Yes, you can drive around Uganda on dirty roads. Let us take our trip to Kidepo Valley National Park, the true African wilderness, Uganda’s most isolated park found in the country’s distant north-eastern, close to Kenya and South Sudan in the farthest extremity of the remote, sparsely populated Karamoja region.

One of East Africa’s most magnificent wildernesses, the Kidepo landscape is one of tremendous drama with grasslands roamed by big game favourites extending towards rugged mountains in all points of the compass. It is also an area of rich cultural in interest for the plains around the park are dotted with the manyattas (homesteads) of Karamoja’s fiercely traditional pastoralists.

An impressive variety of wildlife species survive in Kidepo’s harsh, semi-arid environment. Grassland, bush and forest habitats in the 1442km squared support 77 mammal species and 476 bird species, a number second in Uganda only to Queen Elizabeth National Park’s 604 species. Kidepo is the only Ugandan refuge for cheetah, bat-eared fox, striped hyena and caracal while eland and zebra only occur in Kidepo and Lake Mburo. Elephant, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, lion, leopard, spotted hyena and black backed and side-striped jackal are also present.

A distinctive bird list includes over 100 dry country residents of northern Uganda and Kenya including a number that are endemic to the Kidepo region e.g., rose ringed parakeets, Clapperton’s francolin and Karamoja Apalis. Other highlights include the ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bustard, red – throated bee-eaters, the Abyssinian roller and the Abyssinian ground horn bill. Kidepo is also notable for 56 raptor species including the rare lappet-faced vulture, lesser and Denham’s bustard.

Access to Kidepo Valley National Park

A road trip with rooftop tent to Kidepo is an exciting adventure with various road conditions so a sound 4WD vehicle is required. The quickest and most popular route from runs via Gulu and Kitgum (571km). If traveling via Kitgum, try to return to Kampala through the vast, undeveloped Karamoja region (661km) passing through Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and close to Mount Elgon National Park.

And a charter and scheduled flights fly to Kidepo airstrip from Kajansi or Entebbe international airport.

Activities and Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park

Narus Valley game drive

The southerly Narus Valley contains the park’s only permanent water points and wildlife congregates in this area for much of the year. Look for buffalo and elephant in the swamps along the valley floor, giraffe and eland on the drier slopes above and scan the rock outcrops for lions.

Kidepo Valley Drive

The dry Kidepo Valley is short on big game but massive on scenery. 30km north of the park’s tourism hub at Apoka, the road crosses the dry, sandy bed of the Kidepo River to enter an expansive plain lined to the east by the Morungole mountain range and to the north by the looming, 2975m high Jebel Lotuke in South Sudan. Mammals are rare but ostriches and secretary birds are often seen.

Nature walks

Opportunities for guided walks range from short nature walks around Apoka Rest Camp to longer walks through the open grasslands of East Kakine and a hike along part or all of the 15km Rionomoe Trail which follows the southern side of the Narus valley.

Bird watching

Experienced ranger guides available at Apoka to help located and identify birdlife in the park’s various habitats.

Community walks

Community walks outside the side the park provide the opportunity to learn about life in the local Karamojong manyattas (homesteads) at Kwalako, Lorukul and Karenga.