A one of a Kind Experiential 6-Day Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife – Hiking Safari
Kidepo Valley Wildlife – a visit to the Ik People – Morungole Mountains – Wildlife Hikes
This out of the ordinary, experiential 6 Day Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife – Hiking Safari is for the Hiking Enthusiast as you visit Kidepo Valley Park, which is Africa like it once was. CNN calls it one of the best Travel Destinations in Africa.
There is Wildlife in abundance, raw scenic beauty, cultural encounters with the Ik and Karamojong Tribes ,Wildlife Hikes on Foot, all without the crowds.
This six-day Kidepo Valley Hiking Safari in the remote, untamed Karamoja region of Uganda will take you back in time like no other park in East Africa. It has been called “a lost Eden,” it is an Africa that is beyond imagination and expectations.
While Hiking here, going on Game Drive you will have that “all alone feeling.” You and your guides in one of Africa’s more remote park, an Africa off of the beaten path and without the crowd.
It takes more of an effort reaching Kidepo Valley Park, more money if you fly into the park, however you will not be disappointed by what awaits you in Authentic Africa – Kidepo Valley Park.
Day 1: Drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Kitgum
Your 6 Day Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife – Hiking Safari begins. Depart your hotel or lodge at 6:30 am and we head 
north to Kitgum where we have lunch before continuing to Kitgum and check into the moderately priced Fugly’s Hotel with a small swimming pool, cold drinks, good food and rooms with bath.
Fugly’s is reputed by Expats to have some of the best food in this part of Northern Uganda and they are known far and wide for their cold drinks that they serve.
Lodging: Fugley’s Hotel – Kitgum – Moderately Priced
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Day2: Kidepo Valley National Park
Breakfast at Fugly’s and we drive on to Kidepo Valley Park passing first through Acholi Village and then the Manyattas of the Karamajong People.
We reach Kidepo Valley Park and check into Nga’Moru moderately priced lodge owned by Fugly’s Hotel in Kitgum. Tented cottages with bath – great views of the park and wildlife visiting the lodge area.
Afternoon Game Drive where we will hopefully see Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, vast herds of buffaloes, antelopes, elephants – all the while around you is fascinating scenery of Kidepo Valley Park Wilderness.
Lo
dging: Nga’ Moru Wilderness Camp – Moderately Priced – Budget – Apoka UWA Bandas – Upmarket – Apoka Safari Lodge
Note: when you stay at the Budget Apoka Restcamp Bandas we have to arrange food being brought in and hire a cook there. Drinks can be bought on premise. Some Bandas are self-contained with bath.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day3: Kidepo Valley National Park
Breakfast and leave for the day with a packed lunch beginning with a morning game drive near the Hot-Springs where we most likely will see Ostriches, Leopards, Tortoises, Antelope (The Roan Antelope is found here) and other wildlife.
After packed lunch is a guided Wildlife Hike in the park along the Kidepo River (most often dry) which often proves to be a highlight of a Safari in Kidepo Valley Park.
Lodging: Nga’ Moru Wilderness Camp – Moderately Priced – Budget – Apoka UWA Bandas – Upmarket – Apoka Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Da
y 4– Morungole Mountains – Ik Tribe Visit:
Breakfast
We book this hike for you ahead of the safari. This is an 8-hour round-trip to the Ik Tribe that live on top of these mountains, having created a place of refuge here. They are about 11,000 in number and have had little contact with the outside world.
You have to be in relatively good shape for this hike since it has some steep sections going uphill. There are not many that include a visit to Ik People in their Kidepo Valley Park Safari and you will not have any crowds of people along the way besides the Ik People coming down and going up with things like beef and other supplies.
The Ik People cling to their traditional ways, however some change is coming, one young woman is at a University in Kampala and in 2016 the first member of the Ik Tribe became a member of Parliament.
The Ik People lived in Kidepo Valley Park and were herders and hunters, ho
wever the cattle raids and conflicts with the Karamojong Tribe, the formation of the park drove them into the Morungole Mountains.
The views along the way, including views of the Rift Valley in Kenya are breathtaking and not to be missed.
You will need hiking boots, even though it is an arid region we recommend long trousers, long sleeved shirt, 3 liters of water, packed lunch, a daypack for your hike up the Morungole Mountains. A walking stick comes in handy and a porter can be arranged for.
Do remember that this is an 8 hour hike up and down the Mountain, not an easy feat for most.
Lodging: Nga’ Moru Wilderness Camp – Moderately Priced – Budget – Apoka UWA Bandas – Upmarket – Apoka Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5: Kidepo Valley Park – Kitgum
Breakfast and we visit Karamojong Manyatta with guide, meeting the Cattle Herders – Warrior and get to understand their culture and ways.
Afterwards we drive to Kitgum staying overnight at Fugly’s Hotel
Lodging: Fugley’s Hotel – Kitgum – Moderately Priced
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6: Return to Kampala Entebbe
Depart early after Breakfast for Kampala or Entebbe with Lunch along the way
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch
Safari Includes: pick up from Kampala and back, transport in 4×4 safari vehicle with pop up adapted for game viewing, game drive, hot springs, accommodation in double/ twin room for selected hotel, meals attached to the room, park entrance fees..
Excludes; Visa and international flights fees, meals and drinks that are not attached to the rooms, extra activities, expenses of personal nature, staff tips, medical and travel insurance..
Safari includes all activities listed – except those that need to be chosen and are listed as optional. It includes full board lodging, bottled water, transportation – does include tips, alcohol, soft drinks at lodges, neither visa.
Our Advice for this 6-Day Kidepo Valley Hiking Safari:
The Experiential Hiking Safari requires that you are in reasonable shape, the full-day hike to visit the Ik People is tough. There are no roads up the Morungole Mountains, only a path less traveled and there are not many tourists who venture here.
Get some insights into hiking in Uganda by reading our tips and advice including the clothes to wear, boots, day pack and a walking stick.
On all hikes you will be led by knowledgeable guides and Army security soldiers who know the paths. Inside of the park, it will be rangers.
Included in this Hiking Safaris is a common practice when you visit someone in Uganda, you bring some gifts of flour, salt, sugar, tea, maize flour called posho, rice and oil. The gift of cash is useless since they are no stores on Mount Morungole.
Taking this safari, you will be among the few that do, none have ever complained but loved the safari and the Africa that they see.
Hiking Tips and Advice:
Hiking and Nature Walks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes some preparation, wearing the right clothing, boots, shoes more.
Preparing for a hike or nature walk will make it a lot more rewarding for you. We can also help you if you have any questions and we would also love to help you in creating an itinerary that not only includes gorilla tracking, but other activities such as outlines above and a hike in or through the forest just might be right for you.
Hiking in Uganda is simply different from what you may be used to – many hikes are in various rainforest – the altitude is higher and in many cases it will not be hot due to the elevation.
If you are interested in in this experiential 6 Day Kidepo Valley Park Wildlife – Hiking Safari – Please contact us
