Which National Park In Uganda Is Famous For Ostriches?

Which National Park In Uganda Is Famous For Ostriches? Kidepo valley national park is famously known as the game park in Uganda that harbours Ostricthes in large numbers. This national park is located in the North Eastern region of Uganda in Kabong district and it was first gazette as a game reserve in 1958 and later established as a national park in 1962 after Uganda acquired its independence. However exploring around this national park does not only give you a chance to see only Ostriches but also be able to see other wildlife species due to the fact that it is a home to over 76 mammal species such as; leopards, buffalos, cheetahs, zebras, lions, bush duikers, hyenas, wild dogs, bat eared fox, elephants and many others and it also harbours around 474 bird species.

Ostriches are beautiful bird species that are large in size however, they are not able to fly just like the other bird species do but they are only good at running whereby it is noted that these species can run for about 70 kilometers per hour most especially when they are being threatened. More so, Ostriches are characterized with small heads , long legs, and can weigh about 180 kilograms, and about 2.5 meters tall and they are categorized in two types for example; the Massaicas and the nominate. In addition, the tourists can easily distinguish these because the nominate ostriches are mainly brown in colour whereby the massaicas are gray brown in colour. In addition, the massaicas always form small groups, or live in singles or opt to live all together as a family.

More so, Ostriches are Omnivorous bird species that only feed on; locusts, fruits, swallow sand and pebbles, flowers, seeds and many others. There are the male and female ostriches whereby the male are easily identified because of their black colour with white wings, brown eyes, and have a tail feathers whereas the female ostriches are identified because of their brownish grey color and they take about three to four years to fully mature. In addition, the unique part about these ostriches is that hiss, boom, but most of the times, the male ostriches are usually noticed roaring like lions which is abit confusing to know whether it is a lion or an ostrich roaring. Ostrich species are very strong birds that are even capable of harming by kicking predators like lions or humans, which can even lead to their death. More so, tourists are able to spot huge flocks of the ostriches within the wooded grasslands and even when they are within a drier environment, Which National Park In Uganda Is Famous For Ostriches?

Exploring around Kidepo national park also gives tourists chances to involve in exciting different activities like; game drives which are usually done in the morning and in the evening and during these game drives, tourists usually get chances to see animal species like; Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kob, Oribi, giraffes, buffalos, leopards  and many others, tourists can also opt to go for guided nature walks  through the park where by they are always accompanied with park guides and rangers whose role is to lead them through and ensure the safety of both tourists and the animals, bird watching which is best done within in areas like; Apoka rest camp, Namukwenyi, and the fringes of the Narus and some of these birds are; migratory birds, savannah birds, forest birds and the Somali-masai biome birds such as; Scarlet chested sunbird, Verreauxs eagle, pygmy falcon, Abyssinian ground hornbill, sperb starling, Golden pipit, Jackson’s hornbill, dark chanting goshawk, Karamoja apalis, white bellied go-away bird for kestrel, clapper tons francolin and many others. more so, they can also visit the neighboring communities of the park and get chances to meet the Karamojong people within their traditional homes which are referred to as the “Manyata” and they learn a lot about their history through listening to their stories, observe their daily lifestyle, watch their traditional dance performances and watch how these local people prepare their local meals.

Tourists planning to go on a safari in Kidepo national park should visit during the dry season which is considered to the best time for one to go on a safari in Uganda because this is when they are less rains and the grass vegetation is short which enables tourists to capture classic views of interesting attractions within the park and also able to see the ostriches clearly. In addition, this is between months from June to September and from mid- December to February.

For more information about where to see Ostriches in Uganda, get in touch with our trusted tour operators and Book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global safaris who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Uganda.