Kidepo Valley National Park is the most remote national park in Uganda. It is located in the semi-arid northeast and covers 1,442 sq km. The park is home to more than 500 bird species and 75 mammal species. It is also one of the best places to experience true African wilderness.
Kidepo has the highest concentration of buffaloes in Africa and more animal species than any other park in Uganda.
Visitors can hike to the Lomej Hills, which takes 2–4 hours, or visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs. Wildlife viewing is the main activity in the park.
Kidepo lies between 940 and 2,750 meters above sea level. Mount Morungole is the highest point at 2,750 meters. The Apoka Tourism Centre offers a craft shop, books, souvenirs, and cold drinks after game drives.
This Kidepo travel guide covers recommended tour operators, park entry fees, history, location, best time to visit, accommodation, wildlife, and bird watching holidays.
List of Kidepo Tour Operators
Looking for reliable Kidepo Valley National Park tour operators? We have a list of trustworthy safari companies and travel agencies to help you enjoy a memorable trip.
See recommended list of Kidepo safari companies here.
Park Entry Fees
- Foreign non-residents: USD 40 (adults), USD 20 (children)
- Foreign residents: USD 40 (adults), USD 10 (children)
- East African citizens: 20,000 UGX (adults and children)
Annual passes:
- Foreign non-resident individual: USD 300
- Foreign resident individual: USD 150
- Couple (non-resident): USD 500
- Couple (resident): USD 300
- Family (up to 4): USD 700 (non-resident), USD 500 (resident)
- Corporate pass: USD 1,500 (foreign residents), 2,500,000 UGX (residents)
Vehicles and aircraft fees also apply depending on size and type. Confirm current rates with your tour operator before travel.
History of Kidepo
Kidepo was once home to Karamojong warriors and the Ik people until 1958 when the British declared it a game reserve. The word Kidepo comes from the local word Akidep, meaning “picking,” because locals collected fruits of the borassus trees during the dry season.
The first warden was a Briton named Ian Ross, later replaced by a Ugandan named Ssali Paul. Their story was featured in the 1974 documentary The Wild and the Brave.
The Ik tribe was later pushed by the Karamojong to the Morungole Mountains, where they faced famine. Today, visitors can meet both the Karamojong and the Ik communities.
The Karamojong migrated from Ethiopia in the 1600s. Some groups moved into Kenya and became the Kalenjin and Maasai, while others settled in Uganda, Sudan, and western Kenya, forming the Toposa, Iteso, Karamojong, and Turkana. They are mostly agro-pastoralists.
The Ik are subsistence farmers living in the Morungole Mountains, with a population of about 10,000. Their language belongs to the Kuliak subgroup of Nilo-Saharan languages. Traditionally, Ik children formed age groups and learned survival skills without adult care, though this practice is now less common.
The reserve became a national park in 1962, the year Uganda gained independence.
Location of Kidepo
Kidepo Valley National Park is in Kaabong District, northeast Uganda. Visitors should use 4WD vehicles, especially in the rainy season when roads become muddy.
Routes include Kampala–Karuma–Gulu–Kitgum–Kidepo and Kampala–Mbale–Soroti–Moroto–Kotido–Kaabong–Kidepo. The park is about 571 km from Kampala.
Animals of Kidepo
Kidepo Valley National Park is home to about 75 mammal species. Some animals found here are not seen in other Ugandan parks. Common wildlife includes elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, elands, giraffes, reedbucks, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, bush duikers, black-backed jackals, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, striped hyenas, aardwolves, caracals, patas monkeys, olive baboons, bushbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, greater and lesser kudu, and cheetahs.
Game viewing is the main activity in the park. Most tracks are found in the Narus Valley, which has large numbers of animals. The best time for game drives is in the morning and afternoon when wildlife is more active. Night game drives are also possible on request, though tourists are advised not to go too deep into the park at night.
Birding in Kidepo
Kidepo Valley National Park is also an excellent birding destination with over 500 bird species. Some of the birds include pygmy falcon, Egyptian vulture, Verreaux’s eagle, eastern paradise whydah, Abyssinian roller, green wood hoopoe, common bulbul, white-crested turaco, and ostriches.
Other species include purple heron, red-winged lark, African swallow-tailed kite, red-cheeked cordon-bleu, yellow-rumped seedeater, scarlet-chested sunbird, Nubian woodpecker, white-faced scops owl, eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Jackson’s hornbill, and black-headed plover.
See recommended list of birding tour operators here.
Getting to Kidepo
You can reach Kidepo Valley National Park by flying to Apoka Airstrip or Kidepo Airfield from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield. The park can also be accessed by road, although the drive is long. Despite its remoteness, Kidepo is one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in the world. Its location is the main reason it receives fewer visitors, but for those who make the journey, it is a true gem.
Best Time to Visit Kidepo
Kidepo has a semi-arid climate with about 700 mm of rain a year, mostly between April and September. The park can be visited year-round because the sandy soils do not hold water for long.
The best time to visit is during the dry months when vegetation is thinner and animals gather around water sources, making them easier to spot.
Accommodation in Kidepo
Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park is limited compared to other parks. Some of the available options include Apoka Safari Lodge, Ngamoru Wilderness Camp, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, and Katurum Lodge. More lodges are being built, so options are slowly increasing.
Booking a Safari
I highly recommend booking a safari to Kidepo Valley National Park at the best prices possible. I have pointed out a number of trusted Kidepo tour operators that you can use. I have personally traveled with the companies I recommend to ensure the list is accurate.
These companies offer luxury, mid-range, and budget tours with comfortable accommodation and professional guides.
See recommended list of Kidepo safari companies here.
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