The Fastest Way to Explore Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda


About 705 km from Kampala -Uganda’s capital, getting to Kidepo Valley National Park by road or air is a great debate. Kidepo Valley National Park is situated far North East of Uganda in Kaabong district between the borders of the country with South Sudan and Kenya. Being distant from Kampala, this is one of the less-visited Uganda safari tour parks hence rewarding to those who take time to visit when they tour Uganda. Still almost untouched, this is the best place to have a true African experience so pristine with the real touch of Africa. Travelling to Kidepo is always perceived to be a long day’s safaris thought possible with the popular 3 days Kidepo wildlife safari.

How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park by road

There are four different routes that Uganda safaris tourists can use to get Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda. Driving along these roads is as interesting and memorable as touring Kidepo Valley National Park. The distance is worth it since the road will give the unexpected sights of your Uganda tour.
  • The two routes that pass via northern Uganda from Kampala are;
The commonly used road is Kampala-Karuma-Lira-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo about 705km with a drive time of about 12-hours. If this route is taken, one should organize to spend a night in one of these towns most probably at accommodations in Murchison Falls National Park to break the journey, if one can’t take the whole days to drive.
The Kampala-Karuma-Gulu-Kitgum- Kidepo road is about 517km with a drive time lasting about 10 hours. After the tour the Kidepo-Kaabong-Kotido-Moroto-Sironko- Mbale-Kampala route is better such that you get a glimpse of the other part of the country through the marvellous Sipi falls and Mount Elgon National Park.
  • Using the Eastern Uganda direction, these routes are the most favourable;
Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo road is 740km with a drive time of about 12 hours. This route is distant but you pass via the source of the Nile where you can have a break at the Nile waters.
The Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo road is almost the same route with the earlier one but takes different directions from Mbale. Its 792km with a drive distance of 13 hours. The roads in Kidepo are substandard and therefore 4WD cars for hire are essential. For the best experience taking a round trip is rewarding, you drive to Kidepo from the Eastern direction and return from the North or vice versa.

How to get to Kidepo Valley National park Uganda by air

If you need to safari Uganda‘s Kidepo Valley National Park but then don’t wish to take the long ride, no worries. Chartered flights can be organized from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi near Kampala by flight safari companies like AeroLink. These flights take about 2 – 3 hours to Apoka airstrip near Apoka safari lodge. Apoka safari lodge is 10minutes drive on a marram road to Kidepo valley national park. Flight safari companies like Aero link Uganda do these flights but prior bookings can be done by your tour operator.
On arrival, there’s no need to worry about where to stay in Kidepo Valley National Park for there all kinds of accommodation ranging from luxury, mid-range and budget.
Kidepo Valley is a top safari in Uganda destination, a great place to visit. Many tourists choose to tailor their trips to Uganda with Kenya safaris/ Kenya tours, Tanzania tours/ Tanzania safaris, Congo safaris/ Congo tours and Rwanda tours/Rwanda safaris for great wildlife interactions.

The best Flying safari to Kidepo Valley National Park

3 Days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley national park is the best safari park in Uganda and the best pristine wilderness in Africa. Situated in the far northeastern Uganda, the park is about 418km from Kampala-Uganda is one of the reasons why the park has held its beauty for long. A Uganda wildlife safari to Kidepo Valley National Park is the only opportunity for any tourist to define a wilderness at its best in Africa. Being distant from the capital the park is little visited by tourists on short Uganda safaris leaving the park with a lot of unbeaten tracks. Only those who take time to travel to this park can explain the beauty in these vast plains. When something is worth touring, we do anything possible to get you closer to mother nature, these 3 days fly-in safari to Kidepo valley national park will help you spend a little worth time at the park. This fly-in safari starts and ends at Entebbe International airport.
Kidepo national park is home to over 86 mammal species with about 28 endemics to the park. Wildlife in Kidepo includes herds of more than 4,000 buffalos (probably Africa’s largest single buffalo herd), elephants, fastest land animal-the cheetah, Bat-eared fox, caracal, klipspringer, lions, Maneless Zebras (ranging from Northwest Kenya and South Sudan), giraffe, Hyenas, Elands and Hartebeest. Along with wildlife, birds total to more than 475 bird species including the Ostrich, Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apallis that are endemic to this park. What to see in Kidepo valley national park are as diverse as the vast wilderness itself.
Highlights of the 3 Days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 1: Fly to Kidepo valley national park from Entebbe international airport and have an afternoon game drive.
Day 2: Do an early morning game drive and have an evening community tour
Day 3: Do a morning game drive and fly back to Entebbe
Details of the 3 Days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 1: Chartered flights to Kidepo Valley National Park are organized by AERO LINK Uganda from Entebbe International airport. AERO LINK operates on Wednesday Friday and Sunday. You either fly into Kidepo valley national park on Wednesday and return on Friday or fly in on Friday and return to Entebbe on Sunday.  Scheduled flights depart at 12:30 pm from Entebbe and arrive at 14:45 pm. Your driver-guide will be waiting for you at Kidepo airport.
Day 2: The day starts with an early morning game drive. The morning game drive starts at 7:00 am and the more time you spend in the almost endless wilderness, the more amazing experiences. Wildlife game drives are a perfect Uganda safari/ Uganda tour/ Uganda tours/ Trips in Ugandaactivity in this wild game packed safari park. The park with its rugged savanna allows the drive through the open park easy with a sighting of the lions that may be on the valley’s various rocks. Other games that can be sighted at the park are the elephants, leopards, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, buffalo all together with the uniqueness of this land. In the evening, a visit to the communities around Kidepo including the Karamojong and IK people is an exclusive experience. Their cultures are rich with a lot of experiences as they sing, dance and demonstrate their daily lifestyle.
Day 3: On the third day of your safari, you do a morning game drive. This increases the chance of sighting the animals you didn’t see the previous day.  In the afternoon you take a return flight to Entebbe International airport leaving Kidepo at 15:00 pm and arrive at Entebbe at 16:30 pm.
You can also decide to hike mount Morungole during your safari.
Flying to Kidepo valley national park takes 2hrs 15mins compared to the 12 hours road drive. Accommodation is offered at Apoka rest camp (prior booked) just within the wilderness.
This return flight marks the end of the 3 days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park.
For all prior bookings and planning, a tour operator in Kidepo valley national park can do it best with help on customizing your safari.
What to carry for the 3 Days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo isn’t densely forested and cooler like the western region popular for Uganda gorilla safaris/ Uganda gorilla tours/ gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda/ gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. This is what you can carry for your 3 Days fly-in safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Carry light clothes
  • light shoes (there’s no hike)
  • A hat (round) for protection from the scorching sun
  • sunscreen
  • Camera for wildlife photography
  • Binoculars for bird watching

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