Kidepo Valley National Park Wildlife

Kidepo Valley National Park Wildlife : Kidepo valley national park is Uganda’s most spectacular wilderness located in the northeastern region of Uganda bordering Sudan and Kenya in the Karamoja regions ,covering an area of 1442square kilometers .The park lies at an altitude range between 914meter and 2,750 meter above the sea level .Kidepo valley national park boosts over 86 mammal species which are inhabitants of an open savannah with dry mountain forest and acacia forest .It is also has bird checklist over 475 recorded species including 56 raptors such as Ostriches ,Pygmy falcon ,tawny eagle ,secretary birds and Vultures.

Animal species in Kidepo valley national park

The park has the most diverse savannah fauna in the country being untouched and richly in predators including ;bar-eared fox ,Black backed ,leopard ,lion ,cheetah ,Side striped jackal ,large number of buffaloes ,elephants ,giraffes as well as 17 antelope species which are Jackson’s hartebeest ,Oribis ,eland ,Uganda kobs and Klipspringer .It is also home variety of dry country species such as Caracal ,aardwolf ,greater and lesser kudu ,mountain reedbuck and Guenther’s dik-dik.Five primates species including the localized patas monkey.

Bird List of Kidepo Valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is hoven for birders of over 470 species following Queen Elizabeth national park which can be best spotted from March to April and November to April best for migratory birds .Some of bird list to encounter here include ;Abyssinian roller ,Black breasted barbet ,Chestnut weaver ,Abyssinian scimitar bill ,D’Arnaud’s barbet, Fox kestrel ,Golden pipit ,Jackson’s hornbill ,Karamoja apalis ,Northern carmine bee eater ,Purple grenadier ,Pygmy falcon ,white bellied go away bird ,Rufous chatterer ,Red throated bee –eater ,clapper ton’s francolin ,African Mustached ,Broad tailed warbler ,Marsh Tachagra ,Crimson rumple waxbill ,White faced scoops Owl ,Long tailed and standard winged Nightjars ,Ethiopian swallow ,Pied ,African Grey Flycatcher ,Fan-tailed Raven ,Pygmy and Beautiful Sunbirds, Yellow billed Shrikes ,Superb starling ,Brown rumped Bunting among others.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for wildlife viewing is throughout the year but best seasonal months with gainful view is in the middle and end of the dry season starts from November to February and June to August when high number of animals can be seen concentrating around reliable water sources. During the wet season of April to August animals disperse from the valleys and move to higher ground giving hard time to locate.

Climate and Weather of Kidepo Valley national park

The park is a semi-arid region with average annual temperature of 290celsius. During day time temperature get high as 40 degrees Celsius but with average around 29 degrees Celsius in the afternoon and 17 degrees Celsius at night.

Accessibility to the park

Kidepo valley national park can be accessed by both road and air. Driving is more rewarding but tiresome which takes full day drive to reach the vast and untouched wilderness. However, travelers are recommended to use 4WD vehicles because sometimes road transport seems to be difficult.

Road routes

From Kampala –Karuma-Gulu-Kitgum-Kidepo with a distance of 571kilometers.

Kampala –Karuma –Lira –Kotido-Kidepo distance of 705kilometers

Best option, is use of charter flight to kidepo Valley National Park which can be arranged from Kampala ‘’kajjansi airstrip’’ or Entebbe international Airport Aero link Airlines to Lomej airstrip. The flight takes about 2hours to land the main destination.

Where to stay on Safari to Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo valley national park boosts with comfortable accommodations ranging from luxury to budget facilities all with good amenities such as Kidepo Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Nga Moru wilderness Camp, Apoka safari lodge.