Accessing Kidepo valley national park by road transport

Accessing Kidepo valley national park by road transport: Kidepo valley national park is one of the must visit safari destinations in Uganda, the national park is the most isolated destination located far in the northeastern part of Uganda on the borders with South Sudan. Kidepo valley national park is located more than 700 km away from Kampala and Entebbe which are the starting points for most safaris.

The most common way of traveling to Kidepo valley national park is by traveling by road. Kidepo valley national park is located very far from Kampala/Entebbe therefore tourists should be ready for the long journey. The journey to Kidepo valley nay national park is long but exciting because tourists get views of different attractions along the way.

Kidepo valley national park is severed by two entry gates and tourists use any they want depending on the direction they are coming from. To get to Kidepo valley national park you need 12 hours and sometimes more because the journey is too long (more than 710km). About four routes two in the west and two in the east connect tourists to Kidepo valley national park.

The western routes are the most exciting ones to use when going to Kidepo valley national park. If you have a night on the way you can have a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is the only home to rhinos and another stopover can be made at Karuma Falls. The other stopover using the western route to Kidepo valley national park is at Murchison falls national park the largest national park in Uganda.

Routes to Kidepo valley national park

The eastern routes

There are two eastern routes to Kidepo valley national park, one takes about 12 hours and the other more than 13 hours so tourists do have a night along the way. One of the eastern routes starts from Kampala/Entebbe goes through Jinja, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong districts.  The other eastern route to Kidepo valley national park begins from Kampala/Entebbe goes through Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong.

The western routes

The first western route to get to Kidepo valley national park Uganda begins from Kampala/Entebbe goes through Luwero, Nakasongola, Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum, Karenga, and Kaabong to the park. The other western route begins from Kampala goes through Luwero, Nakasongola, Lira, Abim, Kotido and Kaabong to the park. Tourists who use the western routes to get to Kidepo valley national park do get opportunities of stopping at Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Karuma Falls, and Murchison falls national park.

The best time to go to Kidepo valley national park

Tourists can drive to Kidepo valley national park at any time of the year however there are months that are better than others. The dry season months that occur from June to September and December to February are the best time to go to Kidepo valley national park because they are characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. During the dry season, the roads leading to the park are dry with some parts being dusty, the vegetation is short with good views of wildlife, and game tracks are dry and easier to drive through.

Tourists can still go to Kidepo valley national park by road transport during the rainy season from March to May and October to November however this favors budget travelers. The rainy season has tour operators and lodge owners reducing costs to attract the few tourists who travel. During the rainy season, tourists should note that there is plenty of rainfall which makes marram roads leading to the park muddy and slippery, vegetation is short with unclear views of wildlife, and game tracks are muddy limiting access to some of the park areas.

Other ways of getting to Kidepo valley national park

Road transport is not the only mode of transport to Kidepo valley national park as tourists can also access the protected area using air transport. By air, tourists can access Kidepo valley national park in a fast and convenient way. Different airline companies like Bar Aviation Uganda, Kampala Executive Aviation, and Aerolink Uganda have flights to Apoka airstrip starting from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe international airport. Flights to Kidepo valley national park take 2 hours and 30 minutes only.