Game drives in Kidepo valley national park: Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s wildest national park, with breathtaking savannah landscapes and boundless vistas of the horizon. It is located in north-eastern Uganda in the Karamoja region. Because it is one of Uganda’s less visited national parks, you have the sense of having the entire park to yourself. Kidepo Valley National Park was recently ranked the third-best National Park in Africa by CNN due to its distinctiveness and stunning nature. Many elephants, giraffes, buffalos, lions, oribi, hyenas, baboons, antelopes, warthogs, jackals, and innumerable savannah birds can be seen on guided game drives. Kidepo is Uganda’s only national park where you can also observe cheetahs.
The park features the world’s largest buffalo population, with a herd of over 1,700 buffalos, which has never been reported anywhere else on the planet. You can also go bird viewing, on a guided walking safari, or a night wildlife drive. Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest conservation area named after the famous Murchison Falls, is easily accessible from Kidepo Valley National Park.
Game Drives in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s national parks with a significant concentration of wildlife. The park is located in the northeastern region of the country, typified by rocky semi-arid valleys that run along Uganda’s borders with South Sudan and Kenya. The Park is Uganda’s most distant national park, and visitors begin to enjoy the adventure experience right from the travel moments, touring the wilderness plains, and getting good views of wildlife from a distance; in addition to marveling at the scenery and geography.
The “big four” lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo may all be sighted on a safari game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park. Cheetahs, hyenas, Kongoni, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, bush duikers, elands, and waterbucks are among the other animals present in the park. The majority of these creatures can be observed on day game drives in the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. These are best visited in the morning or evening. The Narus valley draws more animals because it contains a permanent water site where animals congregate, particularly during the dry season when the region’s temporary water spots are dry. Ostriches are huge park birds that are frequently sighted while game viewing.
Morning Game drive in Kidepo
The early morning game drives in Kidepo valley national park begin as early as 6:00 a.m. After a hot cup of coffee, you will set out to seek these species on the savanna plains. Highlights for the early morning game drive include Lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, elands, Jackson’s hartebeests, zebras, and many others. During the dry seasons, all of these animals cluster in the Narus valley, the only source of water. The park is famous for its massive herds of buffaloes that stretch to the horizon. You will be driving around the various routes in your specialized safari vehicle to spot these animals. It is recommended that you bring an armed ranger because they know where the animals were last spotted, and they can protect you in the wilderness. They also know the best trails to take to increase your chances of seeing wildlife. Lions are easily visible on dry ground or high on the park’s numerous granite outcrops. The elusive leopard can also be seen atop leopard rock as it seeks refuge from the mid-morning and afternoon sun.
Morning game drives in Kidepo valley national Park might last up to 4 hours. Breakfast can be eaten after the game drive. The stunning splendor of Kidepo National Park will astound you on your Uganda Wildlife safari. The mountain ranges, rock-up cropping, and stunning savanna plains combine for an unforgettable Uganda wildlife safari experience.
Evening and Night game drives
As the sun sets, the cats come out of their hiding places. The antelopes do their final grazing before they brace themselves for the dangerous night. The cool breeze gently blowing across the savanna paves way for amazing wildlife encounters. As the lion prides, a coalition of cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas set out to hunt, you have amazing opportunities to view them or better see them in action.
Night game drives are also conducted in the park, and a park ranger guide must accompany you in the safari vehicle. Night game drives in the Narus Valley allow travelers to see nocturnal creatures such as cheetahs, reedbuck, and Guenther’s dik-dik, as well as predators trying to hunt. To see the animals in the dark, you’ll use a spotlight torch which emits an incredibly strong light.
When is the best time to see wildlife in the Kidepo?
The best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park to see most of its animals is during the dry season. This is when most of them congregate at the park’s water spots. The lengthy dry season lasts from September to March, with December, January, and February being the hottest months. During this time, game drives are held in the early morning. The rainy season will also provide the best opportunities for wildlife viewing because animals may be easily found scattered across the plains and rains rarely impede travel. After all, the earth is quickly dried by the sun.
Other activities to do in Kidepo
Bird watching
Kidepo Valley National Park is a birder’s heaven. There are approximately 475 bird species reported in the park, and you can go bird watching in the morning, afternoon, and late evening along the Narus and Namamukweny valleys. The purple heron, Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture, pygmy falcon, super starling, Abyssinian roller, and an Abyssinian ground hornbill, are among the birds sighted. Kidepo Valley National Park is the only place where you can see Clapperton’s Francolin.
Picnics
Visitors can have a nice picnic on the Kidepo River bank. Because the Valley has little water all year, there are only a few animals in this area, but it is nevertheless worth a visit and a walk along its bed of white sand surrounded by magnificent palm palms is such a breathtaking experience.
Nature hikes and walks
Visitors can take a four-hour hike to the Lomej Mountains or two-hour guided tours. These guided treks take you to Narus Valley, where many animals congregate for water. Hikes in the Morungole Mountains can also be taken by visitors to meet the unique IK tribe.
Cultural walks
Cultural community walks are an excellent chance to interact with local Ugandans and learn more about their traditions. Cultural encounters in Kidepo Valley take you to the Karamajong Manyattas – the Karamojong local homestead. Visitors will learn about their dance style, traditional clothing, hunting, and prized jewelry.
