Trip to kidepo valley national park the pearls highly isolated national park

There are10 national parks situated in the pearl of Africa (Uganda) with variety of bird species and diverse wildlife (flora and fauna). From the savanna grasslands of Murchison falls national park to the mountains of the moon (snowcapped Rwenzori mountains). Uganda has got unique range of attractions in the region of east Africa. While the number of visitors varies basing on the number of factors such as differences in tastes and preferences, accessibility, proximity to the capital city and more others. In Uganda, the highly isolated national park is Kidepo Valley national park which is positioned in Kaabong District, the northern part of the country, while it covers about 144sqkm. Kidepo national park dwells in the rugged, semi-arid valley between Uganda, Sudan, and Kenya boarders about 700km from the capital Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Adventuring Uganda’s most isolated national park is thrilling.

This area (kidepo area) was once occupied by the farmers and hunters that were known as kateebo in the late 1800s which was later gazette as a game reserve in 1958 to protect poaching of animals and preventing further deforestation by the British colonial government. The new independent government of Uganda under president Milton Obote in 1962 transformed it to a national park.

Kidepo and narus rivers form the two valley whose floors rests between 3000 and 4000 feet. The main source of water in kidepo valley national park is the “kanangorok” hot spring that subsists in the northern part of kidepo on the boundary with South Sudan.

There is variation between the narus valley and the kidepo basin in terms of vegetation cover and animal population. The open tree savanna vegetation covers the most parts of kidepo valley national park and this is due to variation in rainfall.

Wildlife in kidepo valley national park

Visiting kidepo valley national park, is a sure way of encountering rare animal species and much more. The above mentioned park harbors over eight animal species some of which are hardly found in any other national park, among them include the following; cheetah, bat-eared fox, hunting dogs, beisaoryx, klipspringers, striped hyena, roan antelopes among others. While other animal species in kidepo valley national park include; elands, bush duskier, bush pigs, warthogs, oribi, cape buffaloes, elephants, Burch ell’s zebras, lions, leopards, bohor reed buck, Jackson’s hartebeests, Rothschild giraffes, defassa water bucks, among others.

Birding in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Kidepo valley national park accommodates over 460 bird species, among which include, pygmy falcon, yellow-billed hornbill, Egyptian vulture, varreaux’s eagle, Abyssinian ground hornbill, ostrich, Kori bustard among others.

Accommodation in kidepo valley national park.

Lodging facilities in kidepo national park ma     y include; Nga’Moru wilderness camp which offers mid-range accommodation, savannah lodge, Apopka rest camp, this offers budget accommodation, Apopka safari lodge, this offers luxury accommodation in the region.

Kidepo valley national park is one of the most isolated Uganda wildlife park, nevertheless still remains one of the magnificent national parks in the sub-Sahara region.