Facts about Kidepo Valley National Park

Facts about Kidepo Valley National Park are some of the important, funny or little known things about Kidepo Valley National Park that would help you know a little more about one of the best savannah wildlife national parks in Africa. Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the prime Uganda national parks from where travellers can enjoy the best wild game safaris while on a Uganda safari tour.

Night game drive safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a remote Uganda national park located in the north eastern part of the country, in the Karamoja region. The Karamajong region itself is an amazing area, for the people here have a lifestyle and culture worth discovering and experiencing; dance along with them, and get to know a tribe still defying the changing world to a larger extent while sticking to their ancient ways. Kidepo Valley National Park borders South Sudan, and sometimes wildlife in the park especially elephants do move and cross to the other side.

Kidepo Valley National Park covers 1442 square kilometres of land, and is one of the largest Uganda national park. Kidepo Valley National Park mostly comprises of savannah vegetation with lakes, valleys like the Narus Valley, mountains like Mount Morungole, and so much more.

Most of the lakes in Kidepo Valley National Park are seasonal, and tend to dry up during the very dry season spell that befalls the park every year. Kidepo Valley National Park is a very beautiful Uganda national park to visit, especially for wildlife safaris. The CNN travel named Kidepo Valley National Park the second most beautiful national park in Africa for the breath taking landscape and abundant wildlife.

Kidepo Valley National Park has abundant wildlife that thrives in the park. Kidepo Valley National Park has over 76 mammal species which include giant Africa elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, aardwolf, cheetah, eland, bushbucks, the Jackson’s Hartebeest, primates, among so many others. Also, over 480 bird species have been recorded in Kidepo Valley National Park, making it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda.

Kidepo Elephants
Facts about Kidepo Valley National Park

Below are some of the facts about Kidepo Valley National Park worth knowing;

  • Kidepo Valley National Park was established in 1958 as a game reserve, making it the oldest Uganda national park. Kidepo Valley National Park is protected by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
  • The first chief warden of Kidepo Valley National Park was Ian Ross
  • Kidepo Valley National Park has over 76 mammal species, with about 28 species not being found anywhere else in Uganda.
  • Endemic species in Kidepo Valley National Park include bat-eared fox, aardwolf, hunting dogs among others.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park had a thriving giraffe population of over 400 individuals in the 1960s, but due to poaching, the number greatly reduced. In 1997, in the bid to increase on the population of giraffes, the then Chief Warden Peter Moller secured funding to translocate giraffes from Lake Nakuru National Park.
  • The park mostly comprises of short grass open tree savannah, semi desert scrub, riparian woodland like the Borassus and Kigelia woodland, dense miombo-like woodland, montane forest, open thorn-scrub, granite out-crops and open thorn-bush.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park comprises of two major valley systems of Kidepo River and Narus River.
  • The valley in Kidepo Valley National Park lies between 910-1200 meters above sea level
  • There are tree climbing lions in Kidepo Valley National Park too! Be on the lookout while on a game drive in the park for a chance to spot them.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited all year long.

What to do in Kidepo Valley National Park

There are a number of activities in Kidepo Valley National Park that travellers can do while in the park. These activities in Kidepo Valley National Park include game viewing to see the thrilling wildlife of Kidepo Valley National Park, hiking, nature walks, cultural encounters, bird watching among others.

Where to stay in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park has a few accommodation options inside the park. Apoka Lodge and Apoka safari Camp are the two most used accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park. Be sure to book them in advance lest you didn’t have where to stay. Camping in designated areas is allowed in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a beautiful pace to stay in. It is just you and the nature, nothing else. Enjoy your peace and quiet, and lose yourself in this game sprawling wonder of the world. Reach out to your tour operator of choice, and embark on a safari planning process to experience the best

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