TOP THINGS TO DO/ TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Top things to do in Kidepo valley national park: There are a lot of tourist activities done in Kidepo valley national park and they range from wildlife viewing safaris since it’s one of the best savanna parks in Uganda thus wildlife viewing is always the topmost thing done in this beautiful savanna park. The park is the best savanna park in Uganda but unfortunately the least visited destination in Uganda situated in far North Eastern part of Uganda in boarder with Kenya to the East and South Sudan to the North. This park is least visited due to its location being far from the City Center Kampala.
Let’s have a look at the top things/ tourist activities done in Kidepo valley national park below;
Game drives in Kidepo valley national park
Like any other safari park, game drives are the top things to do in the park which enables one to explore the plains and valleys of Kidepo while driving. This is the best way to explore a big part of the park. during game drives in Kidepo valley national park, there is an opportunity of encountering with several wildlife species including mammals since the park is a home to over 86 species of mammals including Elephants, Buffaloes, different antelopes, Dik-Dik, Lions, Kudus, Leopards, Zebras, Aardvark, Fox, Wildebeests, Waterbucks, Warthogs and many more. The best place to enjoy game drive in the park is within Narus Valley where most of the wildlife congest especially during the dry months as they gather along the waterbodies and Narus valley is one of those places that is always wet even in dry season. The park offers both morning game drive, afternoon game drives, evening game drives and full day game drives. Apart from animals, tourists on a game drive in the national park are as well able to visit the hot springs, watch several bird species and many more making it yet one of the best birding area in Uganda.
Birding and bird watching in Kidepo valley national park
With a population of over 500 species of Birds, trust me birding is one of the best activity enjoyed while on a Uganda safari to Kidepo valley national park including over 60 bird species that are seen only in the national park and not found in any other park in Uganda, migratory birds, Raptor birds, forest birds and many more species. A keen birder will spot as many bird species as possible. Some of the bird species to look out for during birding in the park include; vultures, Ostrich, Dark chanting goshawk, Red-and-yellow barbet, Chestnut weaver, Northern carmine bee-eater, Little bee-eater, White-bellied go-away bird, Rose-ringed parakeet, Rufous chatterer, Red-throated bee-eater, Abyssinian scimitar bill, Pygmy falcon, Golden pipit, Karamoja Apalis, Greater kestrel, Abyssinian roller and many more. Birding is an all year activity but considering to do it during the rainy season of March and April enables you to spot migratory bird species and many other birds that call this park their home.
Guided walking safari in Kidepo valley national park
The national park is as well one of the best savanna parks in Uganda where one can enjoy a walking safari. This is as well one of the best done tourist activity in the park. Taking a foot walk in various corners of the park is one of the memorable adventure that will thrill in your mind forever as you walk amidst grazing mammals like Zebras, Elephants, Kudus, Giraffes and many more. The most trail used for walking safari in the park is a 5km walk to the Narus Valley that takes about 2-3 hours. However, bird lovers can as well take on a guided walk to Namamukweny valley which is the best spot for bird watching in the park. There is yet a more straining 15km trail that takes you through the ridge and ascend up to the hills best for those who need something more tiring and exhausting.
Hiking in Kidepo valley national park
The park thrills with different hills and mountains which can be hiked by travelers on a kidepo safari. Some of the mountains hiked include Mount Lomej that offers stunning encounters with different fauna and flora species such as primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and many more and this hike takes about 4-5 hours.
The other stunning mountain to hike is mount Morungole which is a famous destination and one of the most visited place while on a Uganda safari to the park. The hike to summit mount Morungole is abit draining but rewarding once at the summit. The major reason for hiking Mount Morungole is to meet and interact with the IK people which is a minority group of people that once lived in Kidepo valley national park but were chased out and decided to settle at the top of mount Morungole. A hike to mount Morungole to visit the IK people is a one day adventure to make a complete cycle of ascending and descending.
Cultural tours in Kidepo valley national park
The park offers the best cultural tours making cultural tours one of the top thing done while on a safari to the park. Some of the places to visit while on a cultural tour in Kidepo include the Muhokya village, Leopard village and many other villages where you will meet and interact with the local community members of Karamoja region. Visit these Karamojong in their homesteads where they sleep in Manyatta (grass-thatched huts). These people are famous cattle keepers thus a visit to their homesteads enables you learn more about milk production right from milking, extraction of Ghee from milk, preservation of milk and many more. Close your cultural tour with thrilling traditional dance and drama.
When to visit Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley like any other destination in Uganda can be visited at any given period of time all year round since Uganda thrills with the best climatic conditions. However, dry season is always the best time recommended to explore the park when most parts of the park are dry and the wildlife is easily sighted along the remaining waterholes in the park making it a best time for wildlife viewing. But any time you may choose to have your Uganda safari to Kidepo valley national park. At Achieve Global Safaris, we are always available and ready to take you on your next adventure to any destination in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and DRCongo.
