Kidepo and the wild north: a 7-day Uganda safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
Uganda’s wildest savannah at a relaxed pace: white rhinos on foot at Ziwa, then three full days in Kidepo Valley National Park for lions, cheetahs, ostriches and huge buffalo herds, with a visit to a Karamojong homestead.
The trip in brief
Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Three nights in Kidepo Valley, one of Africa’s most remote and least crowded parks
Game drives in the Narus Valley for lions, buffalo, elephants and zebras
Ostriches, cheetahs and the Kanangorok hot springs in the Kidepo valley
Time with a Karamojong family and a guided walk in the hills
No gorilla or chimpanzee permits needed
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Your driver-guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel by Lake Victoria.
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Gulu
Track southern white rhinos on foot with a ranger at Ziwa, then continue north to Gulu for the night.
Day 3: Gulu to Kidepo Valley
Drive through Kitgum into Kidepo Valley National Park, arriving in time for a first evening game drive.
Day 4: Narus Valley game drives
Morning and afternoon drives in the Narus Valley, where lions, buffalo, elephants, zebras and Jackson’s hartebeest gather near the water.
Day 5: Kidepo Valley and the Kanangorok hot springs
Drive north to the dry Kidepo river valley for ostriches, cheetahs and the Kanangorok hot springs near the South Sudan border.
Day 6: Karamojong homestead and a guided walk
Visit a Karamojong family to learn about their cattle-keeping way of life, then take a short guided nature walk or a hike in the Lomej hills.
Day 7: Fly back to Entebbe
Take a scheduled flight from the park’s airstrip to Entebbe, or drive back over two days if you prefer to stay on the road.
This is a starting point. Your agency adjusts the route, lodges and pace with you, and can add Murchison Falls on the way north.
Usually included
A private driver-guide and 4x4 vehicle
Accommodation at the comfort level you choose
Park entry fees, game drives and the activities in the day-by-day plan
The return flight from Kidepo if you choose to fly
Not included
International flights
Visas and travel insurance
Tips for guides and rangers
Drinks and personal spending
Good to know
Kidepo Valley park entry is US$40 per adult per day for foreign non-residents, and a guided game drive with a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger is US$25 per guide (UWA 2027–2028 tariff). Your agency includes these in your quote. See our full guide to Uganda Wildlife Authority fees.
The best time for wildlife is the dry season, from December to March and June to August, when animals gather in the Narus Valley. Roads in the north are long and rough, so flying one way saves a full day.
See also how to get around Uganda and our Kidepo Valley guide.
Places on this trip
Plan this trip
Permit and park entry prices for 2027–28 are on our Uganda park fees page. To get two tailor-made quotes for this trip, send one short request.
Other Uganda trip ideas
Gorillas and chimpanzees (7 days)
Shoebill and Albertine Rift birding (12 days)
Uganda and Rwanda gorillas (9 days)
Uganda highlights (10 days)
Sipi Falls and the Nile (6 days)
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