Narus River, Uganda

Coordinates: 3°52′17″N 33°41′18″E / 3.871448°N 33.688202°E / 3.871448; 33.688202 The Narus River flows in a northwesterly direction through Kidepo Valley National Park in northern Uganda, joining the larger Kidepo River shortly after entering Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan.^[1] "Narus" in the Karamojong language means mud.^[2]

The park headquarters, lodge and hostel for visitors at Apoka overlook the Narus Valley, the main area for viewing game in the National park. There is one wet season each year, after which the Kidepo valley dies up and game move south to the Narus.^[3] The Narus river valley in the south of the park gets about 890 millimetres (35 in) of rain each year, compared to 635 millimetres (25.0 in) in the Kidepo Valley to the north.^[4] Although both rivers are seasonal, the Narus is the only perennial source of water in the park.^[5] Water can be found in swamps and pools along the Narus river channel throughout the year.^[3]

The Narus valley is an area of flat grassland plains. Large mammals include zebra, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, hartebeest and other antelopes.^[6] Carnivore species include the bat-eared fox, striped hyena, aardwolf, caracal, cheetah and hunting dog.^[7] The river itself is home to the Nile crocodile.^[8]

References

1. ^ "KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK". Great Lakes Safaris. http://www.safari-uganda.com/uganda/kidepo.php. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
2. ^ Simon Musasizi (24 October 2010). "Kidepo; Uganda’s hidden treasure". The Observer. http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10628:kidepo-ugandas-hidden-treasure&catid=42:sizzling-entertainment&Itemid=74. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Philip Briggs, Andrew Roberts (2007). Uganda: the Bradt travel guide. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 184162182X. http://books.google.ca/books?id=fPzAlYu6nEsC&pg=PA461. 
4. ^ "Kidepo Valley National Park". Gorilla Life Safaris. http://www.gorillalifesafaris.com/?page_id=117. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
5. ^ "Walking in the Kidepo Valley National Park". Njewa Safaris. http://www.njewasafaris.com/files/kidepo.html. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
6. ^ "4 Days Safari to Kidepo Valley National Park". Wild Uganda Safaris. http://wildugandasafaris.com/safaris-in-uganda/safari-to-kidepo.html. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
7. ^ "Kidepo Valley National Park". Tropical Africa Tours & Safari's Ltd. http://www.tropicalafricatours.com/kidepo.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
8. ^ Matthew Firestone (2009). Watching Wildlife East Africa. Lonely Planet. p. 165. ISBN 1741042089. http://books.google.ca/books?id=CZwi5RlRnAkC&pg=PA165.