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Kidepo National
Park: |
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The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda's most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres the variety of animal species in the park is equally abundant including many which are found no where else in Uganda.
The vegetation can best be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest.
The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.
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Fact
File on Kidepo National Park: |
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| Area:
1442
sq km Altitude: 914m to 2749 m. |
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Access
within Uganda : Road : 840km from Kampala minimum 12 hours drive. |
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Location
: Karamoja Province far North on the Sudan border. |
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Animals
: Flamingoes,
pelicans, hippo, rhino, reedbuck, giraffe. |
| Vegetation
: Semi-desert scrub, open thorn-scrub & bush, montane forest and granite out-crops.
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| Birds
: Ostrich, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel. |
| Facilities
: Camping sites and Apokas. |
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Attractions:
The over 475
bird species,80 mammal species. |
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Climate: Dry
and wet during the rainy season. |
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Brief
History of the Kidepo National Park |
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Kidepo's mammal list of over 80 species includes 28 that are found in no other Ugandan National park. Amongst these are such charismatic African animals as Bat-eared Fox, Carcal, Cheetah and Klipspringer. Unfortunately, Kidepo suffered the same fate as many other Ugandan parks during the Amin era and is still recovering from years of poaching that left game herds depleted. Striped Hyena, Lesser Kudu, Grant's Gazelle and Beisa Oryx have not been seen at all in recent times and are presumed to be locally extinct.
Other large mammals have shown a remarkable recovery and there are now healthy population of Elephant, Common Zebra, Buffalo, Bohor Reedbuck, Waterbuck and Kongoni. Predators are plentiful and Spotted Hyena, Leopard and Lion are frequently seen. Oribis is abundant in the Narus Valley, whilst the dry thorn thickets in the north are home to Guenther's Dik Dik. Senegal Galago and Sidestriped Jackal may be found in the rest camp at night and White-tailed Mongoose is common but more likely to be found on a night drive. The park also has a very rich and diverse reptile fauna. |
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