Flights to Kidepo valley national park
Flights to Kidepo valley national park: One of the leading tourist destinations in Uganda is Kidepo valley national park. It’s a hidden gem located in the remote areas of northeastern Uganda in Kaabong district. A few people visit the park because it’s located very far in the northeastern part of the country about 10 to 12 hours drive. The good news now is that Kidepo valley national park can be accessed by use of flights. There are daily flights by different airline companies to Apoka airstrip which is the main airstrip within the park.
The most pleasant mode by far of traveling to Kidepo valley national park is by means of a flight. Aerolink Uganda, Kampala Executive Aviation, Bar Aviation Uganda, and many others operate flights to and from Kidepo valley national park.
Flights to Apoka Airstrip of Kidepo valley national park start from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip. These flights take 2 hours and 15 minutes which is a quick and convenient way to access the national park.
To fly to Kidepo valley national park, you need to book a flight with any of the airline companies of your choice or those with a fair price. You need to do the flight bookings early in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments and pay a certain deposit with the airline company to confirm your flight. On the flight day, you need to be at Kajjansi or Entebbe international airport on time so as not to miss the flight.
Best time to have flights to Kidepo valley national park
Tourists can have flights to Kidepo valley national park and any time of the year however it’s better to fly when it’s the best time to visit the park. December to February and June to July are the best times to fly and visit the park because of the good weather conditions. There is little rainfall and plenty of sunshine in the park which favors most of the activities. Game drives are dry and easier to drive through and vegetation is short and scattered with very good views of the wildlife.
Tourists can still have flights to Kidepo valley national park in the rainy season from March to May and October to November. The rainy season is not as rainy as people think because the national park is located in a semi-arid area. During times of rainfall, most game tracks dry up because of plenty of rainfall but others stay muddy and this limits access to some of the park areas. Rainy season safaris to Kidepo are for those that want discounts on their tour packages.
Flights aren’t the only way to get to Kidepo valley national park, tourists can access the park using road transport but patience is needed. It takes 10 to 12 hours for tourists to get to Kidepo valley national park using road transport. The journey is long but it’s worth it as you get to see different attractions along the way. The journey to Kidepo valley national park starts from Kampala goes through Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong and another goes through Luwero, Nakasongola, Gulu, Kitgum, and Kaabong.
Activities to carry out in Kidepo valley national park on a flying safari?
Game drives
On a flying safari to Kidepo valley national park, one of the activities tourists can engage in are the game drives. The game drives are mostly done in the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley where a high population of animals does live. The day game drives which happen in the morning and afternoon hours are done with safari guides while the night game drives are done with armed ranger guides.
While on a game drive in Kidepo valley national park on your flying safari, you will encounter wild animals such as lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, side stripped jackals, warthogs, bushbabies, dik-dik, aardvark, reedbucks, zebras, giraffes, Uganda kobs, elands, deffasa waterbucks, crocodiles, ostriches, and klipspringers among others.
Bird watching
Bird lovers can fly to Kidepo valley national park for bird watching because it’s among the best birding destinations in Uganda. Over 476 bird species live in Kidepo valley national park and more than 20 are said to be endemic to the region. Birders need to go with the right essentials such as a birding book, a pair of binoculars, a camera, a voice recorder, long-sleeved clothes, and waterproof shoes to enjoy the birding activity.
Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park gives bird lovers an opportunity to spot bird species such as Karamoja apalis, little bee-eater, black-breasted barbet, African pied hornbill, emin’s shrike, fox’s cisticola, taita fiscal, golden pipit, mouse-colored penduline, piapiac, grey crowned crane, Verreaux eagle, pallid harrier, dark chanting goshawk, greater kestrel, northern carmine bee-eater, and rose-ringed parakeet among others.
Culture visits
The best culture in Uganda can be found in northern Uganda. The Karamajong and IK are the best cultural groups in northeastern Uganda living around Kidepo valley national park. On a flying safari to Kidepo valley national park, tourists who love the African culture can visit any of the two tribes. A visit to their community will show you the true African culture because of the way they dress, the things they do for a living, and much more. They are good are entertaining visitors through dance and drama.