Kidepo Valley National Game Park
The Kidepo Valley National Game Park is one of Uganda 's most spectacular wildlife parks. The Park is 1,442 square kilometers with scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa.'It could not be any better' is a common comment on the scenery by visitors who often promise and do come back to Kidepo. Tucked into the corner of Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon.
A huge latitudinal range and correspondingly wide climatic conditions have evolved an extremely diverse flora. As a result, the variety of animal species in the park is equally abundant including many which are found no where else in Uganda.
The vegetation can best be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forests dominate some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.
The park harbours more diversity of animal species than other parks. Of the 80 species of mammals listed in 1971, 28 were not known to occur in any other Ugandan park. Carnivore species unique to Kidepo and Karamoja region include the bat-eared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, cheetah and hunting dog.
Less common ungulates include the greater and lesser kudu, Chandlers Mountain reedbuck, klipspringer, dikdik and bright gazelle; beisa oryx and roan antelope have been severely depleted by poachers in the recent years. Among other large ungulates are elephant, burchell's zebra, bush pig, warthog, rothschild giraffe, cape buffalo, eland, bush buck, bush duskier, defassa water buck, bohor reed buck, jackson 's hartbeest and oribi. Five species of primate are found in the park of which the Kavirondo bush baby is unique. Carnivores present include lion, leopard, several small cats, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal. The easiest to see being the jackals.
There are high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sit on sauces trees along Narus valley or on rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter.
Other wildlife include elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bush buck, bush pig, kavirondo bush baby, buffalo and much more that are sometimes seen right from the veranda of Apoka Rest Camp.
The park boasts an extensive avifauna: 465 species have been recorded (three new species were added to the list in 1995). Of particular interest, the ostrich and the Kori bustard are principally associated with the region.
Routes to Kidepo Valley National Game Park
Road Transport | > Alternative Routes
| > Kampala - Lira - Kotido - Kidepo 705KM
| > Kampala - Mbale - Soroti - Moroto - Kidepo 792KM
| > Kampala - Mbale - Sironko - Kotido - Kidepo 740KM
| > Kampala - Soroti - Kotido via Amuria 656KM
Driving is more rewarding as vast parts of Karamoja are scenic and total wilderness. However, road conditions are sometimes difficult and 4-wheel drive vehicles (4WD) are recommended. Visitors should note that the road mainly in use from Kotido to Kaabong passes via Kanawauat.
Visitors intending to travel by road or air are advised to contact Hotel Leslona Limited for advice on road conditions and safety.
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Tourism / Kidepo
The Kidepo Valley National Game Park is one of Uganda 's most spectacular wildlife parks.