Game Drive Safari In Kidepo Valley National Park 2025 : One of the popular tourist activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park are safari game drives. The take place either in the morning, afternoon or evening. Game drives guided and done from a 4 x 4-wheel safari vehicle or a traveller can opt for a guided walking safari, with an armed ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Game drives in the park are done in Narus and Kidepo Valleys, the Narus valley contains the park’s only permanent water points and wildlife congregates in this area for much of the time throughout the year. This is a popular activity which can be done during the morning, afternoon or evening. Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park take place from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, so you can choose the time that suits your schedule and preferences. You can opt for a guided tour with an experienced guide or drive yourself around the park with a vehicle from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Either way, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the park’s vast wilderness and spot a wide range of incredible wildlife species. During your game drive tour, you’ll have the chance to see a variety of wildlife species such as elephants, zebras, buffalos, lions, giraffes, bushbucks, leopards, hartebeests, klipspringers, reedbucks, cheetahs, kudu, elands, oribi, dik dik, impalas among others.
About Kidepo Valley National Park
A Game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the main Uganda safari activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is located furthest in the North Eastern parts of Uganda and bordering south of Sudan and Kenya. The park covers an area of 1442 square Kilometers which is dominantly covered by savannah grassland and over looked mount molongole, Narus Valley and the seasonal kidepo valley river. The park is best known to define the true African traditional wilderness which makes its landscape so amazing for Wildlife viewing making the game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park worth the money.
Kidepo National Park is one of the great places to see wildlife in Uganda giving you an opportunity to see all the Big 4 animals’ wildlife species to see here include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Zebras, elands, lions, cheetahs and the Ostriches. Other wildlife species that dwell here includes caracal, jackal, Klipspringer, elephants, giraffe, hyena and bat-eared fox. The antelope species include bohor reed buck, bush buck, bush duskier, defassa water buck, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, Uganda Kob and oribi. If it is such a true wilderness with amazing landscape and animals.
What is the cost of game drive safari in Kidepo Valley National Park
When you plan a visit to Kidepo Valley National Park, you’ll have the chance to go on game drive at different times of the day basing on your itinerary. You can choose to explore the park in the morning, afternoon, evening and night game drive. To take part in the game drives, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. For non-residents, this fee is $40 per person, for foreigners its cost $30 and then East Africans pay UGX 20, 000. The night game drives cost $ 30 per person for non-residents, $20 per person per day for Foreigners and UGX 50,000 per person per day for the East Africans while the day game drives cost $20 for foreign-non resident per person per day, $ 15 for Foreigners and UGX. 20,000 shillings for East Africans per person per day. For those who wish to embark on a Self Game Drive (Without a private sector tour guide or UWA Ranger Guide). You will pay $ 10 person for both foreign-non resident and Foreigners and UGX 10,000000 per person per day for the East Africans. You can pay these fees at the park headquarters or directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s main office.
Best time to got for game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park
The ideal time for game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and gain from December to February each year. While you can visit the park any time of the year to enjoy wildlife and safari experiences, the dry months make it mush easier to spot animals. Wildlife tends t be more visible during these times compared to the wet season.
Where to stay in Kidepo Valley National Park
While there are a range of accommodation options available in Kidepo Valley National Park the accommodation facilities in the park ranges from luxury, mid-range to budget-friendly. Some of the accommodation facilities options here includes Apoka Lodge, Adere Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, UWA Bandas, Karurum Lodge, Zebra Safari Lodge, Njovu Park Lodge and Kidepo Guest House among others.
How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park
By Road: Taking a road trip to Kidepo National Park is an incredible experience for anyone visiting Uganda. The journey is filled with sights and attractions, making it a worthwhile adventure. The most popular route begins in Kampala, passes through Gulu and Kitgum, and then leads directly to Kidepo Valley National Park, covering a distance of about 571 kilometers. However, your starting point may vary, as the park can be accessed from different locations, depending on your travel plans.
Also, if you’re interested in wildlife, you can as well visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for on foot Rhino tracking then proceed to the park; with this you need to have stop in Gulu for overnight to break the journey.
By Air: For those who prefer to fly, there are options for a flying safari to Kidepo Valley National Park. You can catch charter and scheduled flights from Kajjansi or Entebbe International Airport. Companies like Aero Link Uganda and Fly Uganda operate these flights. Keep in mind that you’ll need to book your flight in advance since the schedule often depends on the number of travelers, with a minimum of four people usually required to confirm a flight.
Besides game drive safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park, visitors can also enjoy guided nature walks, where they can learn about the unique plants and animals up close. Birdwatching is also a highlight, with many rare species to spot, hiking Kidepo Lonyili Summit and Lomej. Additionally, cultural visits to local communities offer a chance to experience the rich traditions of the area.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about Game drive safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park and then book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global Safaris who offer the best tour packages while on your game drive safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park -Uganda
