Activities to do in Kidepo National Park.
Activities to do in Kidepo National Park: Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most incredible safari destinations in East Africa, which provides a true African safari experience to travellers seeking stillness and serenity. It is situated in far northeastern Uganda in the Kaabong district, bordering Kenya and South Sudan. It’s the third largest park in Uganda, spanning an area of about 1,442 square kilometres. The park was gazetted in 1962 after Uganda gained its independence to protect the Big game that existed at that time. Kidepo Valley National Park is known for hosting over 28 unique mammals that aren’t found anywhere else in the country, such as caracals, cheetahs, kudus, aardwolves, striped hyenas, bat-eared foxes, and more.
It’s the only place in Uganda that hosts the largest number of buffalo, over 11,000 individuals. The park has different natural systems, such as acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, riverine forests, wetlands, and rolling hills, which provide habitat for various wildlife and bird species that call this park home. It has over 480 bird species, 80 mammal species, including the big four mammals: lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards. The park’s rich biodiversity supports various activities for tourists to do on their safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park, like game drives, cultural encounters, bird watching, nature walks, and walking safaris.
Top Activities to do in Kidepo National Park.
Birding.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a haven for bird watching, with over 480 bird species that call this awesome park home, attracting thousands of bird enthusiasts and ornithologists to enjoy the unique melodic songs and sounds of these birds. The birds include birds of prey, savannah birds, migratory birds, water birds and the park’s residents. Birding in the park is best done in late afternoon and morning hours when bird most active. Birders are led by an experienced bird birder who helps them to identify various bird species and gives more insights about the bird species that they might encounter. Some of the birds to encounter on a birding safari in Kidepo Valley National Park include Secretary Birds, Northern Camine bee-eaters, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Purple Heron, Clapperton’s Francolin, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Egyptian Goose, Garganey, Ring-necked Francolin, Orange River Francolin, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Common Quail, Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Lemon Dove, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Laughing Dove, African Rail, Lesser Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, Black Crake, Eurasian Moorhen, African Crake, Lesser Moorhen, Gray Crowned-Crane, Black Crowned-Crane, Senegal Thick-knee, Water Thick-knee, Spotted Thick-knee, Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Black-winged Stilt, Black-headed Lapwing, Three-banded Plover, Long-toed Lapwing, Wattled Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Greater Painted-Snipe, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, African Snipe, others.
Walking Safaris.
Walking Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park are one of the most thrilling safari activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. They give visitors an opportunity to explore the vast savannah grasslands and the scenic views of the park. This activity is best done in the morning or late afternoon when the weather is cooler, and it’s led by an armed game ranger who ensures participants’ protection from wild animals and an experienced park guide who gives more information about the park’s inhabitants that you might encounter. There are various sites that are suitable for walking safaris, such as Narus Valley, Kidepo Valley, Mount Morungole, Lonyili Mountain, and areas around Apoka Rest Camp. Visitors will have a chance to enjoy the breathtaking views of the savannah grasslands and rolling hills, and see various plants and tree species. Bird lovers will delight themselves in hundreds of bird species like Ostriches, Lesser Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, Black Crake, Eurasian Moorhen, African Crake, Lesser Moorhen, and more. They will also see various mammal species like giraffes, elephants, buffalo, elands, zebras, Uganda Kobs and more.
Game Drives.
Game drives are one of the most loved activities by travellers visiting the park, which allows them to explore the open savannah grasslands in a 4×4 pop-up vehicle. Visitors can do morning game drives, which start early at 6 am. These provide high chances of seeing a variety of animals and bird species when they are still active. They will have a chance to see predators looking for prey or carrying their prey, antelopes roaming around the park or running away from predators, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and herds of buffalo grazing. The evening game drives are good for spotting animals while they are concluding their day. Visitors will see oribis, elephants, Uganda kobs, kudus, elands and more. The night game drives are best for spotting nocturnal animals like leopards, hyenas, bush babies and more, which are hard to spot during daytime since they rest during the day and hunt at night. Game drives are best done in Narus Valley, which has a high concentration of mammal and bird species.
Cultural Encounters.
Cultural encounters are among the most rewarding activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park that allows visitors to explore the communities around the park. This gives them a great opportunity to interact with the local people, like the Ik people who live on top of Morungole Mountain and the Karamajong who live in the neighboring villages. During these encounters, visitors will learn about the traditions of these people, history, and lifestyles.
