Kidepo Valley National Park was initially designated as a game reserve before being established as a national park in 1962. Covering 1,442 km² and ranging in elevation from 914m to 2,750m, it is situated in Uganda’s remote northeast. Kidepo is one of East Africa’s last great wildernesses, featuring expansive grasslands that meet rugged mountains. Once challenging to access due to poor roads and regional insecurity, it is now reachable within a day’s drive from Kampala.

The park is fed by two seasonal rivers, the Kidepo and Narus, which flow only after heavy rainfall. During dry months, wildlife relies on the remaining pools along the Narus Valley, a critical water source historically contested by local clans and still essential for animal survival today.

As Uganda’s most isolated park, Kidepo lies near the borders with Kenya and South Sudan, within the sparsely populated Karamoja region. The surrounding plains are dotted with manyattas belonging to traditional pastoralist communities. Most tourism activities and infrastructure are centered in the southern Narus Valley around Apoka. With its breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife, Kidepo Valley National Park offers one of East Africa’s most spectacular and untouched safari experiences.