Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park; Kidepo valley national park is the second best bird watching destinations in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth national park. The national park is a home of over 480 recorded bird species including Somali-Masai biome, savannah species, forest species and migratory bird species. Kidepo valley national park is located in the northeastern part of Uganda in Kaabong district between Uganda’s border with South Sudan and Kenya. Kidepo valley national park is a home of different wildlife species including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, elands, oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, zebras, jackals among others.
Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park can either be done early in the morning or in the evening with an experienced park guide who will help you to spot different bird species.
During bird watching in the park, you will follow different birding areas like Apoka rest camp, around the fringes of Namumukweny valley and Narus valley among others. During this adventure in Kidepo valley national park, you will be able to spot different bird species like Mosque Swallow, Superb Starling, Marsh Tchagra, Crimson-Rumped waxbill, Yellow-billed Shrike, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, Little Weaver, Vinaceous dove, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Nubian Woodpecker, Broad-tailed Warbler, Ostrich, Secretary bird, Standard-winged Nightjar, Red-winged Lark, White-crested Turaco, Little Green Bee-eater, Singing Bush Lark, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Black-faded Waxbills, Red-winged Pytilias, Black-faded Waxbills, Grey-capped Social and Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-billed Buffalo, Brown-rumped Bunting, African Grey Flycatcher, Red Pate Cisticola, Karamoja Apalis, Ethiopian Swallow, Jacksons Hornbill, Black-breasted Barbet, White-bellied Go-away bird, White-crested Turaco, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Long Tailed Nightjar, Mouse-Coloured Penduline, Fan-tailed Raven, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Pygmy Falcon, Swallow-tailed Kite, Heuglins Francolin, Rufous-crowned Roller, Slate-coloured Boubou among others.
Bird time for bird watching in Kidepo valley national park
Bird watching in Kidepo valley national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the rainy season in the months of March to April and November to February because that’s the breeding plumage where bird lovers will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.
How to get to Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park is located in northeastern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where by you will use one of the four possible routes for example the route passing through Kampala, Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum and then to Kidepo national park which takes about 10 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kaabong and then Kidepo valley national park which takes about 12 hours’ drive.
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to Kidepo valley national park which takes about 12 hours’ drive
Route from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and then to Kidepo valley national park which takes about 13 hours’ drive.
Kidepo valley national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book domestic charter or scheduled flights with Aero link Uganda limited or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajansi airfield to Apoka airstrip and then connect to the park by road.
Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park during your bird watching safari
There are some accommodation facilities in Kidepo valley national park where you can stay during your bird watching safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Apoka rest camp, Apoka Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Adere Safari Lodge, nga-moru wilderness camp, Karamoja safari camp among others.
Other activities in Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park offers other activities that you can engage in during the Uganda safari apart from bird watching including game drives in Narus valley and Kidepo valley where you will be able to view different animals, guided nature walks where you will be able to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger, community tour where you will be able to interact with the Karamojong people who live in the neighboring communities among others.
This is an exciting activity that can be combined with other activities like game drives, gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, golden monkey trekking, mountain climbing among others. For more information about Birding safari booking, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website.
