Game drives in Kipepo Valley National Park

Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are in the true African wilderness: Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are unforgettable experiences, giving tourists a deep connection with the true wilderness and the best wildlife encounters away from the crowds. Kidepo Valley National Park is among the top African national parks with untouched wilderness and abundant wildlife. The park has unique landscapes not found anywhere else in the country.

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Karamoja sub-region in the northeastern corner of Uganda in Kaabong district, bordering South Sudan. The national park was first gazetted in 1958 as a game reserve and later became a national park in 1962 after Uganda gained its independence. The park protects and harbors 77 mammal species and 476 birds, making it one of the best destinations for wildlife lovers.

Game drives are the most popular activities within Kidepo Valley National Park, giving tourists an opportunity to encounter large numbers of elephants, buffaloes, and lions. Tourists get an opportunity to encounter wild ostriches, and this is only possible in this park.  Below, we look at game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park and what to expect.

Game drives Kidepo Valley National Park

Game drives are the most done activities in Kidepo Valley National Park, as the park is home to several wildlife species. The game drives of Kidepo Valley National Park are carried out in the morning, afternoon, and night hours. Early morning game drives are a thrilling adventure for tourists as they discover animals before they go to their hiding places and others that have started grazing.

Night game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park give tourists an opportunity to see the wildlife. These are animals that hunt at night, and most times tourists will find them feeding on their prey. They do include the lions, leopards, and hyenas, to mention but a few. Other animals spotted during game drives in Kidepo Valley include side-striped jackals, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and hippos, to mention but a few.

Animals endemic to Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the national parks with so many animals that are endemic to the region. This means that tourists can only find these animals in Kidepo when they participate in different tourist activities that are organized in the park. The animals include cheetahs, striped hyenas, greater and lesser kudu, aardwolves, mountain reedbucks, Gunther’s dik-diks, greater elands, bat-eared foxes, and caracals.

The cost of game drives in Kidepo

To carry out game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, tourists must pay park entrance fees, which will enable them to enter the park. These fees can be paid at the entrance or at the Uganda Wildlife Authority.  Entrance costs $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, $25 for the rest of Africa, and UGX 20,000 for citizens of East African member states.

Day game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are free if one has a licensed driver guide. The night game drives must be done with armed ranger guides, and they do cost $30 for foreign non-residents, $20 for foreign residents, and UGX50,000 for citizens of East African Member States. Self-driving without a private sector guide or UWA ranger guide costs $10 for foreign non-residents and for foreign residents, while citizens of East African member states pay UGX 10,000.

When to visit the park.

The driest months of the year, June to September and December to February, are the best to have a safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. These months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, which makes the weather so perfect for most activities. During the dry season, there are a few places left with water, and during the game drives, tourists are able to spot members around them as they drink water and feed on the fresh vegetation cover.

Tourists will find the vegetation short and scattered during the dry season, which gives a clear view of the animals. Those who love photography and recording have high chances of getting the best ones, as animals are clearly seen. The game tracks are dry and easier to drive through, which allows tourists to access most of the park areas, hence increasing the chances of seeing more park animals.

Tourists can still visit Kidepo Valley National Park during the rainy season from March to May and October to November. The vegetation will be green, but tourists should expect plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. The tall vegetation might lead to unclear views of the animals within the park. When it rains a lot and the game tracks get muddy, some park areas might not be accessible, leading to unclear views of the attractions.

The best time to have the game drives while in this Park

Early morning game drives come with an opportunity to spot active predators before they go back to their hiding places or rest. These usually start before sunrise and happen for 3 to 4 hours. Afternoon game drives are also good, as animals are spotted resting or grazing if the heat is not too much. Night game drives are also good since nocturnal animals are spotted feeding on their prey.

Rules and regulations of game drives

The Uganda Wildlife Authority sets rules for game drives in national parks for the safety of the tourists, environmental conservation, and protecting wild animals and their rights within their natural habitats.

Tourists are supposed to use game tracks, as off-road driving is prohibited to prevent the destruction of vegetation.
Tourists must stay within their vehicles during the game drives to avoid attacks from dangerous animals
Tourists are not allowed to feed wildlife
Driver guides are not supposed to exceed the speed limit of 40 to 60km per hour
Tourists should not make noise during the game drives, as this can scare or provoke animals
Smoking is not allowed inside the park
No littering in the park; tourists must have trash with them in their vehicles
Day game drives start at 6 am and end at 6 pm. All tourists staying outside the park must be out by 6 pm.