The park has two seasonal rivers, Kidepo and Narus, which appear during the rainy season and disappear in the dry season. The park lies in a semi-arid area bordered by South Sudan to the northwest and only 5 km from the eastern border of Kenya. The park is located 562 km from Kampala and was gazetted as a national park in 1962.
Kidepo Valley National Park protects about 77 mammal species. It had the largest population of elephants, around 200 in the mid-1990s, which has increased to between 650 and over 1,000 today. The African buffalo population is now estimated at 10,000-15,000. The Rothschild giraffe is very notable, breeding more than 50 individuals from the bottleneck of the mid-1990s population of three and supplemented by several from translocation.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 476 species, including the common ostrich, secretary bird, northern carmine bee-eaters, little green bee-eater, Abyssinian scimitar bill, and many more colorful and visible species.
Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park
Game Drives
The most popular activity in all Ugandan savannah parks, including KVNP. Game viewing drives in Kidepo Valley National Park offer the opportunity to see large herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and more. Kidepo Valley offers day and night game drives to see diurnal and nocturnal mammals and birds respectively.
The Sand Bed Experience along River Kidepo
This activity is available during the dry season on River Kidepo. You can enjoy the sand bed experience while listening to the various bird songs. Many birds are found in this area, especially in the dry season.
Birding in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley is one of the prime birding areas in Uganda, with over 475 bird species. Notable species include the black-breasted barbet and the Karamoja apalis. The park is excellent for observing semi-arid species not found in other parts of Uganda, such as the ostrich. It is also outstanding for its birds of prey, with 58 species recorded in the area.
Nature Walks in Kidepo Valley National Park
These walks are conducted around the Apoka tourism station. Popular mammals sighted during nature walks include zebras, elephants, reedbuck, and buffaloes. Guided nature walks enable tourists to explore different nature trails in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Cultural Tours
The Karamojong and the IK tribe are the face of cultural tourism in Kidepo Valley and the surrounding areas. The Karamojong culture and way of life are as undisturbed as Kidepo’s wilderness. Set out for a visit to enjoy their unique cultures, traditional houses called manyatta, homestead settings, traditional dances, traditional handcrafted stools, spears, and hand bangles made from beads.
Mountain Climbing in Kidepo Valley National Park
Climbing Mount Morungole offers an opportunity to visit the IK people. The great Morungole expedition involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain, commanding spectacular views of Kidepo Valley National Park. Visitors can experience a variety of dances from the IK, learn about their way of life, see their unique settlements, and understand their unique migration history.