About This Journey
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda's borders with South Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted in 1962, it holds a profusion of big game — over 77 mammal species and around 475 recorded birds — in landscapes that feel like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater rolled into one.
It's also Uganda's most isolated national park. The few travellers who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja consistently agree it's the most magnificent: Kidepo ranks among Africa's finest wildernesses, and on many days you'll have it entirely to yourself. Lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, and ostrich are all present, and bush campers are sometimes visited by lions and jackals after dark.
This is a genuinely remote trip — the road journey from Kampala is long, split across two travel days each way. Every departure is private, led by an expert Ugandan driver-guide.
Trip Highlights
- One of Africa's last true wildernesses — a national park you may have entirely to yourself
- Savanna landscapes and mountain backdrops reminiscent of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
- Over 77 mammal species and around 475 recorded bird species
- A game drive to the Kanangorok Hot Springs along the palm-lined Kidepo River
- A guided safari walk through the park on foot
- An optional visit to Karamojong community areas
Day by Day
Welcome to Uganda! You're met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Kampala to rest before the long journey north.
- Overnight
- Lodge TBC — Kampala
- Meals
- Dinner
A long drive north, breaking the journey to Kidepo at Kitgum, in Uganda's far north.
- Overnight
- Lodge TBC — Kitgum
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue from Kitgum into Kidepo Valley National Park, checking into your accommodation in the heart of the park, where a savanna landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area toward horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
- Overnight
- Apoka Safari Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A morning game drive to the hot springs via the palm-tree-lined Kidepo River, watching for ostriches and leopard tortoises along the way. After a packed lunch, stretch your legs on a guided walk through the park. An optional visit to Karamojong community areas can be arranged for interested parties.
- Overnight
- Apoka Safari Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A further game drive in search of ostriches, out to the Kanangorok Hot Springs near the Sudanese border.
- Overnight
- Apoka Safari Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A long return drive south via Gulu, with an early start to reach Kampala the same day. Travellers who'd prefer to split the journey can request an overnight stop in Gulu instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's Included
Included
- 5 nights' accommodation in hand-picked lodges
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B/L/D)
- Private English-speaking Ugandan driver-guide and 4×4 pop-up-roof vehicle
- All fuel and bottled water in the vehicle
- Kidepo Valley National Park entrance and conservation fees
- Guided safari walk and hot springs excursion
Not Included
- International airfares
- Uganda entry visa
- Personal travel and medical insurance
- All drinks
- Meals and snacks not indicated in the itinerary
- Optional Karamojong community visit fee
- Tips and gratuities for driver-guide and lodge staff
- Personal expenses — laundry, souvenirs, and items of a personal nature
Accommodation
Apoka Safari Lodge
Kidepo Valley NP, Uganda3 nightsReady to Plan This Safari?
Every trip we run is private and tailored around you — your dates, your pace, your budget. Tell us what you have in mind and one of our safari planners will craft it into a detailed, costed proposal.
