Best Time to do Nature Walks in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Nature walks in the park are among the most thrilling activities that draw thousands of travellers each year to come and enjoy the breathtaking views and rich biodiversity of the park on foot. Nature enthusiasts frequently ask about the best time to do nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park. The activity can be done at any time of the year, and the best time depends on visitors’ travel plans. The park is situated in the northeastern corner of Uganda, bordering Kenya and South Sudan. It’s known for its true African wilderness and beautiful scenic views of rolling hills, savannah grasslands and mountains.
The park has a rich biodiversity, and it’s home to over 490 bird species, including migratory birds, savannah birds, water birds, the park’s endemic species, and birds of prey. It also has over 78 mammal species, such as the Big Four mammals: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, kudus, caracals, hyenas, and more. Nature walks in Kidepo allow travellers to connect with nature as they explore the park’s wonders on foot. This is a guided activity led by an armed game ranger who ensures participants’ protection and helps identify various birds and wildlife species that they encounter. The park has various areas where nature walks can be done, like areas around Apoka Rest Camp, Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. The park experiences two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. Both seasons provide exceptional safari experiences.
Best Time to do Nature Walks in Kidepo Valley National Park
Dry Season.
According to feedback from past travellers, the dry season is the most preferred season to enjoy this amazing activity, which is normally referred to as the high season. It runs from June to September and from December to February. During this season, the park receives little to no rainfall, the trails are less muddy and slippery, making it easy to penetrate the park and enjoy the cool breeze of the park and its scenic views. The vegetation cover is short and scattered, which makes it easy to clearly view various wildlife and bird species. However, since this season receives little to no rainfall, animals and birds tend to move deep in search of food. Travellers should be prepared to move long distances in search of wildlife and bird species.
Wet Season.
Travellers can also visit the park during the wet season, which runs from March to May and October to November. During this season, Kidepo Valley National Park receives enough rainfall, and the trails are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate them. The vegetation cover is green and dense, which beautifies the park and attracts various wildlife species to feed around Kidepo Valley. Since the park receives enough rainfall, this helps various plants and tree species to bear fruit, and during this period, the park has sufficient food. However, for bird enthusiasts, the wet season is the bird time to do nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park, as it is the time when most bird species breed, and migratory birds come to the park during this period, running away from the harsh weather conditions in Asia and Europe in search of food and good weather conditions. The wet period favours budget travellers as most lodges and tour agencies tend to give discounts.
What to Pack on your Safari.
Travellers planning to do nature walks on their safari in Kidepo Valley National Park should be aware of what to pack to enable them have a successful safari. They should pack neutral colored clothes ( beige, olive, khaki), long sleeved shirt and long trousers to protect them from sun and insects, comfortable walking shoes, hat, light jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, refillable water bottle, birding checklist for bird lovers, camera with extra batteries, and a pair of binoculars.
