Best Time for Birding in Kidepo National Park.
Are you a bird enthusiast planning your birding safari in Kidepo and wondering about the best time for birding in Kidepo Valley National Park. This is a prime bird watching destination in Uganda, situated in the northeastern semi-arid corner of the country. It’s the second park with the longest list of birds after Queen Elizabeth National Park, with up to 600 bird species. Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park can be done at any time of the year, and the best time varies from individual’s travel plan. The park experiences two seasons: the dry season and the wet season, and both give exceptional birding encounters.
Kidepo National Park is known for its rich avian life and is home to over 480 bird species, including 16 Sudan and Guinea savanna, 4 Guinea Congo Forest Biome species, 3 of Uganda’s 32 Somali-Masai biome species, 58 birds of prey, 21 Afro-tropical highland species and migratory bird species. The park’s rich avian life is supported by its unique ecosystems like wetlands, riverine forests, rolling hills, acacia woodlands and savannah grasslands that provide habitats to these unique bird species.
Birding in the park is best done in the morning or late afternoon hours when birds are most active. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park bird who identifies various birds by their beautiful melodic songs and gives more insightful information to visitors. If you are a bird lover or an ornithologist planning a birding safari in Uganda, feel free to contact Caracal Explorers, as it offers the best birding packages. Whether you are an experienced birder or simply a beginner, Kidepo Valley National Park offers exceptional bird watching experiences.
Best Time for Birding in Kidepo National Park.
Dry Season
The dry season is the most preferred time of the year by travellers visiting the park, and this runs from December to February and June to September. During these months, the park receives little to no rainfall, and the park is less muddy and slippery, making it easy to penetrate the park in search of bird species, and the vegetation cover is short, which allows visitors to clearly see birds and take clear pictures. Visitors should be aware that since the park receives no rainfall in this period, there is little food for birds, and birds tend to move deep in the park in search of food. Spotting birds might sometimes be challenging since visitors have to move long distances searching for birds.
Wet season.
According to reviews from past travellers, the wet season is the best time for birding in Kidepo Valley National Park. This is from March to May and October to November, during this season, the park receives enough rainfall, which allows plants and tree species to bear fruit. The park has enough food and water for birds, which attracts migratory birds from North Africa, Asia and Europe, which run away from harsh weather conditions and are in search of food. This is the best time of the year for birders to watch migratory birds, and it’s the breeding period of most birds in the park. This period provides birders with high chances of seeing various bird species without moving long distances searching for them, since the park always has sufficient food for these birds. Travellers should be aware that during this period, the park is muddy and slippery making it challenging to penetrate the park.
