Wildlife Tours in Kidepo Valley National Park –Best Uganda Safaris

Discover the ultimate guide to experience the unrivalled wildlife tours in Kidepo Valley National Park. Located in isolation in the Karamoja plains, Northeastern Uganda is a splendid Kidepo National Park, one of the premier destinations that guarantees nature lovers vibrant wildlife tour experiences. Are you interested in the Big Game viewing experience in Uganda? Booking wildlife tours in Kidepo Valley National Park with Flawless Adventure Planners Limited has you covered. We are an experienced company with a record of years in organizing private Kidepo Valley wildlife tours tailored to guests’ pace, passions, and wallet. As a team, we have spent years exploring the Kidepo plains and we know exactly what this finest East African destination holds.

Wildlife tours in Kidepo Valley National Park introduce you to the remote and wild landscapes of the Karamoja plains. A combined captivating Karamoja plains with mesmerizing wildlife encounters await you on Kidepo wildlife tours. Wildlife tours in Kidepo provide unmatched game drives, nature walks, plus authentic cultural experiences in the IK and Karamojong communities.

What to see during wildlife tours in Kidepo

The untamed Kidepo National Park boasts diverse wildlife for you to catch a glimpse of on game viewing. The checklist of wildlife to explore on guided wildlife tours in Kidepo includes caracals, cheetahs, aardwolves, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, lions, zebras, and giraffes.
Beyond the savanna plain wildlife, Kidepo holds more than 475 species of birds.

The birds in Kidepo include red-billed oxpeckers, rufous chatterer, Verreaux’s eagle, pallid harrier, Emin’s shrike, slate-colored boubou, red-spotted barbets, yellow spotted petronia, fox’s cisticola, ring-nicked spurfowl, eastern violet-backed sunbirds, dusky-turtle dove, rufous chatterer, golden pipit, African pied hornbills, white-bellied go-away bird, Abyssinian scimitar bill, fox’s weavers, Emin’s shrike, and more.

What awaits you on the Kidepo Valley wildlife tour?

Game drives

Game drives offer a unique opportunity for tourists to experience the best wildlife tours in Kidepo. On a game drive, expect to spot a diversity of wildlife in the vast plains of Kidepo, including leopards, Rothschild giraffes, cape buffaloes, elephants, and cheetahs. A guided game drive in Kidepo involves exploring the enriching wildlife tracks including Kidepo and Narus.

Nature walks & hikes.

Nature walking in Kidepo is one of the best ways to explore Kidepo on a wildlife tour in Uganda. With guided nature walks, you get a chance to immerse yourself in Kidepo’s varied habitats. In the different habitats of Kidepo, there is a possibility to spot varied antelopes, birds, and other species.

Bird watching

Birding is an enriching excursion awaiting avid birders on wildlife tours in Kidepo. The iconic bird-watching sites to explore in Kidepo National Park include Apoka tourism center, Narus Valley, and Namamukweny Valley. At the Namamukweny Valley area, expect to find birds such as white-crested turacos and green wood hoopoe. Kanangorok hot springs and Kidepo River Valley regions feature birds such as hartlaub’s bustards, Kori bustards, and white-bellied bustards.

To identify migratory birds, Kidepo is best visited from November to April. These months offer a higher opportunity to spot a variety of migratory species in the varying habitats in Kidepo. On a birding tour in Kidepo, essentials needed include a pair of binoculars, a camera, and comfortable safari clothes.

Best time for wildlife tours in Kidepo

Kidepo is an open destination throughout the year, although the dry season offers better weather conditions. The peak dry months/season fall in December, January, February, and March. The dry season/months experience low rainfall amount, with the game tracks rendered more accessible. Guided game viewing in Kidepo around the dry season lets you enjoy views of diverse wildlife as they concentrate around the limited water sources/waterholes. The other ideal dry months to consider embarking on Kidepo wildlife tours include September, October, and November.

Accommodation, lodges, and camps

Apoka Safari Lodge

If you are interested in luxury lodges in Kidepo, then Apoka Safari Lodge should be a must-visit. Set in the center of Kidepo National Park, this luxury accommodation offers an ideal place to stay, especially if your target is to explore Narus Valley attractions. It comes with a swimming pool, cozy duvet, carpets, comfortable beds, and more.

Kidepo Savannah Lodge

Kidepo Savannah Lodge provides midrange and luxury tents. About 8 luxurious tents make up this lodge. It is at Kidepo Savannah Lodge where comfort and convenience meet. The lodge features single and double bed options, private en suite bathrooms, flush toilets, and other amenities.

Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp

Set in the Northern end of Kidepo, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp is an ideal accommodation choice for wildlife enthusiasts interested in game viewing. This midrange accommodation lodge offers excellent views of the Narus Valley and comes with varied amenities/services including manicure garden, restaurant, bar, plus parking area.

Apoka Rest Camp

This is a typical budget or basic accommodation option with about 14 bandas and 16 chalets.

Adere Safari Lodge

Adere Lodge offers budget lodging options to guests on wildlife tours in Kidepo Valley National Park. This lodge features a luxurious garden, cottages, and 20 self-contained chalets with a capacity of 20 people.

Accessing Kidepo for your wildlife tour

Kidepo Valley National Park is reachable from Kampala through the Jinja-Mbale route, or you can take the Kampala-Gulu route. Overall, driving to Kidepo takes a long day, about 10-12 hours. Other travel options (still by road) include Kampala-Jinja-Mbale-Soroti-Kotido, Kaabong, and finally to Kidepo.

By air –visitors can book flights which begin from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Kidepo Airport. At Kidepo Airport, guests can be picked up and transferred to their camps or lodges for relaxation. But this requires early booking to secure a flight slot.

How much is Kidepo wildlife tours and safari?

Kidepo National Park entrance fee varies depending on the visitor type/category. An adult (foreign non-resident) pays USD 40, and children USD 20. East African citizens are charged UGX 20,000 per person to have access to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Are there crocodiles in Kidepo?

Kidepo Valley National Park doesn’t have crocodiles. The absence of these reptile species is attributed to the nature of the environment. Kidepo lies in the Karamoja region, which is largely a semi-arid area and comprises seasonal rivers. The nature of the environment doesn’t favor certain species, including crocodiles.

Are elephants in Kidepo National Park?

Kidepo National Park holds one of the biggest concentrations of elephants in Uganda. The presence of the African elephant herds makes Kidepo one of the special wildlife destinations.

What is unique about Kidepo?

Kidepo is a true hidden gem offering authentic African wilderness experiences. Gazetted in 1962, Kidepo celebrates itself with the rest of Uganda being the year the country officially attained its freedom from colonialists.

Where is Kidepo located in Uganda?

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in Kaabong District, Karamoja plains in Northeastern Uganda. The Park is surrounded by other districts in Northeastern Uganda, including Moroto, about 5 5-hour drive, Kotido, about 3-4-hour drive, and Nakapiripirit, which is about a 5-6-hour drive away.

What to pack for Kidepo wildlife tours

Carry only essentials for your Kidepo wildlife tours, including a safari hat, a camera, warm layers, insect repellents, additional camera batteries and charging accessories, sunscreens, a pair of binoculars, and comfortable attire that suits the kind of your wildlife adventure. You also require comfortable footwear and a first aid kit.

Conclusion: wildlife tours in Kidepo Valley National Park present a unique opportunity for nature lovers to witness the diversity of savanna wildlife and birds in the extreme part of Uganda. Book with Flawless Adventure Planners Ltd your Kidepo tour to enjoy an unforgettable game viewing experience in Uganda –The Pearl of Africa.