is an important tourist destination in the park that overlooks Narus valley which is popular foe game drives and Apoka luxury lodge and cottages which are run by Uganda Wildlife Authority. For those who arrived at the park without a means of transportation, this tourism hub offers cars for hire, a park guide stationed here to accompany guests on nighttime game drives, nature walks and birdwatching excursions, a restaurant where food can be prepared upon request and cooking utensils for those who prefer to prepare their own meals. It also features a craft store that sells books, souvenirs, and refreshments like soda and wine.
Kanangorok Hot springs.
These extraordinary hot springs are located 11 km from the Kidepo River on the border with Sudan. It’s difficult to get to these hot springs because you have to walk through grass, thorny bushes, shrubs, and thickets. The Kanangorok hot springs have a water flow rate of one litre per second and a boiling point above fifty degrees Celsius. One of the best places to go on a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park is the hot springs, where you can sit back and unwind while taking in the natural spa and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, mountains, and wildlife, among other things.
Walking access is available to Namamukweny Valley, which is located in the park’s northwest region. This valley is home to a high concentration of birds, including the Abyssinian roller, green wood hoopoe, white crested turaco, and common bulbul, among others. Namamukweny is a Napore word that means a lonely place with few people, no birds, and no animals.
Lomej hills.
These hills are perfect for observing wildlife and birds because they are close to Kidepo Valley National Park. To get there, just take a short drive from the park headquarters to Lomej Hills. You can see several bird species and animals like the mountain reedbuck when you’re at Lomej Hills.
Lonyili Mountain.
Lonyili Mountain, which sits between Kitgum and the border with South Sudan, is primarily covered in montane forest. Due to the fact that this mountain is home to several bird species, red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, among other primates, visitors to Lonyili Mountain can enjoy activities like nature walks and bird watching.
Local people.
The IK people who reside in Morungole Mountain and the Karamajong people encircle Kidepo Valley National Park. Because the Karamajong are renowned for being formidable warriors and pastoralists who view livestock as royal property, a man’s worth is based on how many cows he possesses. The women stay behind to tend to the young children while the men and boys of Karamajong constantly wander from one spot to another in quest of good grass and water for their livestock. The Karamajong have a distinctive culture that includes, among other things, dressing in traditional clothing, building homes with a tiny entrance that requires visitors to bend over, and performing original dances and songs.
Another tribe that lives in the Morungole Mountains’ Kidepo National Park is the IK. They were the first people to relocate to northeastern Uganda. Originally, they kept cattle, but the Karamajong’s cattle raids forced them to switch to subsistence farming and goat husbandry. A man who owns numerous bee hives can marry as many women as he wishes since they also practice polygamy, which is a unique aspect of their society. Bride prices are paid in bee hives rather than cattle.
