This is the Uganda’s isolated national park, though isolated in the north eastern parks of Uganda; Kidepo is one of the preferred national parks by most of the tourist. Kidepo valley national park is bordered by southern Sudan in the north and Kenya to the east, it covers 1442km² of land and it was gazetted in 1962 with an aim of protecting the wildlife and also 914m and 2,750m above sea level. The park is a full day drive though visitors take a rest in Moroto or Mbale. The park is about 700km from Kampala.
The park lies in the semi-arid region and during the dry season, the only water source within the park is found in the wetlands of the Narus valley around Apoka which is found in the middle of the park which is mostly a savannah grassland area. The Karamajong local people are the ones found around the park though they are said to be similar to the Masai of Kenya. Among the activities performed at the park includes the,
Game drives, visitors enjoy game drives within the park and the most enjoyable drive is done around the Narus valley during the early morning and in the afternoon. Park rangers usually help visitor to trace for some lions that hide themselves on the rocky outcrops, some of the animals that maybe seen here in the park include but not limited to the elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bush buck, bush pig, Kavirondo bush baby and the buffaloes.
Nature walks and hiking, from Apoka Tourism Centre, it’s approximately 5km to the Narus valley a trail which is enjoyed by every tourist. This can take two hours by the early hikers starting at 7am and to reach mountains of Lomej, it can take around 4hours. Wondering around the Kidepo River is another way to enjoy the hikes and here one can enjoy the borassus palm forest. Crossing the Kidepo Sand River and traversing open plains that extend past Kanangorok Hot Springs towards mountains across the Sudanese border is also an exciting hike.
Birding, Apoka which is the park centre dm is a great place to spot a number of bird species with ostriches which are seen only here in Kidepo valley national park in Uganda hence rendering it a unique park of its own though considered isolated to the north. Other bird species that can be watched in this park includes the, Eastern Paradise Whydah, White-crested Turaco, Common Bulbul, Abyssinian Roller and Green Wood Hoopoe among others.
