Exciting Activities for Tourists Visiting Kidepo Valley National Park
Exciting Activities for Tourists Visiting Kidepo Valley National Park.
Exciting Activities for Tourists Visiting Kidepo Valley National Park : There are quite a number of exciting activities for tourists visiting Kidepo Valley national park in Uganda. Kidepo is one of the 10 national parks that Uganda proudly boasts of; and it is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Despite it being the most isolated national park in the country, the few tourists who manage to make the long road trip to the park would agree that Kidepo valley national park is the epitome of a magnificent, African safari getaway. It was gazetted as a national park in 1962 and hosts over 77 mammal species and over 475 species of birds.
Activities offered in Kidepo Valley national park include;
Day game drive
Kidepo valley national park, which is situated in the north-eastern part of Uganda, is a popular destination for game viewing which is done on game drives with a pop up roof safari vehicle. Game drives can either be done early in the morning at 6am or late in the evening at 4pm when the animals are active.
Day game drives in the park are done in the open savannah vegetation, grass land vegetation, Narus valley among others which harbour different animal species such as Antelopes, Zebras, Beisa Oryx, Monkeys, Bushbucks, Bush duikers, Waterbucks, Elephants, Bush pigs, Warthogs, Buffaloes, Giraffes among others.
Night game drives
Night game drives in Kidepo valley national park offer visitors an opportunity to view nocturnal animals and those which they might have missed during the day game drive. Night game drives in the park are done after dinner with a guide and spotlight torches for clear views of the nocturnal animals for example the predators including the lions, leopards, cheetahs, hunting dogs, bush babies, bat eared fox, white tailed mongoose, small cats, spotted hyenas among others hence making your safari memorable.
Hiking and guided nature walks
This activity involves visitors moving on foot with an armed guide within the open flat savannah plain and grasslands in Kidepo Valley national park. Guided nature walks into the Lamoj hills where they will spot wildlife species, hiking to Kanangorok hot springs a natural spa in Kidepo wilderness and the hot springs are usually occupied by local people in that the waters are referred to have healing powers, walk through the Kidepo valley sands during the dry season when Kidepo River has dried up.
Hiking activities in Kidepo valley national park are also conducted in Namamukweny valley which is a quiet, lonely place with many bird species hence good for birding and relaxation. Hiking at Morungole Mountains to visit the IK people, which is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Uganda with a unique culture nature walks in the Narus valley to see animals drinking water among others. Hiking is an adventurous and exciting activity in the park in that visitors will be able to view different bird species and animals at a close range and also relax your mind.
Bird watching
The national park harbours 470 bird species of which 14 species are endemic to Kidepo national park and the Karamoja region hence known as a birders paradise for bird lovers. Bird watching activity usually starts in the morning at Apoka rest camp and also drive to Narus River, Namamukweny valley among others which are great birding spots in the national park where visitors will be able to view rare bird species such as the Kori bird and other species such as Yellow billed shrike, Silver birds, Broad tailed warblers, Black coucal, Crimson ramped waxbill, Verreaux’s eagle, Yellow billed hornbill, Egyptian vulture, Kori bustard, Pygmy Falcon, Karamoja Apalis, Jackson’s hornbill, African moustached among others. Kidepo Valley national park is the only destination where you will find Ostriches in the wild.
Cultural encounters
Cultural encounters in Kidepo Valley national park basically involve visitors touring the neighbouring villages so as to learn their lifestyles and way of life including paying a visit to Karamojong homesteads that are situated near the park. This is an interesting village with good people, the Karamojong are warrior nomads who rare a lot of cattle and also participate in subsistence farming.
They live in an arid region where they walk long distances to get water and the place sometimes gets floods during the rainy season and drought during the dry season hence making them to migrate with their cattle in search of water and pasture during the dry seasons and construct temporary structures wherever they go.
During your interaction with the Karamojong you will see their traditional homesteads similar to those of the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania, instruments such as knives, stools, arrows, spears, see their unique dress code, beads, visit art and craft shops at the entrance of the park, enjoy entertainments from the groups such as Nyangia ethnic group, Laka Karaka, Emuya of Naporre which entertains visitors through dance, music, drama performances among others.
Tourists can also visit the IK people who inhabit on the slopes of Mount Morungole. It takes about 8 hours to climb the mountain and visit the IK tribe which is one of the original tribes in the north eastern part of the national park. The IK tribe is also interesting and unique just like the Karamojong tribe hence offering you with interesting experiences of the history, cultural performances, traditional dress code, and traditional dishes while on your safari in Uganda.
