Best Activities in Kidepo National Park.
Kidepo National Park is an interesting safari destination in Uganda, famously known for its stunning views of rolling hills and open savannah grasslands. Its one of the unspoiled national parks in the country. It’s found in the northeastern part of Uganda, bordering Kenya and South Sudan. The park was named after the Kidepo River, which is a seasonal river that flows through the park to the River Nile in South Sudan for a few hours, leaving white sand. It’s one of the largest parks in the country, covering approximately 1,442 square kilometers. It’s the only place in Uganda where visitors can find Ostriches, and it has the highest population of buffalo, over 11,000 individuals. It is the second park in Uganda with the highest number of bird species, after Queen Elizabeth National Park, with over 600 bird species. Kidepo hosts up to 79 mammal species, including the African Big Four: lions, elephants, leopards and buffalo. It also has up to 480 bird species, such as migratory birds, savannah birds, park’s residents and birds of prey. Travellers planning a trip always ask about the best activities to enjoy in Kidepo Valley National Park, and this blog will discuss them. The park can be visited at any time of the year depending on your travel plans.
Best Activities in Kidepo National Park.
Birding.
Birding in Kidepo National Park is an incredible activity that bird lovers can enjoy on their birding safari in the park. It is blessed with up to 480 unique bird species, such as birds of prey, savannah birds, migratory birds and waterbirds. Birding is best done during the morning and late afternoon hours when birds are most active. This is a guided activity led by an experienced birder who gives more in-depth information about the bird species you encounter. Some of the species to see in the park include Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Gray Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Olive Bee-eater, Common Reed Warbler, White-throated Bee-eater, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Secretary Birds, 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, Ring-necked Dove, Black-billed Wood-Dove, Namaqua Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Little Swift, Common Swift, Horus Swift, African Palm Swift, Buff-spotted Flufftail, White-spotted Flufftail, 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.
Game Drives.
Game drives are among the best activities to do in Kidepo National Park, which gives visitors a chance to explore the park’s rich biodiversity. They are done in a 4×4 pop-up vehicle or open jeep, which allows visitors to clearly see various birds and animals. The park offers morning game drives, evening game drives and night game drives, all of which are guided by a knowledgeable park guide who gives more insights about the park inhabitants that you might encounter. Visitors will have a chance to see lions, elephants, cheetahs, caracals, leopards, greater kudus, dikdiks, elands, giraffes, zebras, Uganda Kobs and more. Bird lovers will induldge them selves in hundreds of bird species like Secretary Birds, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Egyptian Goose, Garganey, Ring-necked Francolin, Orange River Francolin, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Common Quail, Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Red-necked Spurfowl.
Cultural Encounters.
The park is surrounded by two unique tribes, the Ik people, which is a small hunter-gatherer tribe living in the mountains bordering Kenya, whose traditions are under a threat and the Karamojong, a semi- nomadic pastoralist group and their tribe, the Maasai, in Kenya, known for their cattle keeping traditions. Visiting these communities gives travellers a chance to learn more about their traditions through storytelling, how they use traditional herbs to cure diseases, and traditional dances.
Walking Safaris.
Walking safaris are among the best activities in Kidepo Valley National Park, which gives tourists an opportunity to explore the park’s beauty on foot. Walking safaris are normally done in the morning hours and evening hours when the park is cool. These are led by armed rangers who ensure participants’ safety and give more information about the park’s inhabitants they might encounter. They are best done in areas around Apoka Rest Camp, Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. Visitors will enjoy the breathtaking views of the park, see animals like elephants, giraffes, zebras and more.
