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Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda
By admin | January 22, 2008
KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Introduction:
Kidepo is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks (1,442km). It harbours scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa. “It could not be any better” is a common comment on the scenery by visitors who often promise and do come back to Kidepo. Tucked into the corner of Uganda’s boarder with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking savannah and mountain landscapes which end in a rugged horizon. A huge altitudinal range and correspondingly wild climatic conditions have evolved an extremely diverse flora. As a result, the variety of animal species in the park is equally diverse including many which are found no where else in Uganda.
Flora and Fauna:
The vegetation can best be described as open tree savannah, which varies much in structure and composition.
Dry mountains and forest dominates some of the hills, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest.
The park harbours a greater diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. Of the 80 species of mammals listed in 1971, 28 were not known to occur in any other Uganda park. Carnivores species unique to Kidepo and Karamoja region include the bateared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, cheetah and hunting dog. Less common ungulates include the gretare and lesser kudu, Chandlers Mountain reedbuck, klipsinger and dikdik. Among other large ungulates are bush elephant, burchell’s zebra, bush pig, warthog, Rothschild giraffe, cape buffalo, eland, bushbuck, bush duiker, defassa waterbuck, bohor reedbuck,, Jackson’s hartebeest and oribi. Five species of primates are found in the park, of which the Kavorondo bush baby is endemic. Carnivores present include; lion, leopards, several small cats, spotted hyena, black-backed jackals and side-striped jackal.
The park boasts an extensive avifauna. 465 species have been recorded (three new species were added to the list in 1995), of which 112 species were then (1972) not recorded in any of the Ugandan park. Of particular interest, the Ostrich and the Kori bustard are principally associated with this region.
The park is outstanding for it’s birds of prey. Of 58 species recorded, 14 are believed to be endemic to Kidepo and Karamoja region. These include Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture and pygmy falcon. Also of note are species of hornbills. The red-billed, the yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbills are popular to Kidepo, while the giant Abyssinia ground hornbill is quite common.
There is however no comprehensive survey in Kidepo and visitors stand a good chance of adding to the current list. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and Inselbergs, from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.
Visitors will be able to enjoy guided walks from Apoka, enabling them to quietly appreciate the peaceful atmosphere of the park and the beauty of mountain scenery. They will also find great interest in the native flora and with many of the smaller creatures of the park.
Tourist Attractions:
In addition to supporting huge diversity of endemic species, Kidepo is the only park in Uganda where the visitors can view both zebra and giraffe. Most of the wildlife is concentrated with Narus valley. From the verandah of the Apoka Rest Camp, visitors may view a variety of wildlife.
At least 60% of the visitors come to the park in dry seasons to enjoy good views of lions (that some times climb trees). Other animals of interest include buffaloes, elephants and giraffes. A number of game drive loops direct visitors to prime wildlife viewing locations in the Narus valley. Hiking can be carried out in Morungole Mountain just some few kilometers from the park headquarters. Lonyili Mountain is another possible hiking place.
Visitors can also go to view the splendid Kidepo Valley dominated by borassus palm forest; it’s wide flat river bed is dry for most of the year. Visitors may enjoy picnic on the sand, and the sound of palm leaves in constant motion in the wind. From the Kidepo valley, visitors may also visit the Kanangorok hot springs, which are located only 11 km from Kidepo River valley.
The mountain and savannah landscape of the park is spectacular. The Narus valley is situated in South west of the park; the rugged Napore-Nyagea mountain range forms its western boundary. Separating it from the Kidepo Valley in the Northeast, are the Lakayot hills. To the North in the Sudan, are the Lotukei Mountains and the Morungole range marks the Southern boundary of the park.
Visitors can be entertained by the traditional dances such as the Emuya dance of the Napore and Nyangea ethnic groups, and the Lakaraka and Apit dances of the Acholi.
Interested visitors may be able to visit Karamojong Manyattas (homesteads) and probably kraals, to see traditional customs, stools, spears, headdresses, knives, bows and arrows and jewellery, some of which may also be obtained from the park tourist office. It’s better to arrange the visit two days in advance either from the park headquarters at Apoka or from UWA headquarters in Kampala.
Along the Moroto-Soroti road, visitors will be enthralled by the of the steep volcano of Alekilek, about midway between Moroto and Soroti. Visitors who take Kotido-Lira road will enjoy the scenery of the Labwor hills and in particular the massive and bare Alerek (Kidi Rwot) rock, about 55km from Kotido.
Topics: kidepo |
January 24th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Apoke Lodge is the best in this region