Birding in Kidepo valley national park; Kidepo valley national park is located in northeastern part of Uganda in Karamoja region between Uganda’s border with south Sudan and Kenya. Kidepo valley national park is the second best birding destination in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth national park in that it’s a home of over 480 recorded bird species including savannah birds, endemic birds, migratory birds and forest birds. Birding in Kidepo valley national park can either be done early in the morning or in the evening with an experienced bird guide who is well conversant with different birding areas like Apoka rest camp, around the fringes of Narus valley and Namumukweny valley among others.
During bird watching in Kidepo valley national park, you will be able to spot different bird species like Karamoja apalis, Black-breasted barbet, Mosque swallow, Yellow-rumped seedeater, Superb starling, Marsh tchagra, Broad-tailed warbler, Clapperton’s francolin, Crimson-rumped waxbill, Black coucal, Scarlet-chested sunbird, Common ostrich, African grey flycatcher, Red billed Oxpecker, Red-winged lark, Little green bee-eater, Black-headed plover, Heuglin’s francolin, Yellow-billed shrike, Singing bush lark, Standard-winged nightjar, White-crested turaco, Hartlaubs bustard, Red-winged Pytilias, Eastern violet backed, White-bellied tit, Slate-coloured Boubou, White-billed Buffalo weaver, Black-breasted Barbet, Rufous-crowned Roller, White-faced Scoops owl, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Ethiopian Swallow, Jacksons Hornbill, White-bellied go-away bird, Red Pate Cisticola, Pygmy Falcon, African Swallow-tailed kite, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Straw-tailed whydah, Kori bustard, Dark chanting goshawk, Red and Yellow barbet, Chestnut weaver, Abyssinian roller, Fox kestrel, Golden pipit, Purple grenadier, Red-throated bee-eater among others.
Best time to go for birding safari in Kidepo valley national park
Birding in Kidepo valley national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the wet season in the months of March to April and November because that’s the best period when you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.
Birding in Kidepo valley national park can also be done in the dry season during the months of June, July, August, September and December because during this period the birding trails will be dry and passable which makes hiking easy.
How to get to Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park is located in northeastern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will use different routes for example the route from Kampala via Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then to the park headquarters which takes about 10 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to the park headquarters which takes about 13 hours’ drive.
Kidepo valley national park can also be accessed by air transport means where by you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aero link Uganda or bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park
There are a number of accommodation facilities in Kidepo valley national park where you can stay during your Uganda birding safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Apoka safari lodge, Kidepo savannah lodge, Nga’moru wilderness camp, Adere safari lodge, Apoka rest camp among others.
Other activities in Kidepo valley national park
Apart from bird watching, Kidepo valley national park offers other interesting activities including
Game drives where you will be able to explore the savannah plains in a comfortable 4 WD pop up safari van with a professional driver guide who is conversant with different game tracks. Game drives in Kidepo valley national park can either be done very early in the morning when animals are most active or in the evening when animals are going back to their resting places. During the game drive, you will be able to different animals like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, oribi, giraffes, elands, lions, leopards, bush pigs, side-backed jackal, spotted hyena among others.
Nature walks/hiking where you will get an opportunity to explore the national park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. During the guided nature walk, you will follow different trails through the Narus valley, Namumukweny valley and Kidepo river valley where you will get up close and personal with different animals like buffaloes, elands, Uganda kobs, oribi, zebras, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes, view variety of bird species, plant and tree species, enjoy the cool breeze, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, take beautiful photos among others. During the guided nature walk, you will also hike the Lomej Mountains and Morungloe mountains.
Community tour where you will be able to interact with the Karamajong people in the neighboring village, learn about their culture, tradition, lifestyle, visit their Manyatta homesteads, visit the museum where they sell handcraft items like beads, hats, sandals, enjoy their traditional entertainments among others.
