Kidepo Valley National Park is the third largest national after queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls park in Uganda covering a total land area of 1442kmsq located in the northern part of Uganda in the region of Karamajong pastoralists, bordering Sudan and northwest Kenya in the northeast of Uganda. Kidepo valley national park proves its name of being the true African wilderness and currently has been ranked among the most visit destinations.
Currently kidepo is taken to be among the virgin parks in the world by CNN. The landscape kidepo valley national park is really amazing and gives lifetime Adventure memories with a lot of attraction with endemic species of birds over 24 species like ostrich birds, karomonja apris, rosling pelkits mention but few which are endemic in Uganda and hosts of over 85 species of mammals including giraffes, buffaloes, lions, elephants and many species of antelopes like dikers, Uganda kobs, bush bucks, water buckers and many more. Kidepo valley national park is located in semi-arid climate receives little rain fall from the month of April to September
Wildlife found in Kidepo Valley National Park
African elephants (loxodonta Africana)
In kidepo valley national park you will view savannah elephants grazing in the scenic plains of savanna grassland of kidepo valleys. Savannah elephants are the largest subspecies of elephants. They are easily distinguished by their very larger ears which allow them to radiate excess heat and front legs which are noticeably longer than hind legs. They are found throughout the grassy plains and bush land of Africa and in Uganda will find them in the plains of kidepo valley national park.
Savannah elephants are well studied, and the populations are easily estimated. In the savanna subspecies, each family unit usually consists of around 10 females and their calves, and bulls associate with these herds only during mating. Several family units often join together to form a “clan” consisting of up to several hundred members led by female matriarch. The weight of the savanna elephants is 4-7 tons, and you will view them watching in grassy bushes in the plains.
African buffaloes( syncerus caffer)
On your wildlife trip to kidepo valley national park your high chances of experience buffaloes grazing in the savanna plains of kidepo valley national park. African buffaloes are large bovine but slightly small than other species of buffaloes like water buffalo. Buffaloes are regarded as Avery dangerous animals because they are responsible for over 200 human deaths every year. They also belong the big five animals and you will herd of them in plains of kidepo valley national grazing. The plains of kidepo valley national parks will give you the authentic and ultimate viewing and experiencing of buffaloes, you can also your cameras for the wildlife photo moments while carrying out your game drive in kidepo valley national park.
Lions
Among the wildlife watched while on your game drives in kidepo valley national park are lions in the grassy and savanna of kidepo, it’s an authentic experience meeting with the king of jungle in the wild. Lions leave in a group called pride and the pride is composed of both 3 males, males and young ones and there is always dominant that takes control of the pride, the young one of lion is called cub or lionet. Females’ lions need 5kgs of meet per day and male lions needs 7kg and more per day.
Lions get their meals after long tiresome hunting mostly done in skim down by female lions do 85 %- 90% of group to hunt while males take part t protect their territories , in the wild lions live for about 12 -13 years and also up to 25 years in the captivity often known as the king of the of the jungle whose mostly live in grassy or savanna, females lions reach two thirds of their adult size by the time of two years old and they hunt .larges animals like zebras, antelopes and buffaloes and they are only sleep for two which , means they are nocturnal
For your best wildlife trip book in time your trip with the truly and experience company for the best wildlife ultimate trip to Uganda the pearl of Africa in kidepo valley national park known as “the true African wilderness)
Giraffes (Rothschild’s) in Kidepo Valley National Park
On your wildlife tour to kidepo valley national park you will have high chances of experiencing giraffes because their grassland savannah plains you have clear and spectacular views of giraffes grazing. Well know them as the smallest creatures in the world, but there are many more fascinating facts about giraffes that you don’t know, and you could learn a lot on your wildlife trip to kidepo valley national park.
Newborn giraffes stand at around 6 feet taking or making them taller than most adult humans, although giraffes are very tall, the donn’t sleeps much. Most of them get around 10 minutes to 2 hours of sleep per day even when they get little amount of sleep required each day, they don’t lie down. Giraffes go to sleeping standing up most of the time, they also giraffes’ birth while standing up meaning that these creatures rarely have excuse to lie down and within just 10 hours of birth, baby giraffes can run with their families without struggling.
The giraffe tongue can be as long as 45cm, allowing them to get their lunch from trees. Between their pregnancies, female giraffes only have two-week window in which to get pregnant. Giraffes can run up to speed of 35 miles per hour out running most horses, their long legs mean that they cover plenty of space in short amounts of time making their average walking speed around 1o miles per day. Visitors and tourist have always even wondered what sound giraffe makes. This animal often short and hiss but can also make very low sounds which are impossible for human to hear.
A giraffe has the amazing eyesight, which means that they can wander way from one another but finds their way back easily. Male giraffes and female giraffes eat from distance on parts of the same tree. You can plan your trip with us the guanine company for your authentic trip to kidepo valley national park. You will also experience more wildlife other than the mentioned above like zebras, antelopes, spotted hyena, and leopards and many more like African ostrich bird.
African ostrich bird
Kidepo valley national is famously known because of ostrich birds, after tour wildlife experience in there morning, you can be taken for the evening ostrich drives in the park around Kanangorok hot springs. Other than wildlife you will experience other activities like the unique cultural experience of Karamojong cultural famously known as pastoralist. You will walk to the community for the guided cultural village tour where you will get unique unforgettable experience and understanding of nomadic lifestyle around Karenga and kidepo. The elders will show you the kraals, grinding stone, local defense fence and cultural known as “Edonga”. During the tour of Karamojong Manyanttas (homesteads) you will see kraal belonging to the communities, tradition customs, stools, spears headdress, knives, bows and arrows and jewelry among others.
The experience is to interesting and it as attracted many visitors to the community at their wildlife experience, they interested in visiting this nomadic community. There are also interesting and worthy to take hand crafted souvenirs during your tour. Not to be missed on your community visit near the park staging cultural dance such as the Emuya of the Naporre and Nyangia , Larakaraka and Apiti dances of the Acholi are worthy to see and participate because of the rewarding cultural experience their will add on your memories on your wildlife trip to Uganda and kidepo valley national park.
Access to Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley national park is located northeast of Uganda and takes 9 to 10 drive by road although you can use different routes to kidepo valley national park.
These routes to Kidepo Valley National Park (distance in kilometers)
- Gulu -Kitigum road to kidepo valley national park —571(9-10 hours) driver. This is the most popular route to kidepo valley national park.
- Kampala, Mbale, Sironko, Nakapiripiti ,Moroto, Kotido to kidepo valley national –740km (12 to 13 hours driver)
- Kampala, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, to kidepo valley national – 793km (12-13 hours’ drive). This route takes you to eastern direction of Uganda and crosses river nil before Jinja that separates eastern Uganda to central Uganda.
However, you can also access kidepo valley national park by flight from Kajjansi airfield to Lomej airstrip in kidepo valley national near the park headquarters for 2 hours flight. These are one of the easiest ways to kidepo valley national park. You can plan to your three days flight to kidepo valley national park with responsible Tour Company in Uganda that will help you plan your trip and book it for you like African skimmer tours, your trip can be well planned for you to explore animals in kidepo valley national park.
Kidepo valley national is one of the world’s popular game reserves because of its unique rewarding savannah plains and it gives specular views of wildlife and mount Moroto. The drive is big distance but where get its worthy it. There is a lot of wildlife to see because of its remoteness their a few people that have visited this park, the accommodations around kidepo valley national park are specular with beautiful luxury rooms and top-class facilities. The nearby villages around kidepo will give you the authentic cultural experience after your wildlife experience with game and nature walks in the park.