Kidepo Valley National Park lies in Karamoja, in the far north-east of Uganda, on the border with South Sudan and close to Kenya. It was a game reserve from 1958 and has been a national park since 1962.
Kidepo feels like the Africa of old films: a wide golden valley ringed by mountains, and often no other vehicle all morning. It is the only park in Uganda with cheetahs and ostriches, and striped hyenas live here too. In the dry months the Narus Valley holds water, so animals gather there: large herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes and Jackson’s hartebeest. More than 470 bird species have been recorded. In March 2026 UWA brought the first southern white rhinos from Ziwa into a fenced area of the park, the first rhinos in Kidepo since 1983, with more planned.
The Karamojong are cattle keepers whose lives move with their herds. Community groups near Karenga and Kaabong welcome visitors to a manyatta, a family homestead. High on Mount Morungole live the Ik, a small mountain community reached on a steep guided hike. UWA notes that the Ik way of life is under pressure, so we keep these visits small, slow and respectful. The homestead visit is run by the community itself and is included in your trip, so what you pay goes to your hosts.
The dry season, roughly September to March, is best: animals gather near water in the Narus Valley. From April to August rain can make the roads difficult. Days are hot, above 30 C, and nights are cool.
UWA gives about 10 hours by road from Kampala via Gulu to the Lokumoit gate; add about 1 hour from Entebbe. Most guests break the journey with a night on the way, for example at Ziwa, Gulu or Kitgum. Scheduled and charter flights land at Apoka airstrip inside the park, which saves two long road days.
Kidepo is remote, which is why people love it. We usually suggest flying in, or driving in and flying out. Lions are seen often in the Narus Valley but are not guaranteed, and cheetahs are rare. The rhinos are newly settled, and UWA has not yet announced how visitors can see them, so we do not promise a rhino sighting here. Game drives are easy; hikes are moderate. We check current travel advice for Karamoja before every trip. Kidepo suits travellers who want quiet, space and real wilderness. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.
A wide, empty valley ringed by mountains in the far north-east, with lions, cheetahs, ostriches and almost no other vehicles.
