The FAST and the HUMONGOUS of KIDEPO!
The Kidepo Valley National Park is part of the wider Kidepo Game Reserve, a jewel shared by Uganda and South Sudan, the southern part in the Northern-most corner of Uganda, and the northern part in one of South Sudan’s southern-most corners. It is a protected area that sits on their common border, as one of East Africa’s last great wildernesses.
Covering an area of approximately 1442 km2 and standing between 914m and 2750m, this park has been a designated tourist destination for more than five decades, having been gazetted in 1962. Around 75% of this park lies in Bira, inhabited by the Ketebo people, whose language includes the word “Kidebo” which when translated means “Help Us”. These people are found in both South Sudan and in Uganda, in areas such as Kikilai, Petalado,Napotpot and Karenga. Previously pastoralists, these people have now adopted the practice of agriculture, growing maize, sorghum and sesame as the main cash crop, mostly cultivated between April and August. Change of climate and influence from neighbouring communities have been credited for this shift in economic activities.
WHY VISIT? In Kidepo National Park, there is so much to see, from the savanna trees, grass, and shrubs, to the people and their grass-thatched and dung-plastered Manyattas, to the birds, and the animals, all under the vast clear-blue skies. The best time to visit is between September and March, when it is hot enough for a good tan and dry enough for great drives and nature walks. Scores of tourists have for decades been left agape at the scenic savannah and the abundant wildlife roaming freely in the park. But what really makes this park special enough to warrant a visit? Many things, but for now, let’s focus on a few aspects so you can find out the rest when you come.
The Rainbow Array of Birds. This park boasts over 400 species of birds, beautifully adored with multiple colors. These include, but are not limited to: Abyssinian Roler, Purple Heron, and Clapperton’s Francolin. Being a lover of ground speed, my favorite bird is the Ostrich, which can accelerate from rest to a speed of 70km/h. In spite of it being the largest birds on land, the male weighing 120kg and the females weighing 100kg, they are the fastest birds on land. The females lay the largest eggs. The ostrich is fast and humongous.
The Wild life. Kidepo boasts over 70 species of animals, including the Bat-eared fox, lions, elephants, zebras, buffalo, cheetahs and the endangered Rothschild giraffes, which elegantly roam as though showing off their legs, which appear clad in white socks. What wild fashion! The African Bush Elephant is the largest of the big five here, weighing around 10.4 tonnes, standing at an impressive 13 feet above the ground. How gigantic! How humongous! The Cape buffalo here is a large African bovine, but is smaller than the wild water buffalo, and is very unpredictable, and therefore dangerous enough not to be domesticated like its look-alike, the cow. The Roan Antelope in Kidepo is certainly one to look out for, deriving its name from the roan color of its reddish-brown coat. As one of the large antelope species, the roan antelope stands at a shoulder height of between 130cm-140cm, the male weighing 242–300kg, while the female weighs between 223 and 280kg. They have beautifully-ringed horns, brandished by the males that fight for the alpha position of dominance over a small group of 5 to 15 antelopes. Hunted by predators such as hyenas, and even humans who kill them for bush meat and some for sport and killed due to natural causes such as disease outbreaks, the roan antelope is Endangered, and has been reported as locally extinct in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Nylsvley Park. Fortunately, they still exist in the Kidepo Valley National Park, and there they roam, awaiting your visit. Also to be concerned about is yet another antelope species in Kidepo, the Greater Kudu. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this antelope species is considered to be of Least concern, approaching the Nearly Endangered group of wild animals. The males, known as bulls, have a shoulder height of 160cm, weighing 190–270kg, while the female weighs between 120kg and 210kg, have no horns or manes, and with a shoulder height of 100cm. The bulls’ horns grow between 6 and 12 months and then start to twist at the age of 2, and are fully twisted by 6 years. Come see them, while they last. But even more intriguing are the Cheetahs.
“Cheetahs are Cheaters!”
Researchers have it that cheetahs exhibit overlapping promiscuity, thus reproducing throughout the year. Both male and female cheetahs mate with several members of the opposite sex. As to whether feuds develop over this promiscuity is something worth finding out. Noteworthy is the ground speed of these beautiful cats. With their long legs, an elongated spine, adapted claws for traction as they run, and a long tail, the bodies of cheaters are built for speed, accelerating to a staggering 96km/h in just 3 seconds. As far as speed is concerned, Cheetahs ARE NOT Cheaters! Come, and you’ll see the fastest bird and the fastest animal on land as they gracefully gallop across this vast paradise!
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU VISIT?
Honestly, there is so much do, sometimes you’ll be spoiled for choice. But, here are a few suggestions.
Nature walks. In this vast land, there are miles upon miles to walk across while breathing in the fresh air, listening to stories, and also telling a few. During these walks, be sure to visit some of the communities in the populace, comprising of some of Uganda’s most marginalised tribes, such as the Karamojong, who dwell in beautiful houses known as Manyattas. These are engineered to keep its inhabitants cool on hot days, and warm on cold days. They are designed with reeds and cow dung as mortar. The word “Karamojong” is translated as “the old men sat down” in reference to the Karamojong ancestors who, after migrating some 300 years ago, settled in the region and refused to move further to the present Teso region in Eastern Uganda.
Game Drives. During these you get to see the animals while in the safety and comfort of tour trucks built for the rugged terrain and long dusty roads.
Visiting the Narus Valley, a grassland plain enclosed by mountains. It always has water, because of which many wild animals such as lions, leopards and oribis gather for a generous drink. Another valley to look out for is the Namamukweny Valley whose name suggests that it is a lonely valley with no birds, but ironically, hosts many birds, such as the Green Wood Hoopoe and the Abyssinian Roller.
A visit to Morungule Mountain, standing at 2,750 meters. It is crossed by the Narus and the Kidepo rivers that feed the natural habitat. The slopes of this mountain are home to the IK people.
A visit of the IK tribe, which is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Uganda, who have a very unique culture, having migrated from Ethiopia centuries ago, numbering around 10,000. Due to their fragility in contrast to their neighboring tribes, they were raided by the latter on many occasions, thus being marginalizing. They are subsistence farmers who grow and grind their own grain. Come liaise with them, see their rare culture, and perhaps learn their language, which is a member of the highly divergent Kuliak sub-groups of the Nilo-Saharan languages.
WHAT TO CARRY TO KIDEPO
With all that there is to take in within the legendary Kidepo, here are a few of the things to carry in order to optimally savour every moment:
Binoculars, High-resolution and High-storage Cameras, Snacks and a lot of drinking water, Sun glasses and sunscreen lotion, Insect-repellants, and Light clothes.
The reasons why Uganda is such an attractive tourism destination are so many that, I’m always spoilt for choice trying to figure out where to start. This isn’t looking for a needle in a haystack, but rather, searching for a beautiful pearl amongst beautiful pearls. Uganda is more than just the Pearl of Africa. It is a Pearl filled with smaller Pearls, all glowing to catch your attention. Among the many, there’s always that one which stands out from time to time, a Pearl among Pearls. Today’s special Pearl was the Kidepo Valley National Park.
