Kidepo Valley National Park has one true luxury lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, inside the park overlooking the Narus Valley, plus a small number of comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps just outside or near the park gates. Kidepo is remote — about 10 hours by road from Kampala or around two hours by charter flight — so the lodge and the way you get there shape the whole experience.
Kidepo, in Uganda’s far north-east on the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, is the country’s wildest savannah park, with big herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras and lions on golden plains ringed by mountains, and very few other vehicles. Here is where to stay and how to plan a visit.
Where to stay in Kidepo
| Lodge | Level | Location and style |
|---|---|---|
| Apoka Safari Lodge | Luxury | Inside the park, overlooking the Narus Valley; a small number of large canvas-and-stone rooms; meals, game drives and activities usually included |
| Kidepo Savannah Lodge | Mid-range | Just outside the park near Kalokudo gate, with views across the plains |
| Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp | Mid-range tented camp | Near Katarum gate, small and personal |
| Adere Safari Lodge | Mid-range | Near the park, popular with road-based safaris |
| Apoka Rest Camp (Uganda Wildlife Authority) | Budget | Simple bandas inside the park near the headquarters |
Apoka Safari Lodge: the luxury option
Apoka is built around a rocky outcrop in the heart of the park, so wildlife often comes to the waterhole in front of the lodge, and lions and elephants are regularly seen nearby. Rooms are spacious, open to the views, with outdoor baths and decks. The lodge’s rates are typically all-inclusive, covering meals, drinks, game drives and walks, and its location inside the park means you are on the plains within minutes of leaving, at the best light of early morning and late afternoon.
Because Apoka has only a handful of rooms and Kidepo receives few visitors, it can be booked out months ahead in the dry season. Many guests fly in on a charter that lands at the park’s airstrip near the lodge.
Mid-range and budget alternatives
The lodges near the park gates are a good choice for travellers on a road safari or a smaller budget. Kidepo Savannah Lodge and Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp both offer comfortable tents or rooms with wide views and are a short drive from the main game-viewing areas. Staying outside the park means slightly longer drives each morning, but you can still reach the Narus Valley early. Uganda Wildlife Authority’s bandas at Apoka Rest Camp are basic but put you inside the park for the lowest price.
Getting to Kidepo
By air, charter flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi take around two hours and land at the airstrip inside the park; some lodges organise them for guests, and scheduled services operate at times. By road, the drive from Kampala takes about 10 hours via Gulu, or longer via Mbale and Moroto, so most road itineraries break the journey, often at Murchison Falls National Park or Gulu. A sturdy 4×4 and an experienced driver are essential, as the final roads are rough, especially in the rains.
Kidepo lies in the Karamoja region, and government travel advice has at times highlighted security concerns in parts of Karamoja and near the borders. Check current advice before booking and travel with an experienced operator. See our Uganda safety guide.
What to see and when to go
The Narus Valley holds most of the wildlife year-round: large buffalo herds, elephants, zebras, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes and predators including lions and, with luck, cheetahs. The drier Kidepo Valley in the north has the Kanangorok hot springs and a stark, beautiful landscape.
Kidepo also has species rarely seen elsewhere in Uganda, such as ostriches and several dry-country birds. The dry season, roughly September to March, concentrates animals around water and makes roads easier. Visits to Karamojong communities near the park add a cultural dimension. Read more in Kidepo Valley National Park and game drives in Kidepo.
Adding Kidepo to a gorilla trip
Kidepo and Bwindi are at opposite ends of Uganda, so combining them by road takes a long itinerary. The practical approach is to fly: trek gorillas in Bwindi, fly back to Entebbe and on to Kidepo, or use a charter that links the two. Two or three nights in Kidepo is enough to experience the park properly. See our Kidepo and gorilla safari for an example route.
Frequently asked questions
For travellers who want wild, empty savannah, yes. Wildlife is good, views are spectacular and you share sightings with very few other vehicles.
Two to three nights, given the travel time. That allows several game drives in the Narus Valley and a visit to the Kidepo Valley or a community.
Not all five. Lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards live there, but there are no rhinos. Kidepo is known instead for cheetahs and ostriches.
No. Gorillas live only in Bwindi and Mgahinga in the far south-west. Most visitors fly between the two areas.
