When Should I Visit Kidepo Valley National Park? – Game Viewing and Cultural encounters in Uganda
When should I visit Kidepo Valley National Park – Kidepo Valley National Park is open to all visitors and tourists all year round. The best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park however is September to March which is the dry season and spotting wildlife here is much easier and sometimes a kill in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The worst time to go wildlife viewing in Kidepo Valley National Park is in April and May which is the height of the wet and rainy season. This time is not good for wildlife viewing safaris because the paths and tracks are quite muddy and slippery.
Briefly:
The best time to visit: September to March
The Peak season is: September to March
The low season is: April and May (some camps and lodges may even be closed)
The best weather conditions are in September, October, and November
The worst weather conditions are from December to February ( The park is very hot and very dusty during this time)
The months of September to March mark the dry season in the northeastern part of Uganda where Kidepo Valley National Park is located. It is hot and dry during these months and it is the best time to go wildlife viewing. December to February are however too dry and dusty to fully enjoy the game drives. Many of the water sources dry up, so it is easy to see animals congregated around available water sources or in search of water. Permanent water sources in the Kidepo Valley National Park during these hot months are found in the wetlands and along the southern Narus valley. These are mostly small pools of remnant water.
It sometimes gets very hazy and challenging to get clear views.
It is a good time to visit because there are hardly any threats of malaria. After all, there are very few mosquitoes if any.
The Wet season
The wet season in this northeastern part of Uganda runs from April to August. The rain is light though and hardly interrupts game viewing.
Although the dry season offers the best wildlife and game experience, there are still wildlife viewing opportunities during this time and the heat is not as oppressive as in the dry season. It is the best time to go bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park, because you can find several migratory bird species, in addition to the resident species. This season also comes with beautiful, lush scenery and recently ranked the third best National Park in Africa, Kidepo Valley National Park is a true picture of the African wilderness. Its rugged terrain and semi-arid valleys give it a hewn beauty that cannot be seen anywhere else and it is the perfect destination for a true African wildlife safari in Uganda.
