Mount Morungole

Mount Morungole is the highest mountain in Kidepo valley national park with a height of 2,750 meters. Mount Morungole is found in the northeast of Apoka and covers most of the southern parts of Kidepo valley national park.  This mountain is not as tall as other mountains in Uganda however tourists should know that it’s the highest point in Kidepo valley national park.

Mountain Morungole is an attraction of its own in Kidepo valley national park. It’s the most famous mountain within Kidepo because it’s the highest point in the park. On your safari to Kidepo valley national park, you can always hike Mount Morungole on the list of activities to do. The mountain has got a lot to offer to tourists among which includes wildlife, vegetation, and water sources.

Travelers to Kidepo valley national park can go hiking on Mount Morungole to find out the different attractions found here. Hiking Mountain Morungole is not tiresome even though hikers need to have some level of fitness. Hiking Mount Morungole to the top of Mount Morungole takes 2 to 3 hours and descending takes only 1.5 hours. Hiking this mountain is the best way of finding out which attractions do exist here.

Attractions on Mountain Morungole

The rivers

Mountain Morungole significantly affects the drainage system, in Kidepo valley national park due to the fact that sources of River Narus and River Kidepo are here. River Kidepo and River Narus are the main water channels in Kidepo valley national park where several animals within the park get water from. These rivers are permanent and have water all throughout the year including the dry season when other water areas within the park are dry.

The IK

Slopes of Mountain Morungole are also homes to IK people. The Ik people used to live in Kidepo valley national park but they were evicted by the government at the time of gazzeting the park. Some of these people moved and settled on the slopes of Mountain Morungole where they constructed permanent homes.

The IK live in communities on Mountain Morungole of about 100 and their homes are fenced with secret exists. You can hike Mount Morungole to go see the IK people and spend a day knowing about their culture. The IK community has a group of dancers who entertain visitors through traditional songs and dances. A visit to their community also allows tourists to know the origin and history of the tribe.

The birds

The vegetation on the slopes of IK are home to different bird species so bird lovers who want to hike the mountain can at the same time go bird watching. These areas are not among the best to go birding in Kidepo valley national park but there are a few bird species that can be spotted there. Tourists need to go with a pair of binoculars to see a few bird species that live here.

Some of the birds that can be spotted on Mountain Morungole include kori bustard, pygmy falcon, rose-ringed parakeet, secretary bird, red-throated bee-eater, Karamoja apalis, golden pipit, red and yellow barbet, purple grenadier, chestnut weaver, jackson’s hornbill, white-bellied go-away bird, fox kestrel, dark chanting goshawk, and little bee-eater among others.

The wildlife on mount Morungole

With over 76 mammals living in Kidepo valley national park, some can be seen on the slopes of mountain Morungole. No game drives are carried out here since it’s a mountain however tourists do get a chance of meeting a few animals during nature walks and hiking activities. Slopes of Mountain Morungole are home to a wide range of wildlife such as African wild dogs, dik-dik, hartebeests, side-stripped jackals, and warthogs among others.

Best time to hike Mount Morungole

Tourists can travel to Kidepo valley national park and hike Mount Morungole at any time of the year however certain months are better than others. The dry season months June to September and December to February are the best to travel to Kidepo and hike Mount Morungole because they are characterized by little rainfall and too much sunshine. The hiking trails on Mount Morungole are dry and easier to pass through in the dry season.

Tourists can still travel to Kidepo valley national park and hike Mount Morungole in the rainy season from March to May and October to November. During this period, tourists should know that plenty of rainfall is received within the park. This makes the hiking trails on the slopes of Mount Morungole muddy and slippery giving hikers challenges.