Kidepo valley national park lies in remote isolation from the rest of the country’s national parks, situated in the arid Karamoja region. Kidepo National Park is the least visited national park in Uganda, which makes Kidepo valley national park fortunate due to fewer travelers. Click here to see mountain gorilla trekking safaris 

It’s the most enthralling national park in a protective circle of mountains hiding the great grassy plains, accompanied by montane forest, thick miombo woodland, riparian woodland, Borassus palms, and a rocky kopje. It has 86 mammals in total, including 26 species that can be seen nowhere else in Uganda. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking safaris 

Kidepo valley national park is a birder’s destination, harboring over 463 bird species, with a total of 26 unconfirmed species. Kidepo Valley National Park is second only to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kidepo valley national park accommodates predators including the black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, African hunting dog, striped hyena, cheetah, aardwolf, and caracal, which can’t be located anywhere else in any of Uganda’s national parks. 

Kidepo valley national park has a wide range of wildlife species, such as elephants, leopards, buffalo, lions, giraffes, and 17 different species of antelope.

Kidepo valley bird species include 56 different raptors, an Abyssinian scimitar bill, a Somali ostrich, an Abyssinian roller, Karamoja apalis, Kori bustards, and a rufous chatterer. 

Safari Game Drives.

Game drives are among the top activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park that take place either in the morning, afternoon, or at night. Game drives are guided by park rangers and tour guides and can be done on a 4x4 WD safari vehicle, or tourists can opt for a guided walking safari with an experienced armed ranger guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Game drives are the main activity at Kidepo Valley National Park that entices tourists to come to this unspoiled protected area. Animals you can see on game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park include lions, buffalo, elephants, zebras, jackals, warthogs, and many antelope species.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is also another popular activity to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. This park offers more than 475 bird species, and more are yet to be discovered by travelers who come for bird watching in this park. Bird watching takes travelers to see bird species such as superb sterling, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, Clapperton’s Francolin, and Purple Heron. Travelers can sight many bird species from Apoka Rest Camp, Namaukeny, and Narus Valley, which can be spotted in the morning or evening.

Cultural activities.

Karamajong Cultural Tours: Kidepo Valley National Park is surrounded by many local communities, such as the Karamajong people and IK people. So, tourists heading to Kidepo Valley National Park can add a cultural experience to the top activities to do in this wilderness national park.

The Karamajong and IK are almost like the Masai of Kenya, and a cultural tour of these communities will help you discover the unique culture hidden in this remote tribe that offers the Lorukul Cultural Group or other cultural groups bordering Kidepo Valley National Park.

Hiking and nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park

Hiking and nature walks are other activities to be done in Kidepo Valley National Park. The hikes and nature walks take tourists to the Lomej Mountains, which can be accessed on foot. The Lomej mountain hike takes about four hours and begins at 7 a.m. There are other shorter guided walks that may take about two hours and that take travelers through the Narus Valley, extending to a 5-kilometer radius from Apoka Tourism Centre.

Travelers on Uganda Wildlife Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park can also take a guided walk on the beautiful Kidepo River Valley between the river banks of attractive Borassus palm forest or Namamukweny Valley, which can be accessed in one hour from Apoka tourism center.

Kidepo Valley National Park is open for adventure activities all year round. However, the best time to visit is from June to September and from December to February, which is perfect for game viewing. Since many animals gather in the Narus Valley for water, this is considered the dry season in Uganda. The worst time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park is from March to May and again in October to November, which are the wettest months.