Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour – Kidepo Valley National park Is an isolated Uganda Safari park found in the rocky semi-arid of Karamoja bordering between Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya, located on a 1442 square meters dominated by rugged savannah and beautiful blue mountains such as Napore-Nyagia mountain, Morungole mountain, Lotukei mountain and many more others.  The fact that it is in a semi-arid area, water supply is scarce and can be found along a few places such as Narus River and Kidepo River

Initially, Kidepo valley national park was not a national park as it was just another area inhabited by the Dodoth pastoralists who are famously known as the Karamajong and the IK farmers.

There were many Borassus palm trees that attracted so many people that came to pick the fruits and make things out of them such as beer, therefore the Dodoth pastoralist named it Kidepo from their verb a kidepo meaning ‘to pick up’.

In 1958 the area was gazetted because people were burning down the bushes as it was infested with tsetse flies and the fact that animals were attacking people and their livestock/homesteads, it was therefore gazetted to protect both the animals from being poached and attacking people with their livestock.

This was formally finalized in 1962 when it was converted into a national park, this left most inhabitants homeless as they were shifted from the park. These people almost became extinct and can only be found up the scenic Morungole Mountains that are near to Kidepo Valley National Park, if you opt to visit these areas, you will hear all these amazing stories. To have a clear image of what Kidepo was after transition is by watching a documentary film that was made, called ‘The wild and the brave’

Regardless that it is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains, it has a semi-arid climate that is why it has one rainy season. The months in which rain could probably rain are from April to August, however, the rains are really light. These months are perfect for those that would love to bird watching activities on addition to their Uganda wildlife tour because in this season so many birds are migrating from one region to another in search of water.

Kidepo Valley National park temperatures can range from 21.5c to 34c annually, which goes to show that it is pretty hot. The months in which it’s pretty hot are from September to March, in these months taking game drives are common because you get to see most of the animals out in the wild mostly in search of water and that is why September to November is the peak season for the park. Watching a herd of buffaloes moving together is the most spectacular thing you can ever see and nowhere else.