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Meridiela.

Kidepo Game Reserve

A reserve on the Ugandan border, continuous with Kidepo Valley across it.

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WhereEastern Equatoria
Nearest cityKapoeta
Best seasonDecember to March
Time to allowSeveral days
Getting thereOn the Ugandan border in the southeast; rough tracks, arrangements required
EntryPermit and guide fees

The Kidepo Game Reserve lies on South Sudan's southeastern border and runs directly into Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park across the frontier, so the two together protect a single block of dry savanna and the animals move between them. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe and lion have used the South Sudanese side. Management on this side has been minimal and the reserve is effectively unadministered. The reserve should not be confused with the Ugandan park of similar name, which is the better known and better managed of the two.

What you actually see

  • The transboundary ground - savanna continuous with Uganda's Kidepo Valley.
  • The dry savanna - the habitat across the reserve.
  • The animal movement - wildlife crossing between the two countries.
  • The border position - the reserve at the southeastern corner.

When to go

December to March is the dry season and the practical window. The rains from April make the tracks impassable. Wildlife concentrates near water in the dry.

Honest expectations

There is no functioning management or infrastructure on the South Sudanese side. Wildlife is far more likely to be seen on the Ugandan side of the border. Access needs serious arrangement.

Nearby

Kapoeta is northwest, and the Ugandan border is south.

What to pack for Kidepo Game Reserve

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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