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Lying in the rugged, semi-arid valleys of
Karamoja province on the far northern border
with the Sudan, Kidepo Valley is Uganda's most
remote national park. Few undertake the
pilgrimage to the park but the spectacular
beauty of this pristine wilderness impresses all
that make it. For the visiting birder, Kidepo
Valley National Park boasts a bird list of over
475 species, a total second only to Queen
Elizabeth National Park. Amongst the host of
dry, eastern "specials" not found in any other
Ugandan national park are some of East Africa's
rarest and most sought after birds such as
Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apallis.
ABOUT THE PARK
Province: Karamoja.
Elevation : 914m on Kidepo valley floor to 2749m
a top Mount Morungole
Size : 1442 km 2
Habitat : Semi-desert scrub, open thorn-scrub,
open thorn-bush, long and short-grass open tree
savannas, riparian woodland including Borassus
and Kigelia woodland, thick, "miombo- like"
woodland, montane forest and granite out-crops..
Status: National Park since 1954
Birds Recorded: 475 species.
Timing: March-April for all the specials and
many transit migrants, although good year -
round.
Time Required : 4-7 days
Key Species of Birds
Ostrich, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern
Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Fox
Kestrel, Stone Partridge, Clapper ton’s and
Heuglin's Francolins, Yellow-necked Spurfowl,
Kori, White-bellied and Hartlaub's Bustards,
Violet-tipped Courser, Black-headed Plover,
Four-banded Sand Grouse, Bruce's Green Pigeon,
Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-crested Turaco,
White-bellied Go-away bird, White-faced Scoops
Owl, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars,
Little Green Bee-eater, Abyssinian and
Rufous-crowned Rollers, Abyssinian Ground,
Eastern Yellow and Jackson's Hornbills,
Red-fronted and Black-breasted Barbets,
Brown-backed Woodpecker, Singing Bush lark,
Red-winged Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, Pied,
Isabelline and Heuglin's Wheaters, African Grey
Flycatcher, Foxy and Red pate Cisticolas,
Karamoja Apalis, White-bellied Tit,
Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Northern
White-crowned and Yellow-billed Shrikes,
Slate-colored Boubou, Fan-tailed Raven, Superb
Starling, Red billed Oxpecker, Eastern Violet
backed, Pygmy and Beautiful Sunbirds, Rufous and
Chestnut Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia,
White-headed and White-billed Buffalo Weavers,
White-browed and Chestnut- crowned Sparrow
Weavers, Grey-capped Social and Speckle-fronted
Weavers, Green-winged, Orange-winged and
Red-winged Pytilia, Black-bellied and
Black-faded Waxbill, Steel-blue and Strawtailed
Whydahs, Brown-rumped Bunting.
BIRD WATCHING
The Apoka Rest Camp and Park Headquarters
overlooking the swallow, southern Narus Valley
is a great spot to begin your Kidepo birding.
The attractive Silverbird and small bands of
Yellow-billed Shrike frequent the thorn trees
around camp, as do a number of other widespread
species such as Vinaceous Dove, Hoopoe, Nubian
Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, Ruppell's and Superb
Starlings, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Little
Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. A small
permanent water hole at the edge of camp
attracts swallows and a variety of seedeaters
including Yellow-rumped Seedeater and is visited
at night by Four-banded Sandgrouse, Elephant,
Buffalo and occasionally Lion. Clapperton's
Francolin, Black Coucal, African Moustached and
Broad-tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra and
Crimson-rumped Waxbill may be seen in the rank
grass along the normally dry stream bed adjacent
to camp or along the track to Apoka lodge.
OTHER WILDLIFE
Kidepo's mammal list of over 80 species includes
28 that are found in no other Ugandan National
park. Amongst these are such charismatic African
animals as Bat-eared Fox, Caracal, Cheetah and
Klipspringer. Unfortunately, Kidepo suffered the
same fate as many other Ugandan parks during the
Amin era and is still recovering from years of
poaching that left game herds depleted. Striped
Hyena, Lesser Kudu, Grant's Gazelle and Beisa
Oryx have not been seen at all in recent times
and are presumed to be locally extinct. Other
large mammals have shown a remarkable recovery
and there are now healthy population of
Elephant, Common Zebra, Buffalo, Behor Reedbuck,
Waterbuck and Kongoni. Predators are plentiful
and Spotted Hyena, Leopard and Lion are
frequently seen. Oribi is abundant in the Narus
Valley, whilst the dry thorn thickets in the
north are home to Guenther's Dik Dik. Senegal
Galago and Sidestriped Jackal may be found in
the rest camp at night and White-tailed Mongoose
is common but more likely to be found on a night
drive. The park also has a very rich and diverse
reptile fauna.
ACCOMMODATION
The privately owned Apoka Rest Camp overlooks
the Narus Valley and has comfortable rooms for $
75 per person per night with full board.
National Park Bandas at Apoka cost $ 22 per
person per night, with bedding, mosquito
netting, hot showers, fresh drinking water and
firewood provided. It is recommended that you
bring all your own food although it can be
cooked for you if necessary. Drinks are
available from the camp shop.
The Kakine Campsite lies a short distance from
Apoka and costs $ 5 per person per night. It has
a long drop toilet and fresh drinking water and
firewood will be brought to you.
It is recommended that a ranger-guide accompany
you at all times whilst at Kidepo Valley
National park and this can be arranged on
arrival at Apoka. Patrick is an excellent ranger
who knows many of the birds. Park officials also
suggest that all vehicles traveling north into
the Kidepo Valley be escorted by multiple armed
guards due to the periodic presence of poachers
and cattle rustlers in the area.
ACCESS
Kidepo Valley National Park is accessible either
by road or by air. The most commonly driven
route from Kampala is via Mbale, Soroti and
Moroto, an 840 km journey taking a minimum of 12
hours and a sturdy 4WD to complete.
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