Overview–uganda

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley is in the remote northeast corner of the country. The park has a true wilderness feel and is a great destination for the adventurous traveler. It has excellent wildlife viewing during the Dry season, featuring several species not encountered anywhere else in the country.

Best Time to Visit

The prime time to see wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park is during the Dry season (September to March). Kidepo is, however, located in a semi-arid region and can be visited throughout the year. The Wet season months (April to August) are pleasantly less hot and bring beautiful scenery. Bird watching is at its best at this time as well.

September to March –Dry Season

Wildlife viewing is easier as animals tend to seek out reliable water sources and vegetation thins
It is sunny with few cloudy days
Skies are hazy and the views are not so great
It is very arid and dusty

April to August –Wet Season

Even though animals are easier to spot in the Dry season, you'll still see a decent amount of wildlife
Migratory birds can be found, and birding is at its best
The scenery is lush and green, and the air is crisp
The heat is less oppressive
Animals disperse from the valleys, moving to higher ground where they are more difficult to locate

Scenery

Two valleys (Kidepo Valley and Narus Valley) on either side of predominantly mountainous terrain dominate the park. There are wide, sweeping views of the Narus Valley from many vantage points. Open grassland is interspersed with acacia trees, desert dates, and rocky outcrops.

Activities Visitors to Kidepo can engage in various activities such as game drives, nature walks, and bird watching. Game drives are best conducted early in the morning or late afternoon when wildlife is most active. Nature walks offer opportunities to explore stunning landscapes and observe wildlife up close.

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Rates

From: $319 to $2000 pp/da

Best Time to Go

From: September to March (Dry season)

High Season

From: September to March (The park rarely gets crowded)

Size

From: 1,442km² / 557mi²

Wildlife & Animals

The park has arguably the most diverse savannah fauna of any park in the country. It is particularly rich in predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah and bat-eared fox. Black-backed and side-striped jackal are both present. There are large herds of buffalo. Twelve antelope species occur in the park, including Jackson's hartebeest, oribi, eland, Uganda kob and klipspringer.

Wildlife Highlights

Kidepo usually offers excellent lion and elephant sightings. Herds of up to 1,000 buffalo are often encountered. Cheetahs are seen with increasing frequency, and it is home to many dry-country species, among them caracal, aardwolf, greater and lesser kudu, mountain reedbuck, and Guenther's dik-dik. Five primate species are present, including the localized patas monkey. Lucky visitors might spot the endangered Rothschild's giraffe.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for wildlife viewing is the middle and end of the Dry season (November to February) when animals concentrate around reliable water sources. During the Wet season (April to August) animals disperse from the valleys and move to higher ground, where they are more difficult to locate.

General Wheather

The climate in Kidepo Valley National Park is semi-arid. Droughts are common. Temperatures can reach as high as 40°C/104°F, but average around 29°C/84°F in the afternoon and 17°C/63°F at night. There is one Wet season (differing from two Wet seasons in most of the country) from April to August.

Dry Season –September to March

September, October & November – It might still rain some days as the Wet season transitions into the Dry season. It is getting warmer, with average temperatures of about 29°C/84°F in the afternoon and 17°C/63°F in the morning.
December, January & February – There is almost no rain, and it gets drier and hotter. January and February are the warmest months with daytime temperatures of 32°C/90°F and morning temperatures of 18°C/64°F. Peak temperatures can easily rise to 40°C/104°F.
March – It is still dry, but the first rains will break the heat and settle the dust.

Wet Season –April to August

April, May, June, July & August – Afternoon showers should be expected. When compared to the Wet seasons of the parks in the south, there isn't a lot of rainfall. The lowest yearly temperatures are experienced, but the daytime still averages around 27°C/81°F, with morning temperatures around 17°C/63°F.

Prons

Top wildlife viewing in the Dry season
Several species (including cheetah) that don't occur elsewhere in Uganda
Excellent birding with many birds of prey
Lots of wilderness appeal
A growing number of accommodation options
Spectacular views over the Narus Valley

Cons

Very remote and relatively expensive

How To Get There

The best way to get to Kidepo Valley National Park is by a scheduled or chartered flight. It is also possible to drive from Entebbe to Kidepo. There are several routes. The most direct route, through Gulu to Lokumoit Gate, is about 600km/373mi and takes about 10 hours*. The trip can be broken up with an overnight stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Chobe Safari Lodge, Gulu or Kitgum. Two longer routes pass through the remote Karamoja subregion, arriving at Nataba Gate. Karamoja was subject to banditry in the past, but it has been considered safe for several years and is a growing center of community-based tourism focused on the small town of Moroto.

Domestic flights are usually booked by your tour operator. They will also arrange for your pick-up from the airport or your hotel in most cases. You will enter Uganda by way of Entebbe International Airport (EBB), which is near the town of Entebbe and 46km/29mi from Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), and what tickets would cost.