Kidepo Valley

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo is Uganda’s most remote safari park and one of Africa’s last untouched wilderness areas. It’s a land of vast savannah plains, dramatic mountain ranges, and a real sense of being far off the beaten path.

Wildlife here is rich and exciting. You might spot herds of ostriches, hartebeest, buffalo, giraffes, and even predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards –  if you’re lucky.

Game viewing is excellent, but for many travellers, it’s the pure isolation that makes Kidepo unforgettable.

1. Things to do
2. To: Moroto
3. To: Murchison Falls

Game drives
This is why you came! Drive through open savannahs and take in the vast, wild beauty of the park.

Add a UWA ranger to your drive
A UWA ranger can join your game drive to help spot wildlife and share local knowledge about the park’s animals and plants.

• No need to book in advance, just arrange it at the park gate
• Cost: approx. $25 for half a day (tips not included)

Go on a nature or bush walk
Many lodges offer guided walks; a great way to see the small details of the bush and learn more about the area on foot.

Hike Mount Morungole & meet the Ik tribe
For a full-day adventure, hike Mount Morungole, home of the Ik people, one of Uganda’s smallest and most remote communities. A physically challenging but culturally rich experience.

Approx. 5 hours | 249 km

Leave Kidepo in the morning with a packed lunch from your lodge. You have a long but scenic journey ahead.

• Exit the park via Mataba Gate
• Drive through Kaabong and Kotido on a dirt road
• The landscape turns dry and rocky, with boulder-dotted plains (kopjes)
• Along the way, you’ll pass many traditional villages and cattle herders. The journey from Kotido to Moroto takes about two hours
• You can fuel up in Kotido and Moroto

Cultural stop in Kotido
Take a break in Kotido, where you can visit East Africa’s largest kraal (cultural village). Learn about the nomadic Karamojong lifestyle here and contact local guide James to arrange a visit: +256 777 201820. 

Approx. 9 hours | 376 km

Start your day early, it’s a full day on the road! Bring a packed lunch from your lodge, or plan to stop for lunch in Gulu.

Route advice
When using Google Maps, we recommend you don’t take the shortcut that avoids Kitgum — it’s rough and unreliable. Instead, stay on the paved Kidepo–Gulu road and drive through Kitgum town.

Coffee breaks and fuel stops
Gulu is a good place to stretch your legs and refuel (yourself). Recommended coffee and lunch spots are The Lookout and O Café (also great for takeaway). If you’re staying near the northern gate of Murchison Falls (e.g. Purongo or Tangi Gate / Pakwach), you can refuel at the Total Fuel Station in Pakwach before entering the park.