Top Reasons to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most interesting savannah parks in Uganda, commonly known as a true African wilderness. It’s located in the remote northeastern corner of the country, bordering South Sudan and Kenya. This blog will discuss the top reasons to visit Kidepo Valley National Park, which are frequently asked by travellers planning their safari to the park. It’s the third largest park in Uganda, covering an area of approximately 1,443 square kilometers. It was first established as a game reserve by the British colonial government. Later, it was formed as a national park in 1962 after Uganda gained its independence, to protect the big game that existed at the time.
Kidepo is the only park in Uganda with the highest number of buffalo, up to 11,000 individuals. It’s the only place where travellers can find the cheetahs, the fastest mammals in the world and common ostriches. The park is known for its rich biodiversity, home to over 490 bird species, 80 mammal species, 700 tree species and 200 butterfly species. Its rich biodiversity is supported by different ecosystems that provide habitats to various birds and wildlife species, like wetlands, woodlands, open savannah grasslands and riverine forests.
Top Reasons to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park.
Outstanding Birdwatching Experience.
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the top bird watching destinations in Uganda, attracting ornithologists and bird enthusiasts to explore the park’s rich avian life. It hosts over 490 bird species, including savannah birds, migratory birds, birds of prey, water birds and the park’s endemic species. The park has different bird watching sites with rich bird life, such as Narus Valley, Kidepo Valley and areas around Apoka Rest Camp. Birding is best enjoyed in the morning and evening hours when birds are active. Some of the bird species found in the park include Secretary Birds, Northern Camine bee-eaters, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Purple Heron, Clapperton’s Francolin, Common Ostrich, African Pygmy-Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl, Western Crested Guineafowl, Stone Partridge, Crested Francolin, 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, and White-faced Whistling-Duck. 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, Three-banded Plover, Long-toed Lapwing, Wattled Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing.
Exceptional and Rare Wildlife.
This is one of the top reasons to visit Kidepo Valley National Park, which has over 80 mammal species, 5 primates, and 200 butterfly species. The park has over 28 mammal species that are not found elsewhere in Uganda, caracals, hunting wild dogs, cheetahs, striped hyenas, aardwolves, Greater Kudus, Lesser Kudus, Guenther’s Dik-Diks, Klipspringers, Mountain reedbucks, Black-backed jackals, Bat-eared foxes. It also has the Big Four game buffalo, lions, leopards and elephants. Other mammals found in the park include genets, zebras, oribis, impalas warthogs, elands, giraffes, civets, porcupines, servals, African wild cat, bohor reedbucks, blue duikers, bush pigs, rock hyrax, olive baboons, patas monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Aardvark, Nile rat, gerbil, Uganda Kobs, water bucks, bush backs, African hare, ground squirrel and more. It also hosts up to 490 bird species, including the park’s endemic species like common ostrich. The park’s rich biodiversity can be enjoyed while on game drives, walking safaris and nature walks. Which are best done in Narus Valley, since it has a high concentration of animals and water sources, which is enjoyed throughout the year and the Kidepo Valley, which is usually good in the wet season.
Authentic Cultural Encounters.
Kidepo Valley National Park offers meaningful cultural encounters to travellers seeking cultural experiences. The Karamojong people and the Ik people were the indigenous inhabitants of Kidepo National Park before they were evicted in 1958 by the British colonial government to gazette the game reserve. The IK people moved into areas around Mount Morungole, and the Karamojong people are outside the park. Visiting the two unique communities is one of the amazing experiences that allows visitors to learn more about their traditions, enjoy cultural dances and learn about their way of life.
