The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

Discover a wilderness that feels like a secret. Fly into Kidepo Valley, often voted Africa’s most scenic park, and stay at the legendary Apoka Safari Lodge. Watch zebras graze from your bathtub in a landscape of solitude, vast horizons, and massive buffalo herds.

Highlights

Kidepo Valley National Park

Map

Uganda

Start Point: Entebbe

Day 1 - 3

Kidepo Valley NP Apoka Safari Lodge

Day 4

Kampala (No accommodation)

End Point: Kampala

Day 1 to 3

Kidepo Valley National Park

Discover Africa as it was 50 years ago. Hidden in Uganda’s remote northeast corner, Kidepo Valley National Park is widely regarded by safari connoisseurs as the most picturesque park in Africa.

Rugged, isolated, and achingly beautiful, the Narus Valley defines this savannah wilderness, and the dramatic mountain ranges that border South Sudan and Kenya. Here, the wildlife is abundant, and the tourists are few. You will encounter massive herds of Buffalo (found nowhere else in Uganda.

Activities Day 1

Morning

Bypass the arduous 10-hour road journey and fly directly into the heart of Africa’s finest wilderness.

Departing Entebbe, your scheduled flight soars north, offering a spectacular aerial transition from the lush shores of Lake Victoria to the rugged, golden expanse of the Karamoja region. You will touch down at the Apoka Airstrip, located right in the center of the park. It is the ultimate arrival: one moment you are in the capital, and less than two hours later, you are standing in the middle of a vast, silent savannah surrounded by Zebras and Buffalo.

Evening

Explore the heartbeat of the park. The Narus Valley is the only permanent water source in Kidepo, acting as a magnet for wildlife during the dry season.

On this private game drive, you will traverse the golden grasslands in search of the region’s resident predators—Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs—hunting the vast herds of Buffalo and Elephant. Without the traffic found in other parks, this is a photographer’s dream: unobstructed views, dramatic lighting, and the feeling that you have the entire continent to yourself.

Activities Day 2

Early Morning

Awaken to the raw beauty of the Kidepo dawn. We set out just as the first light touches the Narus Valley, casting long shadows over the golden savannah.

This is the 'Golden Hour' for photographers and the prime time for predator action. As the mist lifts, keep your eyes on the granite kopjes (rock outcrops)—the favorite lookout points for the resident Lions and Cheetahs scanning for prey. With the dramatic mountain ranges silhouetted against the rising sun and massive herds of Buffalo starting their day, this is a game drive that feels ancient, wild, and utterly exclusive.

Afternoon

Step into a culture that has defied the modern world. The Karamojong are a proud, pastoralist people with a history and lifestyle similar to the famous Maasai of Kenya.

We invite you to a respectful, private visit to a traditional Manyatta (homestead). This is not a staged performance; it is an opportunity to engage with the elders, learn about their cattle-centric way of life, and witness the rhythmic 'jumping dance' that defines their heritage. It is a raw, unfiltered glimpse into one of Africa’s most resilient surviving cultures.

Activities Day 3

Morning

Step out of the vehicle and onto the ancient soil of the Narus Valley. Kidepo is one of the few national parks in Uganda where you can safely experience the thrill of a walking safari.

Escorted by an armed ranger, you will hike through the open savannah, surrounded by 360-degree views of the distant mountain ranges. Without the hum of an engine, your senses heighten: you hear the wind in the acacia grass, smell the wild sage, and track wildlife on foot. Approaching a herd of Zebra or Waterbuck at eye level is a visceral, humbling reminder that here, you are a guest in their world.

Afternoon

Participate in the most cherished ritual of the African bush. As the heat of the day fades, we ascend a granite kopje (rocky outcrop) for a private sundowner session.

From this elevated vantage point, you have a 360-degree view of the endless savannah stretching into South Sudan and Kenya. With a chilled cocktail in hand, you will watch the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in violet and orange. It is a moment of profound silence and beauty—a toast to the wilderness and the end of a perfect day on safari.

Accommodation Day 1 to 3

Apoka Safari Lodge

Lodge

Experience luxury at the edge of the world. Apoka Safari Lodge is the only high-end property located deep inside the Kidepo Valley National Park, offering an immersive experience that is unmatched in remoteness and comfort.

The lodge is famous for its outdoor stone bathtubs carved into the rock face of each private cottage—allowing you to soak under the stars while Zebras and Warthogs graze just meters away. With a swimming pool carved into the kopje and 360-degree views of the golden savannah, Apoka is not just a lodge; it is a sanctuary of silence and soul-stirring wildness.

Meal Plan

Day 4

Final day with us

As your flight lifts off from the Apoka airstrip, take one last look at the golden savannah stretching endlessly toward the horizon. The silence of the Kidepo Valley is something that stays with you long after you return to the noise of the modern world.

Thank you for journeying to the edge of the map with Onzako Tours. We hope you carry not just photographs, but also the profound sense of peace found in Africa’s true wilderness. You arrived as a guest, but you leave as part of our family. Until we meet again under the African sky—Safari Njema (Safe Journey).

Activity Day 4

Morning

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking the Narus Valley before your short transfer to the airstrip. As you take to the skies, watch the golden, rugged plains of Kidepo give way to the lush, emerald shores of Lake Victoria.

This scenic return flight offers a dramatic final perspective on the Pearl of Africa’s diverse geography. In just under two hours, you will touch down at Entebbe International Airport—bypassing the long road journey and arriving refreshed, relaxed, and ready for your onward connection.

Vehicles

The Ultimate Safari Vehicle

Your Front-Row Seat to the Wild. We use custom-extended 4x4 Land Cruisers designed for the terrain. We guarantee the Onzako Standard: • Guaranteed Window Seats: Every guest gets a view. • Pop-Up Roofs: For 360° photography. • Amenities: On-board fridge & charging points.

The Onzako Nomad

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

Highlights

Kidepo Valley National Park

Activities Day 1

Morning

Evening

Activities Day 2

Early Morning

Afternoon

Activities Day 3

Morning

Afternoon

Apoka Safari Lodge

Final day with us

Activity Day 4

Morning

The Ultimate Safari Vehicle

Pricing

Detailed Price Information

Overview Tour

4 Days / 3 Nights

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

Included

Excluded

Ready to Share

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

Highlights

Kidepo Valley National Park

Activities Day 1

Morning

Evening

Activities Day 2

Early Morning

Afternoon

Activities Day 3

Morning

Afternoon

Apoka Safari Lodge

Final day with us

Activity Day 4

Morning

The Ultimate Safari Vehicle

Pricing

Detailed Price Information

Overview Tour

4 Days / 3 Nights

The Wild North: Kidepo Valley

Included

Excluded