Location of Kidepo & Getting There – Kidepo Valley National Park is found in the semi-arid area of Karenga in the Karamoja region, Kaabong district in northern Uganda. It is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest and Kenya, just 5km to the east. It is one of the most remote parks in Uganda.
The park is about 700km from Kampala by road. Kidepo is home to 77 species of mammals and over 475 species of birds.
You can reach the park either by road or by air. If you are using road transport, there are four possible routes from Kampala through Gulu, Lira, or Moroto.
The Kampala–Karuma-Gulu-Kitgum-Kidepo route is the most commonly used. It is 517km long and takes about 10 hours to drive.
The second option is Kampala-Karuma-Lira-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo. This is about 705km and takes 12 hours.
The third option is Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo. It is 740km long and also takes around 12 hours.
The fourth and longest route is Kampala-Mbale-Soroti-Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo. This route is 792km and takes about 13 hours.
To break up the long journey, you can spend a night at Boma Inn or Church Hill Courts and continue the trip to the park the next day.
Roads in the Karamoja region are in poor condition, so it is better to hire a 4WD safari vehicle. These vehicles are strong and can handle rough terrain better.
If using air transport, you can book a chartered or scheduled flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Flying is more expensive for individuals but can be cheaper for a group. Airlines like Aerolink offer flights to the park on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Departure from Entebbe is at 12:30pm and arrival at Kidepo is at 2:45pm. The return flight leaves Kidepo at 3:00pm and arrives in Entebbe at 4:30pm.
A one-way ticket costs 420 USD per person and a return ticket costs 700 USD per person. The aircraft lands at Apoka Airstrip, which is inside the park.
You can also fly directly from other national parks. For example, from Pakuba or Bugungu airstrips in Murchison Falls National Park to Apoka or Lomej airstrips in Kidepo.
In summary, even though Kidepo Valley National Park is in a remote part of Uganda, it is home to many wildlife species and can be reached easily by either road or air.
