Kidepo Valley National Park’s unspoilt wildnerness
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in Karamoja, is one of Uganda’s major parks. CNN described it a hidden Gem. It is a remote 540 square mile park with eye-rousing savannah tree stretches and landscapes that run afar and into the horizon.
It is home to 500 plus bird species. This semi-desert park is also home to over 80 mammal species.
On your game drive you are likely to see the Lions, giraffes, Buffaloes, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, Ostriches (only in this park) and over 500 bird species. You can also go hiking on Mt Molungole .
The Karamajong and Ik people who live near the park can give you an enriching cultural experience when visited. A visit to Karamajong Village hut known locally as the Manyatta is a must visit to give you an authentic African village experience.
The Ik look very much like the Karimojong. They are a small tribe of about 11,000.The only difference is in language and culture.
The Ik are polygamous. Men marry as many wives as they want, sometimes depending on the number of beehives one has. A respectable man owns as many as 50 beehives and can give about five to 10 hives as bride price. The first wife has a ‘husband’ status over other wives and wife inheritance after divorce or widowhood is practiced.
The Ik People say they were the first people to migrate to Northeastern Uganda. Ik means “head of migration” .
You have to be physically fit to climb the mountains – the peak of Mount Murongole is 2,749 meters above sea level and hike up here is a torture for those who are not fit. The trail is 8 kilometers long (16 kilometer round trip) and quite a tough climb to the villages.
You can enjoy a trip to this National Park and also visit the Karamajong Manyatta village to get a real feel of the cultural set up.