Kidepo national park – home to rolling lions!!

Unfortunately not taken as prominent as other savannah national parks like Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley National Park has a unique beauty that makes it a true African wilderness. With a wide range of primates that can be found in the park including 22 predator species; lions, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, African hunting dog; striped hyena, aardwolf, cheetah ,side-striped jackal, spotted hyena, lion, leopard, and a variety of mustelids, genets, mongoose and small cats. About 17 antelope species are located in Kidepo. 7 of these species are registered nowhere else in Uganda including greater kudu, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle, roan antelope, Beira Oryx, Guenthera's dik-dik, Jackson's hartebeest, topi, eland, klipspringer, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Burchella's zebra, Bohor reedbuck, giraffes and mountain reedbuck.
Kidepo offers an exciting kind of adventure than any other of any Ugandan national park. With 86 mammal species, it is only the third highest in Uganda protecting a far greater variety of large mammals than any other national park, including 28 species found nowhere else in the country. About birds with over 463 confirmed and 26 unconfirmed species make this park second to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kidepo valley has special species including the ostrich, kori bustard, fox and white-eyed kestrels, carmine, Abyssinian scimitar bill. The variety of butterflies and other smaller creatures is far less than in the forested national parks of western Uganda.

On your way from Kitgum District to the last trading center at Karenga, before entering the park, one observes an inaccessible place. This is so because of the slippery roads and the near-flooding valleys, coupled with the potholes.
However, having been forewarned, about the roads, we traveled by a 4x4 vehicle, making our journey to the park easier. Herds of buffaloes, water bucks, warthogs, among other animals welcome you to the park through Lukumoit or Nataba gates.

Accommodation are set up
Kidepo valley national park has some accommodations set including the Apoka safari lodges and after check in set out for a game drive through the park by the Uganda Wildlife Authority guides.
The park stretches 1,442 square kilometers with two seasonal rivers Kidepo and Narusi during the dry season the animals are normally dispersed around thus making a game drive a rewarding adventure at this season of the year. In this season, in Kidepo National Park’s lions always love visitors and will welcome them by rolling down and presenting themselves for photo opportunities.
The southern route through Kalabe and Narusi River offers a variety of animals and birds ranging from buffaloes, water bucks, Jackson heartbeats, warthogs, zebras, monkeys, baboons, mongoose, monitor lizards, side-striped jackals, among others.
Climb the steeply rocky hills of the Amampwas, a Sudanese name from the Mening tribe which means “he threw a spear at” that has a scenic view of the park to end day one.
Day two
On day two, we take a drive to the northern part of the park where we find several animals, this time with a wider variety like the tower termite mounts and ostriches. We then go to Kidepo river, which we discovered has dried up.
Akorongimoe says this river just changes from flowing on top to flowing underground but it never dries and proves his point by scratching the sand to show us traces of water.
The northern side also has the forests of the Borassus palms, where Kidepo derives its name. Karimojongs used to go to this park to pick fruits from Borassus palms and named the place “Kidepo” a Karimojong word translated to “pick”.
From the river we head to the hot springs called Kanango rock. Archeological findings of bones covered by rocks show that the volcanoes which formed the rock could have solidified with these bones.
We also come across the klipspringer, a small animal found in rocks that Akorongimoe said violates the African cultures because it mates with only one partner. Another animal of interest is the black-bellied bastard.
No lions in sight
We later spend the afternoon looking for the king of the jungle but the search is fruitless because there were no lions in sight.
We do not take this kindly, so the group asks UWA rangers why we can not see the lions. Akorongimoe says the park is not a zoo, where animals are found in a cage, and that he has no “contact number” for these lions to fix an appointment but people should remain hopeful.
After a fruitless search, the group resolved to go to the park headquarters and meet the managers for general interviews about the park.
As if in response to the group’s disappointment, we return at around 9pm to find lions lying besides the road. Hitherto frustrated, the guide gains the courage to crack yet another joke, saying the lions must have heard the group’s anger.
The third day is the most tedious as the group was led to Moronoru mountains to visit the most reclusive tribe, the Ik, about 2900ft on top of the mountain. The hiking is a little tedious stretching for about six kilometres on a steep slope.
The Ik welcome the group with traditional dances and a walk through their homesteads.
The return route from the mountains is different and we trek for 20 kilometres on a steep route from Amarongole. The tedious return from the hill involved climbing and descending on four different mountains.
Article on Uganda adventure safaris with a focus on Kidepo Valley national park a park on well marketed by the Ugandan government but offers a whole adventure for travelers written by Yahaya Kimbowa a research student – www.studentsugandasafaris.com, working on his final tourism report.

INTRIGUING FEATURES ABOUT MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

The endangered Mountain gorillas have intrigued the interest of man, believed to be the largest of the living primates living in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa. Locate within a chain of eight volcanoes known as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western section of the Rift Valley, forming part of the border between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. These spectacular mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the last refuges of the most endangered of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Only about 630 of these giant apes remain.

Mountain Gorillas safaris can be done in:- Uganda- Bwindi impenetrable forest national park as well as in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda- Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo- Virunga National Park

Behavior, Life Style, Way of Living,
Mountain gorillas are shy and gentle. Usually seeks no trouble unless harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened. Family groups are close-knit and may have up to 30 members and even smaller, the group usually consists of at least one older male, one or more females and a few juveniles.

Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group and even when groups meet and mingle and then subsequently part, each animal tends to remain with its respective unit. An adult male is called a silverback gorilla named due to the silvery gray hairs on its back normally leads each group, serving as its chief protector and defender. Gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day.

Gorillas scream, grab foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their hind legs, tear up and throw plants, drum on the chest with hands or fists, stamp their feet, strike the ground with the palms of their hands and gallop in a mock attack on all fours.

Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. Females give birth for the first time an age of 10 and will have more offspring every three or four years. A male begins to breed between the age of 12 and 15 years, when he is in charge of his own group. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young with in a period of nine months of pregnancy.

Newborn gorillas are weak and tiny, weighing in at about 4 pounds. Their fragile movements are as awkward as those of human infants, but their development is roughly twice as fast. At about 3 or 4 months, the gorilla infant can sit upright and can stand with support soon after. It suckles regularly for about a year and is gradually weaned at about 31months/2 years, when it becomes more independent.

What threatens the existence of mountain Gorillas?

Mountain gorilla's only known enemies are leopards and humans. Crocodiles are potentially dangerous to lowland gorillas. Poachers have also destroyed entire family groups in their attempts to capture infant gorillas for zoos, while others are killed to sell their heads and hands as trophies.

Valuable Information about Mountain Gorillas

The imperiled Mountain gorillas have charmed the investment of man, thought to be the most extensive of the living primates living in difficult to reach districts in different thick timberlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes reputed to be the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the fringe between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned stupendous mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most imperiled of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned goliath chimps remain.

Mountain Gorillas are recognized: Uganda-Bwindi impervious woods national stop and in addition in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

Life Style

Mountain gorillas are modest and tender. More often than not looks for no pain unless hassled however will valiantly shield its family assembly if intimidated. Family aggregations are close-sew and may have up to 30 parts and even more minor, the assembly as a rule comprises of no less than one more senior male, one or more females and a couple adolescents.

Gorillas have solid connections to parts of their particular assembly and yet when assemblies meet and blend and then therefore part, every creature will consistently remain with its individual unit. A grown-up male is called a silverback gorilla named because of the silvery gray hairs on its back regularly advances every aggregation, serving as its boss defender and shield. Gorillas persistently wander through their home runs of 10 to 15 square miles, bolstering and resting for the duration of the day.

Gorillas shriek, snatch foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their rear legs, shred and hurl plants, drum on the midsection with hands or clench hands, stamp their feet, hit the ground with the palms of their hands and run in a false assault on all fours.

Mountain gorillas have a moderate rate of generation. Females conceive an offspring outside of the norm an age of 10 and will have all the more offspring each several or four years. A male starts to breed between the age of 12 and 15 years, when he is in charge of his particular gathering. Fit to consider just around several days every month, the female prepares a solitary youthful with in a time of nine months of pregnancy.

Baby gorillas are feeble and minor, weighing in at around 4 pounds. Their delicate developments are as clumsy as the previously mentioned of human tots, yet their improvement is harshly twice as speedy. At around 3 or 4 months, the gorilla child can sit upright and can stand with backing soon after. It suckles consistently for around a year and is slowly weaned at about 31months/2 years, when it ends up being more autonomous.

What threatens the existence of mountain Gorillas?

The Life & Nature of Mountain Gorillas

The imperiled Mountain gorillas have charmed the investment of man, thought to be the most substantial of the living primates living in out of reach districts in diverse thick woodlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. These fantastic mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the proposed monster gorillas remain.

Way of Living

Important to Note information on Mountain Gorillas

The jeopardized Mountain gorillas have fascinated the investment of man, thought to be the greatest of the living primates living in unavailable districts in different thick woodlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western area of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The proposed staggering mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned monster primates remain.

Mountain Gorillas are recognized: Uganda-Bwindi impervious backwoods national stop and in addition in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

Nature of Living

Case study on the very nature of the endangered mountain Gorillas

The imperiled Mountain gorillas have fascinated the investment of man, accepted to be the most impressive of the living primates living in difficult to reach locales in diverse thick timberlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western area of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned terrific mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the proposed mammoth chimps remain.

Mountain Gorillas tours are discovered: Uganda-Bwindi impervious timberland national stop and additionally in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

How they live  

What makes Gorillas Intriguing to Man?

The jeopardized Mountain gorillas have captivated the investment of man, accepted to be the heftiest of the living primates living in unavailable districts in different thick backwoods in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, structuring part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned marvelous mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final shelters of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned mammoth gorillas remain.

How they relate