Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Northeastern park of Uganda. The park consists of the two major valley systems of the Kidepo and Narus Rivers. Primary grasses in the Narus Valley are the shorter red oat grass and taller bunchy Guinea grass and fine thatching grass. Common trees in the drier areas are red thorn acacias, desert dates, and to a lesser extent drumstick trees. The iconic sausage trees and fan palms line the water courses. Euphorbia candelabrum and the shorter monkey bread (or camel’s foot) and Buffalo thorn trees are also found. Perennial water makes River Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert which hosts over 86 mammal species including spotted hyena, lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, elephant, giraffe, zebra, African buffalo, bat-eared foxes, Rothschild’s giraffe — as well as almost 500 bird species. Streams in the Kidepo Valley are also dotted with palms whereas higher areas have whistling thorn acacias bush.