Safari Lodge — Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Uganda’s Last Great Wilderness
Ten canvas-walled cottages built around a rocky kopje overlooking the Narus Valley — the only full-service lodge inside Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda's most remote and dramatic wilderness.
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Overview
A Kopje in the Narus Valley
Kidepo Valley is Uganda's most isolated national park, bordered by South Sudan and Kenya — and Apoka Safari Lodge is the only place to properly experience it in comfort.
Built around a picturesque rocky outcrop overlooking the Narus Valley in Kidepo's southwestern sector, Apoka Safari Lodge is relaxed, comfortable and entirely handmade by local craftsmen using natural materials. Kidepo is the only national park in Uganda with cheetah, and holds possibly the country's largest herds of buffalo alongside lion, leopard, elephant and giraffe, all against a backdrop of golden plains, craggy outcrops and an impossibly wide sky. The lodge's ten canvas-and-thatch cottages each feature a massive outdoor rock tub, carved straight from the boulders, for daytime cooling soaks or stargazing bubble baths after dark.
10
Canvas Cottages
1
Only Park in Uganda with Cheetah
200+
Bird Species Recorded
1
Only Full-Service Lodge in the Park
Cottages
Outdoor Rock Tubs, Endless Views
Ten spacious canvas-walled cottages — four twin and six double — built around the lodge’s rocky kopje, each with a private veranda and stone bathtub carved from the rock.
Cottage — Rock Tub & Kopje Views
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Outdoor rock bathtubEvery cottage has its own massive outdoor bathtub carved from the boulders, perfect for stargazing after dark.
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Hand-hewn furnitureHuge hand-hewn beds with soft duvets, mosquito nets and hand-woven woollen carpets furnish every cottage.
Private verandaA spacious sitting room and private veranda give each cottage its own place to relax between game drives.
Experiences
Cheetah, Buffalo and Karamojong Culture
Kidepo’s remoteness means low visitor numbers and an intimate, exclusive feel to every game drive and walking safari.
Signature
Day & Night Game Drives
Open 4x4 game drives explore the Narus Valley for lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and Uganda’s only resident cheetah population.
On Foot
Guided Walking Safaris
Walk with an armed ranger in search of wildlife and Kidepo’s dramatic rock formations.
Culture
Karamojong Village Visits
Visit a local Karamojong community to learn about their traditional pastoralist way of life.
Birding
Bird Watching
Over 200 recorded bird species make the area around the lodge a rewarding stop for birders.
Dining
Gourmet Picnics & High Tea
Fine dining in the wild, gourmet picnics and high tea are all part of the Apoka experience.
Wellness
Rock-Hewn Swimming Pool
A deep, cool pool carved from the boulders offers a refreshing break between activities, overlooking a waterhole.
Dining
Dining on the Kopje
The main lodge building sits beneath a thatched roof on a large timber deck, with a spacious restaurant serving fine dining in one of Africa’s most remote settings.
01The main restaurant, communal dining
02The timber deck, over the plains
03A gourmet bush picnic, mid-safari
04High tea, on the lodge deck
05The bar, well-stocked for evening drinks
Dinner — On the Timber Deck
Location
Uganda’s Most Remote Corner
Apoka Safari Lodge sits at the heart of Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda’s far northeastern corner, bordered by South Sudan and Kenya.
Kidepo’s remoteness and low visitor numbers make for a genuinely intimate wildlife experience, even by Uganda’s standards.
The park protects golden savannahs, rugged mountains and possibly Africa’s largest surviving buffalo herds.
Kidepo can be reached by scheduled or charter flight (around 2 hours from Entebbe) or a long overland drive (9-12 hours).
The lodge sits close to the Narus River, a hotspot for game viewing and birdwatching, especially in the dry season.
Fly
Scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe reach Kidepo airstrip in around 2 hours, a short drive from the lodge.
Drive
A long but scenic overland journey via Gulu or Kitgum takes 9-12 hours, popular with overland explorers.
Arrive
Check-in and checkout details are confirmed with your travel specialist given the park’s remote access.
Bonus Night
Stay 4, Pay 3
Book three nights at Apoka Safari Lodge and receive a fourth free on selected 2026 dates.