Game drives in Kidepo Valley National park – Game viewing safaris in Uganda – Untouched wilderness in Uganda
Game drives in Kidepo Valley – Kidepo Valley National Park is among the 10 National Parks in Uganda and it is one of the top safari destinations that are highly considered on Uganda Wildlife Safaris with a lot of incredible wild animals that can be enjoyed on a game viewing safari. The Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the remote area of the northeastern part of Uganda and it is rich in huge populations of wildlife that is rare or even in few numbers in other National Parks. It is dominated by open savannah grassland that is home to wildlife animals and the best place for viewing them.
Although Kidepo Valley National Park is located very far away from Kampala capital city, it is home to a wide range of unique wildlife that will be viewed in very huge populations compared to other national parks. There are two sections in Kidepo Valley National Park where game viewing safaris are conducted, which are Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley.
Narus Valley section
Narus Valley is occupied with savannah grassland that enhances clear views in a distance while on a game viewing safari in the Narus Valley section of Kidepo Valley National Park. Narus Valley is the best spot for wildlife game viewing safaris because it has a high concentration and population of wild animals that gather in the dry season at the valley to drink water and feed on the savannah grassland. Animals expected to be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park include the African cape buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, the Uganda kobs, the zebras, hippos, antelopes, Rothschild giraffes among others. The valley is home to a wide variety of grazing wild animals that attract a wide range of carnivorous animals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs among others. These animals can easily be spotted on a game viewing safari in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley section
Another part to enjoy game viewing in Kidepo Valley National Park is Kidepo valley which is attached to the origin of the name of the National Park. This section has little concentration of wild animals compared to the Narus Valley section. Kidepo Valley is supplied by the Kidepo River which is a seasonal river that dries up during the dry season. The valley dries completely and in the rainy season the river floods. Despite these challenges in the Kidepo valley section, the place is home to unique wild animals which are rare and endangered such as the beautiful ostriches, cheetahs, leopards, kudus, elands, the wolf eared bats among others that may not be found elsewhere in Uganda. The valley is home to other animal species such as the zebra, giraffes, waterbucks, Oribis, bohor reedbuck, Jackson’s Hartebeests.
Other activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Besides the exception game viewing adventure in Kidepo Valley National Park, other activities can be done here such as the nature walk, bird watching experience, as well as community visit.
A nature walk in Kidepo Valley National Park is done at the Apoka camp area which is safe but not in the whole park since the park is home to a lot of wild animals like the hyenas, leopards, lions, and cheetahs. The nature walk will allow you to enjoy viewing wildlife animals like giraffes, reedbuck, zebras, elephants, bulbuls among others.
Community visits can be combined with game viewing safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park. Community walks will expose travelers to the African lifestyle, cultural dances, the traditional way of dressing, which will be explored among the Karamajong homestead which is the surrounding community as well as the interesting story about the indigenous people.
Bird watching experience is another interesting activity that is best done at Narus and Kidepo valley sections while on a game viewing safari and the bird that will be viewed are notable species. Bird species expected to be viewed include dark chanting goshawk, ostriches, red and yellow barbet among others.
