Kidepo Valley National Park is in Uganda's far north-east, close to the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. It is the country's most remote major park and one of its most beautiful, with wide valleys ringed by mountains.
Kidepo has wildlife found nowhere else in Uganda, including cheetah and ostrich, alongside lion, elephant, buffalo and large herds of antelope. Visitor numbers are low, so game drives feel genuinely wild.
Getting there takes commitment. The road from Kampala is very long, and most visitors fly. Kidepo suits travellers on a second Uganda trip, or those with time and budget for a dedicated add-on.
The Narus Valley, with its permanent water, open grassland and rocky outcrops, holds most of the wildlife. The drier Kidepo Valley lies to the north, with sand rivers and borassus palms. Mountains, including Mount Morungole, frame the park.
Large buffalo herds and elephant gather in the Narus Valley in the dry season. Lion are often seen on rocky outcrops, and Kidepo's cheetah and ostrich are a highlight for Uganda wildlife enthusiasts.
Game drives in the Narus Valley
Visit to Karamojong communities
Birdwatching
Kanangorok hot springs near the South Sudan border
Kidepo feels far from everything. Days are spent on long, quiet game drives across open valleys, often without another vehicle in sight.
The dry season, roughly September to March, is the main season, when wildlife concentrates around the Narus Valley's water.
Read our full guide: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: How It Works and How to Prepare »
Most visitors take a scheduled or charter flight from Entebbe or Kampala to Kidepo's airstrip. Driving is possible but takes a full long day or more.
A small number of lodges and tented camps. Choice is limited, so book ahead.
Remote - most visitors fly in
Cheetah and ostrich are found in Uganda only here
Malaria-risk area - take medical advice
Official park info: Uganda Wildlife Authority
For travellers who want wilderness and few visitors, yes. On a short first trip focused on gorillas, it is usually left for another time.
Most fly, because the drive from Kampala is very long.
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