Kidepo valley is located in the Northeast of Uganda about 600 kilometers away from Kampala the capital city. It is a savannah park and one of Uganda’s finest safari destinations with a lot of authentic cultural experiences. Apoka airstrip is a solution to the longest distance between this park and the capital or the hub city of Entebbe.
Location Proximity and access:
– Kidepo Valley NP is approx. 9 hours from Kampala/Entebbe.
– Accessed by flight at Apoka Airstrip, 1 hour 30 minutes’ flight.
– Kidepo is Approx. 350 km, 7 hours’ drive from Murchison Falls.
– Approx, 415 km, 7 hours 30 minutes drive to Sipi.
Activities in and around Kidepo Valley National Park:
– Game Drives (Day & Night), the Narus valley is served by seasonal rivers Kidepo and Narus. The savannah landscape is stunningly located in this valley, it extends towards Horizons delineated
by distant mountain ranges which give amazing views. On a game drive, you will have chances of seeing some of; Cape Buffaloes, Giraffes, Antelopes, Elephants, Bush Duikers, Zebras,
Jackals, Lions, Cheetahs, and Leopards are often spotted and various species of birdlife.
– Nature Walks, guided walks start from the Apoka tourist center extending to the Narus valley and the Apoka river banks of stunning Borassus palm forests.
– Birding, Kidepo usually starts at the Apoka Rest Camp and extends to the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys. It can be in the morning or evening with many bird species to except; Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo.
– Ik visit, The Ik people have a unique culture and live in the Morungule mountains just along the borders of the park. The Ik are a marginalized and endangered group of people. Much as they are located in the Karamojong region, the Ik are very different from the Karamojong, the Ik is fruit gatherers and not pastoralists, they also speak their own language different from the Karamojong. The hike to morungole mountains for this experience is a 4 hours gentle ascend and 4 hours descent.
– Karamoja Cultural Experience, the Karamojong are a tribe of people predominantly occupying the North-Eastern region of Uganda where Kidepo National park is located. The Karamojong is a pastoralist and their lifestyle rotates around cattle pastoralism. Just outside the park is the Lorukol Cultural Group whose visit will help you discover the unique and authentic culture of the remote Karamojong tribe.