Uganda birding excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park

Uganda birding excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park: Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Uganda, located in the remote Karamoja region in Kaabong district, between Uganda and the South Sudan border. The national park covers a total land area of 1442 square kilometers and is comprised of savannah vegetation, hills, and valleys like Kidepo and Narus Valley, Mount Morungole, among others. The park is known for its wildlife, which includes over 76 mammal species.

Birdwatching excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park are one of the rewarding activities to do while on a Uganda safari in Kidepo Valley National Park.  the park is famous for its exceptionally diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity. Kidepo Valley National Park is home to more than 475 recorded bird species including endemic birds, savannah birds, and migratory birds which makes it one of the best birding areas in Uganda such as Karamoja apalis, yellow rumped seed eater, superb starling, yellow necked spurfowl, ostrich, white bellied bustard, four banded sand grouse, black breasted barbet, pygmy falcon.

Besides its stunning birds, Kidepo Valley National Park is a home of about 86 mammals including elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, bush pigs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, African hunting dogs, caracal, jackals, waterbucks, bushbucks, and more than 475 bird species including Ostriches, Kori bustard, Karamoja apalis among others.

Common birds are found in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Ostrich, Kori bustard, secretary birds, red-throated beetles, Golden Pipit, Ring-necked Spurfowl, Taita Fiscal, Rufous Chatterer, Fox’s Cisticola, Yellow and Red Spotted Barbet, Fox’s Weaver, Lesser Kestrel, Pallid Harrier, Black-winged Pranticole, White-crested Hartlaub’s Turaccos, Dusky-turtle Dove, White-bellied Go-Away Bird, Abyssinian Scimitar Bill, Karamoja Apalis, White-bellied Tit, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Northern White-crowned and Yellow-billed Shrikes, Slate-colored Boubou, Fan-tailed Raven, Superb Starling, Red-billed oxpecker, Eastern Violet-backed pygmy, Rufous, and Chestnut Sparrow Yellow-spotted Petronia, African-pied Hornbills, Yellow-billed Shrike, Emin’s Shrike, Piapiac, Red-winged Lark, Black-rumped Waxbillmay, Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Clapperton’s Francolin, silver birds, vinaceous dove, Nubian woodpecker, mosque swallow, Hoopoe, Rupell’s and superb starlings, scarlet chested sunbird, little weaver and red cheeked cordon bleu, yellow rumped seedeaters, black coucal, Clapperton’s francolins, African moustched, broad tailed warblers, marsh tchagra , crimson rumped waxbill, ostriches, secretary bird, African tailed kite, eastern pale chanting goshawk, fox kestrel, Clapperton’s and Heuglin’s francolins, stone partridge, Kori, white bellied and hartlaub’s bustards, violet tipped courser, black headed plover, yellow necked spur fowl, four banded sand grouse, White-faced Scoops Owl, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, Little Green Bee-eater, Rufous-crowned Rollers, Egyptian vulture, Eastern Yellow and Jackson’s Hornbills, Red-fronted and Black-breasted Barbets, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Singing Bush lark, Bruce’s pigeon, white crested Turaco, rose ringed parakeet among parks .

List of packing equipments for exciting birdwatching in Kidepo Valley National Park

When planning your birding excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park, you need to arrange the following items to make your birding experience in the region fantastic such as enough drinking water and snacks, sunglasses, field clothing; sturdy shoes, a notebook and pen, binoculars, a field guide, a camera or good phone, and insect repellent, among others.

Uganda birding excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park: Other activities

Game drives

A game drive at Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the ways you can explore the hidden treasures of the park. Game drives in the park offer astonishing opportunities for visitors to explore the park’s diverse wildlife and its beautiful environment. During the game drive safari in the park, you’ll have a chance to spot a variety of the park’s dwellers, such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, waterbucks, Jackson’s Harte beast, white-striped jackals, porcupines, pangolins, and other different types of antelopes, as well as colorful birds’ species like the ostrich, Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, among others.

Guided natures

This is an interesting activity in Kidepo Valley National Park which gives visitors an opportunity to explore the park on foot. During the nature walks you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who is well conversant with walking trails in the park and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. Nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park are conducted in different areas including Narus Valley, Namamukweny Valley, and Kidepo plains which lead you to Morungole Mountains where you will meet the IK people, and hike to the Lomej Mountains among others. During the guided nature walks which start at 7:00 am at the Apoka tourism office, you will get an opportunity to spot animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, reedbucks, waterbucks, zebras, giraffes which will be grazing, different bird species like ostriches, beautiful scenery, landscape, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, enjoy the cool breeze among others.

Hiking Mount Morungole and visiting the IK tribe

Hiking on Morungole Mountain is an attractive activity for the IK people. The great Moroungole hike, which involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain commanding spectacular views of Kidepo Valley National Park, will expose visitors to a variety of dances from the IK, their way of life, their unique settlements, and their unique migration history. Visiting the IK community gives you a glimpse into the tribe’s way of life.

The best time to go on a birding excursion in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited throughout the year however, the best time for birding excursions in Kidepo Valley National Park largely depends on your birding interests and preferences. Birding in the park can be rewarding throughout the year in Kidepo Valley National Park but the best time may vary depending on the season. The park experiences two seasons such as the dry season which runs from December to March and then June to September and the wet season April to May and October to November. generally, the best time is during the dry seasons

Accommodations

Kidepo Valley National Park offers a range of accommodation options to suit various preferences and budgets, such as Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, Mara Safari Lodge, Kidepo, Karatunga Safari, Zebra Safari Lodge- Kidepo, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Adere Safari Lodges, Kaabong Resort Hotel among others.