Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, is one of the country’s most remote and spectacular wildlife reserves. Originally inhabited by the Dodoth pastoralists and Ik farmers, the area was gazetted as a game reserve by the British colonial government in 1958 to protect wildlife and prevent bush clearing for tsetse fly control. In 1962, shortly after Uganda’s independence, it was upgraded to a national park. The park covers approximately 1,442 square kilometers of savannah dominated by acacia and dry thickets, featuring two major valley the Kidepo and Narus Rivers -and a rich diversity of wildlife including lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, and over 470 bird species. The park’s history is also marked by the eviction of local communities, which led to significant social challenges, but today it is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority with a focus on conservation and community involvement.
Activities in Kidepo Valley
Top activities in Kidepo Valley National Park include traditional game drives, guided nature walks, bird watching, and cultural visits to local communities such as the Karamajong. Its rugged landscapes and relatively untouched wilderness offer a unique safari experience compared to more frequented parks. Visitors can also explore the Kanangorok hot springs and enjoy photographic safaris in this vast, scenic environment.
Getting there
To get to Kidepo Valley National Park from Kampala, travelers typically take a domestic flight to Moroto or directly to Kidepo airstrip, as the park is about 520 kilometers northeast of Kampala and the road journey can take 10 to 12 hours due to rough terrain. From Moroto town, the park lies approximately 90 kilometers east, roughly a 2 to 3-hour drive. Other nearby destinations include Murchison Falls National Park to the southwest and Mount Moroto, making Kidepo a key part of Uganda’s northern safari circuit.
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