Are you a tourist interested in visiting a remote destination that is greatly unexplored? Then visit Kidepo valley National Park, a remote Park nestled on the jagged semi-arid Valleys, in North-eastern Uganda on the border with South Sudan and Kenya. It was gazetted in 1962 hence the third Park to be gazetted in Uganda. Covering an area of 1442 square kilometers, Kidepo Valley National Park is the third largest Park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This Park boasts of the most spectacular landscapes in Uganda but in undeniably the most isolated National Park in the country. Tourists who endure this lengthy and tiring journey to this Park will totally agree that Kidepo Valley National Park is the most spectacular and was ranked as the third best destination in Africa by CNN. Visiting this Park is not an ordinary wildlife safari but it’s a safari to a true African Wilderness experience like no other experience. The savanna landscape expands from Apoka (the heart of the National Park), far beyond the gazetted area to the horizons demarcated by distant mountain ranges.

Because this area is a semi-arid region, the only permanent water during the dry season is noticed in wetland and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley next to Apoka. These seasonal water holes/oases together with the open savanna terrain make this Narus a perfect and principle game viewing site within Kidepo Valley National Park.

What to See and Do in Kidepo Valley National Park

The vegetation of this Park is characterized by four ecosystems including the Savanna woodlands and the Narus Valley with grey-haired acacia (acacia gerrardi) among others. There are over 86 species of mammals, about 475 species of birds and more than 692 species of plants (second after Queen Elizabeth National Park) in this magnificent National Park. The interesting thing about visiting Kidepo Valley National Park is that over 28 of the mammals species cannot be sighted in any other National Park in Uganda. This is why you should not miss exploring this Park while for a safari in Uganda. Some of those wildlife species only unique to KVNP include Aardwolf, Striped Hyenas, African wild dogs, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Caracal, Cheetahs, Dik-dik, Beisa Oryx, Klipspringer, Bright’s gazelle and the Roan antelopes among others. Other wildlife species sheltered in this Park include African Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, Jackals, Lions, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbucks and Lions among others. Of all the 475 species of birds, there are 58 recorded species of birds of prey and some of them include pygmy falcon, lammergeier and Egyptian vulture among others. There are also 14 species of raptors that are only unique and native to this Park and five species of hornbills are found in KVNP. This Park will never stop impressing tourists because even some of the world’s rarest and most desired species of birds are found here and they include Black-breasted barbet, Karamoja apalis and Ethiopian swallow. Other species you are likely to encounter include Red billed Oxpecker, Clapperton’s francolin, Hartlaud’s bustard, Ostriches (only found in this Park), and the Nubian woodpecker among others. Therefore some of the activities tourists participate in include game drives, birding nature walks, visit to Karamajong Village, and visit to the Ik people of Mount Morungule

How to Access Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in a strategic position in that it can be accessed through several routes. Please note that it is about 10 to 13 hours from Kampala and Some of the routes tourists can use to reach this Park include those through Eastern Uganda like; Kampala to Mbale to Soroti to Moroto then finally to the Park. This takes about 13 hours going and is about 792kms. Another one is Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo (740km/12 hours).

Tourists going through Northern Uganda commonly use Kampala to Karuma to Gulu to Kitgum to Kidepo (571km/10 hours) and Kampala to Karuma to Lira to Kotido to Kaabong to Kidepo (705kms/12 hours). These Northern routes are the most commonly used to access Kidepo Valley National Park. You can avoid the long hours and fatigue involved in using road transport. Charter flights can organized by Eagle Aviation or Kampala Aeroclub from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Apoka Airstrip. This even reduces on the number of days you would spend, or the hours that you would spend on road would be used to enjoy the beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park.

Therefore, Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the must visit laces in Uganda because of the unique wildlife species like Cheetahs, Greater and Lesser Kudu and Caracal am0ng others and unique bird species like the Karamoja Apalis. Because it is remote and receives few tourists, most of its attractions are unexplored; hence is a perfect destination for tourists interested in wildlife viewing in an African wilderness.

Where to Stay while at Kidepo Valley National Park

Few but comfortable accommodation facilities exist in this Park to make your stay memorable and they include Kakine Self-catering campsite (budget), Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury), Nga’ Moru Wilderness (mid-range), Buffalo Base, Apoka Rest Camp (a budget facility managed and run by Uganda Wildlife Authority) and Kidepo Safari Eco-lodge.

Driving towards the northern side of Uganda via the Luweero triangle is Murchison falls, Uganda’s largest national park covering an area of about 3840 square kilometers and the home to almost all the big cats, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes among other animals. Located in the Albertine rift valley where the beautiful Bunyoro escarpment meets the doted savanna. Its Uganda’s oldest conservation area since it was first gazetted as a game reserve and later to a national park. Its home of over 76 species of mammals and over 451 bird species.

Areas of interest with in the park

Murchison Falls

These falls are comprised of a war between the rocks and water. The waters violently penetrate through a very narrow gorge spraying their droplets of about a 50metre radius. This creates a very nice looking rainbow over the battlefield. From the baker point on the southern side, you can also get glance at the Nile splitting into the small uhuru falls that was created in 1962 when the river burst its banks. At this point you just appreciate that nature is the only thing should not even be tampered with.

Paraa

The word paraa means “home of the hippo” in the Luo language and this is the parks hub. All the access roads of the park just converge here. Several accommodations are located here, a small museum and a gift shop is also located here and most game drives, nature walks and launch trips start or commence here. All along if you have been wondering where you can view all the hippos behavior, paraa is just the place to be at the Murchison falls national park.

Karuma falls

Located in Chobe the north eastern side of the park, these charming water falls of the Victoria Nile are made up of a series of rocks which cause the waters to ripple making them look in a foamy white appearance. It is really an ideal spot for sport fishing. For the honeymooners, oh my God, guess what awaits you, it is one of Africa’s most beautiful and spectacular lodges, The Chobe lodge. This is just a magnificent experience and you just can’t miss it.

Kaniyo pabidi forest

In the southern side of the park, is this small amazing forest that harbors the colobus type of monkeys, olive baboons and a habituated chimp group which can be tracked. The great elephants and the leopards are also very frequent visitors to the forest including the beautiful birds like the chocolate backed kingfisher, white thorned horn bill and the puvel’silladopis that is found nowhere else in the whole of east Africa. The forest also has a campsite for camping, forest walks and good bird watching.

Rabongo forest

Surrounded by grasslands, the forest is a good place where most birders have their paradise, with the endangered species of birds. The visitors can also enjoy camp fires and relaxation on the banks of the Waringo river.

Buligi game tracks

Lying between the Albert and the Victoria Nile, it’s one of the Murchison’s popular safari destinations covering an area of about 120 to 170 km in length. The tracks try to pass though the savanna grassland, acacia and the river rine vegetation. Most of the parks wildlife can be viewed here most especially in the early morning and the early evening hours

River Nile

The meaning stills comes out that it’s the longest river on the planet because you can view its source in jinja but still find on its way to the Mediterranean at Murchison falls. The boat cruise along the river is the greatest experience for the nature lovers when they have a great view of the mammal, birds, reptiles and the guided nature walks.

However, unlike other parks, Murchison falls also has got some areas of attraction outside the park and they are also worthy to pay a visit to for example the Budongo forest that harbors almost 800 chimpanzees and a variety of beautiful birds. Forest walks are very possible at Busingiro Eco-tourism site on the Masindi-Bugungu route to Murchison falls national park. The olive baboon is also another attraction that are common along the road routes. Please make sure that your car windows are closed if you don’t want to loose your spicy lunch to these funny creatures. You will not also miss the savanna dwelling patas monkey is also found here.

Activities with in the park

Launch trips

The launch trip that starts at paara gives you an astonished and wonderful experience where you have to have a frontal view of the falls. The launch mainly departs at 9am and 2pm daily and takes three hours. And for the birders, the morning cruise downstream the Nile delta provides the best chance to view the African shoe bill and the return gives you a fantastic view of the hippos, elephants and the birds.

Sport fishing

On the banks of the Nile below the Murchison falls, a memorable experience of sport fishing is also awaiting you and you will get a chance to see the Nile perch that go as heavy as even 100kilogrammes. The fishing is permitted in the designated places and your required to book before and come with your own equipment and also secure a permit from the Uganda wildlife authority.

Chimpanzee tracking and habituation

At the kaniyo pabidi, you will also get chance to track theses close relatives of man. The track takes about 3 to 4 hours and it is limited to a group of visitors and takes about a period of one hour watching these chimps play, eat and interact. This is just also a memorable experience at the park.

Game drives

Along the Buligi tracks, you will also be able to view all the animals on your way like the lions, reedbuck, bushbuck, buffalos, giraffes, duikers. With the help of the guides, you will even be able to spot the leopards at dusk. They mainly start in the morning and the afternoons.

Birding

Both the game drives and the launch trips can make you able to view the various species of the birds in the park. The commonest species found in the Albertine region include the Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bellied bastards,open billed storks, widow birds among others, closer to the river, you can also be able to have a glance at the malachite king fishers, francolins,hornbills,woodpeckers,cukoos. However the park’s main birding attraction is the shoebill that is best sighted in the dry season from January to march.

Other activities include the nature walks and hiking in the Budongo forest outside the park and the Rabongo forest, bush camping and the Mubako cultural campfire performances among other activities

The accommodation is also a memorable and astonishing experience at one of Africa’s most beautiful lodges known as the Chobe lodge, the paraa safari lodge is also another place that is a must to be.

Explore Africa with the 4×4 rental car with rooftop tent, the great display that the African continent stands to offer is another amazing story when seated behind the wheels and as well know that your overnight is greatly present with you.

Africa has greatly proposed greater wilderness safari encounters which are widely scattered across the sub regions. The African wildness experience resides in the power to traverse throughout the varying regions of the wider dry/desert and semi-desert zone, drive to the coastline for the brighter and whiter sand and sun set, cruise across scattered savannahs and equatorial tropics.

Africa’s wilderness safaris with rooftop tent jeep are intense, ranging from wilderness drive through the open savannahs, and hikes and walks through the tropics for imaginable encounters including the Masai & Serengeti dramatic wildebeest migration, the Malawi Nyika plateau, South Africa greater wildness open of Kruger, the Namib deserts of Namibia and driving across the Okavango delta plus a walk through the jungle for the mountain gorillas and chimpanzee apes.

The mention on the Africa’s wilderness safaris is made possible mainly by the stronger 4×4 jeeps, so, many travelers have resorted to having the 4×4 safari jeep with rooftop tent. This consideration is a double score with a single slot stake catering for both transportation and accommodation as well.

Top Africa’s wilderness safari possible with rooftop tent jeep;

Virunga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This a top Africa’s highlight of the rest of the adventures. Yes, the adventure is worthy to top on the safari to consider undertaking with the rooftop tent jeep. A drive this time continues into the deep jungles of the two designated mountain gorilla jungles at the extreme east of the central African forests of Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, DRC and Uganda and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda. While in the jungle there are various camping sites which where one can level their jeeps for the rooftop tent overnight. Gorilla trekking here is historical tracing the human background that is thought to date over 40 million years when man evolved from the gorillas. This is evidenced with the biological research which confirms the gorillas to possess much of the human DNA taking a share of 98%.

Kruger National Park

The steeped historical of the Kruger national park South Africa presents an awesome experiences concerning Africa’s wilderness safari. The flat savannahs accommodates grounds for rooftop tent camping experiences. It’s one Africa’s most popular national parks seen receiving volumes of travelers from across the world, 4×4 jeeps are seen lining up wanders for a perfect wild African encounter at the park. The relatively flat landscape nature has facilitated much for the jeep rooftop tent at Kruger especially during the dry months.

The Wildebeest Migration Safari

The Serengeti and Masai Mara reserve annual wildebeest migration spectral only here. The neighboring wild reserves of Tanzania and Kenya respectively have always scored accolades of being Africa best parks to visit. The savannah opening avails chances for greater encounters including herds of antelopes, Big Five games, primates, birding among so many reflections. 4×4 rental and jeeps are the only possible cruises that can traverse through these endless offers, there quite a number of available camping spaces where one can level their 4×4 rooftop tent jeeps for the overnight.

Nyika Plateau of Malawi

One of the greater vast that arranged within the rift valley, overlooking highlands and that offer 45 to 180 view of either side. This plateau was preserve to ensure the safety of the unique landscape of southern Africa which harbor quite a number of characters including the Afro-montane and stands a remote destination but worth a drive for rooftop tent overnight accompanied by a number of wildlife views.

The Okavango Delta safari Botswana

This is a 15,000sqkm rich biodiversity formed by river Okavango that flows from Angolan highlands through Namibia and finally to Botswana. The Okavango delta or grassland is a unique swampy inland delta formed where the Okavango River reaches a tectonic trough making it one of the world’s largest inland delta. As many deltas pour into lakes and seas, in a special and unique way the Okavango pours onto the open land flooding, forming various fingers savannah drainage. The Okavango delta has attracted on of the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa displaying one of most rewarding wilderness safari. This greater and oversized Botswana savannah has proven possibilities of camping safaris and very welcoming for rooftop tent camping.

Ngorongoro Crater

Another Tanzania’s most catching wilderness spots, situated in the proximity of the Serengeti reserve, the Ngorongoro conservation area as well suggest another perfect Africa’s adventures. The crater decorate a spectacular beauty, this caldera and collapsed volcanoes with the larger scattered savannah houses a great number of wildlife species. The rolling terrain of the reserve makes its routes an accessible without the 4×4 fleets, considering the 4×4 rooftop tent jeeps is a freewill drive through the beaten path of Ngorongoro conservation. And after a wider game watching, it’s as well a perfect night on the rooftop tent jeeps.

The Sahara sand dunes

The sub-Sahara region spread right from central Africa extending to the northern region covering over 11 countries of Morocco, Egypt, and Libya etc. The Sahara desert experiences much of the dry oceanic winds that have sprayed and made hips of elevated landscape. The Camaro ride, deserts walks to the oasis and watching a number of deserts dwellers/animals is a packed trials and at the end of the day luxurious campsites are set aside to ensure a night. Rightly one can have a lovely spot where can park their 4×4 safari jeeps with rooftop tent and spend a night right there.