Unlike other parts of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park has only one wet season which is in the months of April, May, June, July and August. The rest of the months of the year are dry season months. However, December to February can be much drier and therefore more dusty and hotter compared to other months.
The months of September, October, November are therefore most preferably the best months to visit Kidepo.
However, the park is accessible and tourists can safari Uganda at any time of the year. The wet/rainy season however, finds the grassy plains much more thicker and therefore wildlife viewing limited rather than in the dry season when the plains are drier and grass short enough for wildlife viewing.
Being a semi-arid park, the dry season can really be hot and dusty therefore the wet season could be preferred. However, the rain season sees the roads get slippery and can be hard to get to the park. Wildlife too moves to drier areas outside the park therefore can be hard to spot.
The dry season eases Uganda wildlife tours since wildlife viewing is easier as animals collect around waterholes especially on the Narus valley.
Kidepo Valley National Park being a popular Uganda tour destination can be accessed both by road and air. Here is how to get to Kidepo Valley National Park by both means;
By road
The largest town in the region Moroto is 251km to the park on a rough road along Kotido-Moroto Road on about 4-5 hours drive.
From Kampala-Uganda’s capital, Kidepo Valley Park is 558km away on a 9-10 hours drive via Kampala-Gulu highway.
The roads to Kidepo Valley Park are fairly tarmacked from Kampala but become rough and dusty as you get closer to the park.
By air
Chartered flights can be arranged from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kidepo Airstrip. Aerolink Uganda organizes chartered flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from Entebbe to Kidepo with flights lasting about 2 h 15min.
The area where Kidepo Valley Park sits is home to unique cultures including the Karamojong and Ik people. The Karamojong are nomadic pastoralists who mainly survive on cattle grazing and partially farming. The traditions of the Karamojong are one of a kind for instance the marriage procedure is one that requires a man to be strong enough and have lots of cattle. The culture of the Karamojong is so welcoming and its portrayed from their way of dressing and construction.
The IK people are one of the smallest tribes in Uganda alongside the Batwa Pygmies of western Uganda. The IK live in Mount Morungole and practice bee keeping and farming.
Though Kidepo Valley Park is within the Kidepo Valley, its rimmed by mountains including Mount Morungole. A hike to Mount Morungole is one sure way of satiating extreme adventure adrenalin. On about 2,749m above sea level, Mount Morungole offers hikers great views of the plains below. On the top of the Mountain is where tourists meet the IK people. With the high temperatures in the region, if a tourist is planning to hike Mount Morungole, remember to carry lots of water and wear light clothes.
Having the second highest bird total in all of Uganda safari parks, birding in Kidepo is a treat for any birder. Some of the bird species that can be sighted include the Dark Chanting Goshawk, Abyssinian Roller. Black-breasted Barbet, Chestnut Weaver, Fox Kestrel, Golden Pipit, Greater Kestrel, Karamoja Apalis (Endemic to the park), Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Pygmy Falcon, Rufous Chatterer, Superb Starling and many more.
The Apoka Rest Camp and park headquarters are the best spots to start a birding excursion in the park since the Silverbird and small bands of Yellow-billed Shrike frequent the thorn trees around the camp. The best time for birding in Kidepo is between March – April,
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In this beautiful wilderness have been constructed suitable accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury, Mid-range to Budget. Here a top pick on each class of accommodation facilities or lodges in Kidepo Valley National Park;
