Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a wild and broken land of granite outcrops, open savannah's and dense acacia woodland where game viewing is productive. It stretches from the foot of the Mount Morungole all the way down to the Kenya-Sudan border. Except for the rhinos, all the other Big Five can be seen anytime of the year. 77 mammal and 475 bird species abound in this 1442 square kilometres wildlife estate. They mostly living in Narus valley due to its abundance of waterholes where they can cool off. It is such a stunner!! There are lovely loop walks around, its so tranquil, there are also a open campsites where families bring picnics.

At the world famous Narus and Kidepo valley, predators congregate to ambush prey cooling off at the water holes. They include lion, bat-eared fox, side striped jackal, leopard and black-backed jackal. 

Kidepo's flat open landscape makes animals easy to spot during nature walks and game drives. You can't miss that classic view of Africa with giraffes walking across the open savannah grassland beside a solitary acacia tree-during sunset. Other herbivores found here include Jackson's hartebeest, klipspringer, eland, oribi and Uganda kob.

Buffalo densities are much higher here than in any other park around East Africa, a population of over 10,000. But the shy and elusive leopards are one of Kidepo's more memorable sights, especially if you have an eye for spotting animals that are perfect at camouflaging with the surrounding. In the shade of whistling acacia trees in the Northern part of the park, huge herds of elephants are common.

Between March and May, when the rainy season is at its best, the river after which the park is named becomes a watery oasis in an otherwise dry zone; naturally, mammals, reptiles and visitors are drawn to it like magnets. Kidepo Valley river is its name.

Birdwatching

It’s possible to clock up 475 bird species in Kidepo, including must-see specials such as Karamoja Apalis. It good for spotting raptors, 56 species have been recorded. Most of the migratory species and notables can best be seen from November to April when the park has abundant food to offer. These include  Abyssinian roller, Pygmy falcon, White-bellied go-away bird, D’Arnaud's barbet, Golden pipit, Jackson's hornbill. And in the Northern part, near the border of Southern Sudan, the Somali Ostrich can be found.

Accommodation

Lots of lodges in the park overlook waterholes where elephants and zebras come to drink, especially in the dry season. But for a truly luxurious Out-of-Africa experience you must stay at Apoka Lodge, a paradise of with natural pool curved out of an enormous rock. It boasts of a viewing tower from where you can behold 360 degrees views of the park and its surroundings.