Kidepo Valley

Kidepo Valley – the originally called Doroth the word for akidep “to pick up” is located in northern Uganda in the district of kaabong, karamonja Region along the international frontier with South Sudan. Historically the rugged savannah park dominated 9,020 ft Mount Morungole and transected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers used to be the grazing land for the Dodoth pastoralists and ik farmers that lived in this area before it was gazatted as a game reserve in 1958 and later into kidepo national park in 1962 under Milton Obote.
Kidepo National park is very famous of the existence of the two major features of its valley ecosystems; the kidepo and the Narus River. The 1200m valley floor Kanangarok which is a tepid hot spring which is a permanent source of water coupled with its black chalky and sandy clay soil in the kidepo valley in a combination of freer draining red clay makes the park a more  geologically predominant feature of attraction.
Biologically this open tree savannah national park is reach in animal populations and vegetation diversity that vary in its two valleys with Narus, s short red oat grass, fine thatching grass, the taller bunchy Guinea grass coupled with red thorn acacias trees, sausage trees, drumstick tree, monkey bread and Buffalo thorn trees among other that common here. The park is prominent for its variety of animal that go up to 86 mammal species including some of the big five that is leopard, lion, cape Buffalo, elephants. It’s also known for habiting the cheatahs, bat- eared fox, giraffes   among other Carnivores that are present; the several small cats, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal as well as almost 500 bird species.
Getting There: 
Driving to kidepo valley national park is more enjoying than flying, going through the wilderness and scenic Karamonja region. It’s advised to use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicles as the roads in this region are more difficult during the rainy seasons. There are a number of routes one may choose the option that best fits his choice;
Kampala- lira- Kotido- kidepo which is about 705 km to the park
Kampala- Soroti- kotido via Amuria about 656km
Kampala-Mbale- Soroti-Moroto-Kidepo about 792km If flying from Entebbe International Airport to the park there are chartered aircrafts available by the domestic chartered companies like Eagle flight with daily flights to the area alternatively arrangements can be done through united Airlines.
Where to Stay: 
There are accommodation facilities managed by the park authority that include Apoka Rest Camp, 14 Banda hostel not self contained with each band containing two beds and also the Apoka Safari lodge. The park also provides a camping site for those that wish to do private camping with their own equipments.