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African Safaris and Tours
Kidepo Valley National Park Lodges
Where To Stay In Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in Uganda's far north-east, in the Karamoja sub-region, where the park borders South Sudan and Kenya lies close by to the east. Gazetted in 1962 and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, it covers 1,442 km² of semi-arid savannah ringed by mountains, climbing to 2,750 m on Mount Morungole. The journey north is long, and that remoteness is the draw: big skies, open tracks and golden plains running out to the mountains.
Two seasonal rivers shape the park. The Narus Valley in the south and west holds water longest, with pools that last into the dry season, so game gathers there for much of the year and most drives concentrate on its tracks. The larger Kidepo Valley to the north is drier and wilder, its sandy riverbed carrying water only in the wettest months.
Kidepo Savannah Lodge is where we place our guests. This tented camp sits just outside the park boundary near Kalokudo Gate, unfenced and looking out over the Narus Valley. Choose an en-suite tent on a raised deck with its own veranda, or a simpler tent sharing an ablution block. The camp runs on solar power, and meals and drinks are served in a thatched bar and restaurant facing the valley.
Pack binoculars. BirdLife International records about 480 bird species in Kidepo, the second-highest total of any protected area in Uganda, including Karamoja apalis and black-breasted barbet, two of the country's rarest birds.
We quote Kidepo Savannah Lodge as part of a tailor-made Uganda safari, not as a standalone room-only booking.
The far north has a single rainy season rather than the two seen further south: see when to visit Uganda. Malaria risk is high throughout Uganda, Kidepo included: read malaria in Uganda and our guide to malaria in Africa. As of October 2026, the FCDO notes an increased security presence in the Karamoja sub-region, where Kidepo lies, because of cattle theft, and advises against travel there at night. Check the current FCDO advice before you travel.
Kidepo Valley Lodges And Tented Camps
Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Kidepo Savannah Lodge is an unfenced tented camp just outside Kidepo Valley National Park, near Kalokudo Gate, looking out over the Narus Valley. Choose an en-suite tent on a raised deck or a simpler tent; days bring game drives, nature walks and Karamojong community visits.
Kidepo Valley Lodges: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kidepo Savannah Lodge?
Kidepo Savannah Lodge sits just outside Kidepo Valley National Park, on a rise about 500 m from Kalokudo Gate on the park's southern edge. It looks out over the Narus Valley towards Mount Morungole. Because it lies beyond the park boundary rather than inside it, game drives head through the gate into the Narus Valley each day.
Is Kidepo Savannah Lodge fenced?
No, Kidepo Savannah Lodge is unfenced, so the savannah runs right up to the tents. Elephant and buffalo are sometimes seen from the camp itself, though no sighting is ever guaranteed. Wild animals can move through at any hour, so follow the staff's guidance on walking around camp after dark.
What are the tents like at Kidepo Savannah Lodge?
Kidepo Savannah Lodge has two kinds of tent. The en-suite tents stand on raised decks with private verandas and their own bathrooms, while the simpler tents share an ablution block. Both put you in a genuine bush setting, and we'll match the tent type to your budget and how simply you're happy to live.
Is Kidepo Savannah Lodge a luxury camp?
No, Kidepo Savannah Lodge is a simple, comfortable tented camp rather than a luxury lodge. It runs on solar power, with solar-heated water for the showers, and meals and drinks are served in a thatched restaurant and bar overlooking the valley. Expect space, quiet and character over polish; that's the trade for staying this far out.
What activities does Kidepo Savannah Lodge offer?
Game drives into the Narus Valley are the mainstay at Kidepo Savannah Lodge, using the road network where most of the park's game gathers in the dry season. The lodge also offers guided nature walks on the savannah and visits to a nearby Karamojong community to learn about their pastoralist way of life.
Map of Lodges in and around Kidepo National Park
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