Reasons why you should visit Kidepo valley national park right now

Reasons why you should visit Kidepo valley national park right now: Popularly known as the most isolated national park in Uganda, Kidepo valley national park is one of the national parks one should visit. The protected area is located in Kaabong district. Kidepo valley is known for harboring over 76 mammals, 476 birds, and about 5 primate species.

Kidepo valley national park is one of the least visited national park due to its location. It’s located about 9 to 10 hours’ drive from Kampala by road transport. In today’s article, we are going to look at the different reasons why you should visit the most isolated national park in Uganda. The different reasons are below.

Enjoy some of Uganda’s best viewing

Every traveler visiting Kidepo valley national park should take part in the game drives. Game drives are the best way to see the different animals that have been said to be living in Kidepo valley national park. Game viewing is done in Kidepo valley and Narus valley where a huge population of animals does stay. With dry game tracks and a good safari vehicle with a good driver guide, the tourists will be able to see as many animals as they can.

A game drive experience in Kidepo valley national park will give you an opportunity of encountering wild animals such as cheetahs, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, olive baboons, side stripped jackals, elephants, buffaloes, hartebeests, defassa waterbucks, elands, Uganda kobs, warthogs, crocodiles, and ostriches among others.

Experience the culture of IK and the famous Karamojong

One of eth best cultures in East Africa is the Karamojong and they are found around the boundaries of Kidepo valley national park. It’s around the same park that tourists can find the IK people who are also an ethnic group of people believed to have entered Uganda from Kenya. There are several things you can learn by visiting these two tribes who have tried really so hard to preserve their cultures.

A safari in Kidepo valley park takes you to the  IK or Karamojong is led by local guides who are there to interpret what the local have to say. On arrival in the community, the tourists are welcomed by the locals and they visit different homesteads to learn about their culture, see what they do, and learn about their history. A visit to the Karamojong or IK people also includes entertainment from the traditional dancers.

Encounter different bird species

Tourists need to visit Kidepo valley national park right now in order to see the so many bird species that have been recorded there.  Over 476 bird species live in Kidepo valley national park and they can be seen when one take part in birding activities. The bird watching in Kidepo valley national park is carried out in specific areas where tourists believe that a high number of bird species concentrate. A birding guide and armed ranger guide take you around the park for bird watching activities.

The bird watching experience in Kidepo valley national park comes with opportunities of spotting birds such as red and yellow barbet, kori bustard, Karamoja apalis, black-breasted barbet, little bee-eater, ostrich, dark chanting goshawk, purple grenadier, Jackson’s hornbill, golden pipit, mouse-colored penduline, golden pipit, northern carmine bee-eater, Karamoja apalis, singing bush lark, Abyssinian scimitarbill, rufous chatterer, greater kestrel, and white-bellied go-away bird among other.

See some of the amazing mountains

Kidepo valley national park is surrounded by different mountains and the commonest one is called Mountain Morungole. Mountain Morungole is the highest mountain of all surrounding the park with a height of 2750 meters. This mountain is found in the northeastern part of Apoka and different activities can happen there. There is birding watching, hiking and community tours done on Mountain Morungole so a traveler good at hiking can choose which one to do.

Get a chance to experience the nature

Kidepo valley national park offers a wide variety of activities that will provide you with numerous memorable safari experiences. Nature walks are among the activities tourists who want to explore the wild can take part in. The activities are carried out in different areas of the park and tourists are able to get so close to nature. Tourists do meet different animals, birds, vegetation, hot springs, water sources, and much more during nature walks.

 Where to stay on a safari in Kidepo valley national park?

When you happen to visit Kidepo valley national park, there are different accommodation facilities of different categories where you can spend a night or more. These accommodation facilities include Apoka Safari Lodge, Zebra Safari Lodge, Karatunga Safari Camp, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, and Apoka Rest Camp among others.