Kidepo’s Rainy Season Adventure
Kidepo’s Rainy Season Adventure: Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the country’s northeastern region. The park differs from other parks in that it is situated in the semi-arid Kabong district. You can visit Kidepo Valley National Park throughout the year, including during the rainy season. March, April, May, October, and November are the wet seasons at Kidepo Valley National Park. The park welcomes all types of visitors that wish to explore its environs during the rainy season.
Although the park is thought to receive excessive amounts of rainfall, things are constantly changing because it is situated in semi-arid regions. Additionally, accessing Kidepo Valley National Park can be done using either road transport or air transport, depending on the financial status of the visitors.
Considering Kidepo’s rainy season adventure, the park receives very little rainfall and plenty of sunshine throughout the year. When it rains, excessive sunlight dries out most park sections, making it easier to navigate the game courses. In Kidepo Valley National Park, the rainy season and the dry season are similar. Because of the downpour, the grass has grown taller, making it difficult to see anything but little animals. Some parts of the game tracks remain muddy and slick, so they are not entirely dry. This reduces the likelihood of sighting some park species by restricting entry to some of the park regions.
The abundance of foliage and water in Kidepo during the rainy season is what makes it so wonderful. Visitors can view animals all across the park since they do not congregate in one place like they do during the dry seasons. During the rainy seasons, the park is teeming with birds, including migratory species that arrive in search of food.
Top activities to do during Kidepo’s rainy season adventure
Game drives
During the rainy season, visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park can take part in game drives. The abundance of food at Kidepo Valley National Park during the rainy season allows the animals to be found all across the park. Tourists will have access to the majority of the park regions when the game paths are dry, allowing them to observe as many animals as possible. Ostriches, lions, Uganda kobs, leopards, cheetahs, giant forest hogs, warthogs, reedbucks, sitatungas, hartebeests, elands, lesser kudu, elephants, dik-diks, patas monkeys, giraffes, olive baboons, side-striped jackals, zebras, and cape buffaloes are just a few of the creatures that visitors can see during game drives in the Narus and Kidepo valleys.
Birdwatching
Following Kidepo’s rainy season adventure, the rainy season is the most fruitful time of year to see birds at Kidepo Valley National Park. Despite the excessive rainfall during the rainy season, it only rains for roughly three hours, leaving the remainder of the day to enjoy bird viewing. There are many migrating birds in the park during the rainy season, and since it is fruiting season, there is an abundance of food for birds.
The following birds can be found in Kidepo Valley National Park: Cliff-chat, Red-billed and Jackson’s Hornbill, Karamoja Apalis, Rufous Chatterer, Pygmy Sunbird, Kori Bustard, Familiar Chat, Brown-rumped Bunting, White-crested Turaco, Jameson’s Firefinch, Purple Grenadier, Long-billed Crombec, Heuglins, Black-breasted Barbet, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Quail Plover, Jackson’s Hornbill, Abyssinian Nightjar, Emin’s Shrike, Ring-necked Francolin, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars.
Hiking and Nature Walks
In order to fully explore Kidepo Valley National Park, you must abandon your safari vehicle and walk to several locations across the park. Along with other features like rivers, hot springs, mountains, and much more, you will encounter wildlife in the park. For the protection of both wildlife and visitors, armed ranger guides lead nature walks.
Community walks
You can go on community walks at Kidepo Valley National Park throughout the year, even during the rainy season. During the wet season, the locals will be eager to welcome you into their towns because they are always friendly when you visit the park. Tourists can visit the Karamajong or the IK people at Mount Morungole while in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Since the residents of Kidepo Valley have retained their culture for so long, it is the ideal place in the entire country to go on a cultural visit. When you visit the Ik community, you will have the opportunity to learn about their history, origins, and current survival strategies. When you visit Karamajong, you may witness their distinctive way of dressing, observe their livestock, tour their grass-thatched homes, and speak with the elders to learn more about their past.
Accessing Kidepo
When accessing Kidepo Valley National Park during the rainy season, visitors can go by air or by car. It takes 12 hours or longer to get by road to Kidepo Valley National Park; however, it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to travel by plane. Since it is less expensive, accessing Kidepo by road is the most popular way to go to reach the park, while luxury travellers who detest long journeys utilise air transport.
The following are some of the four routes that visitors can use to reach Kidepo Valley National Park using motorised transport. Via Jinja, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong, Kampala/Entebbe is reached. Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong are the routes that lead to Kampala. Via Luwero, Nakasongola, Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum, Karenga, and Kaabong, Kampala/Entebbe is reached. Via Luwero, Nakasongola, Lira, Abim, Kotido, and Kaabong, Kampala is reached.
There are flights to Apoka Airstrip in Kidepo Valley National Park operated by numerous airline companies. Some airlines that offer flights to Kidepo Valley National Park are Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Kampala Executive Aviation. You must make reservations in advance to fly with them so that they can make the necessary arrangements. It takes two hours and thirty minutes to fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Apoka Airstrip.