Kidepo Valley National Park is not just a park but also home to 77 mammal species, including 20 predators, 28 animals that are only found here, and over 475 bird species. Visitors travel from near and far to see the wide range of wildlife.
The best time for game drives is between September and March during the dry season. During this time, many animals gather in the Narus Valley, which has permanent water from the Narus River. This attracts many animals throughout the year.
Some of the animals you can spot in the Narus Valley during a game drive include zebras, bushbucks, waterbucks, and more.
Among the Big Five, rhinos are the only animals you will not see in the park. Leopards and lions live in the park but are rarely seen on game drives. However, white rhinos can be seen at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.
Buffaloes and elephants are more common and are easily seen by tourists on game drives.
Other predators you might see in the park include cheetahs, mountain reedbuck, caracal, greater kudu, lesser kudu, aardwolf, and Guether’s dik-dik.
Kidepo Valley National Park is also home to 12 types of antelopes such as Jackson’s hartebeest, Klipspringer, and the Ugandan kob. About 100 kobs were brought from Murchison Falls National Park to Kidepo by the Uganda Wildlife Authority for conservation.
There are about 20 bird species that are only found in the park. You are likely to see birds like the Karamoja Apallis, ostrich, pygmy falcon, kori bustard, Verreaux’s eagle, and red-throated bee-eaters.
During an evening game drive, you may also spot animals such as leopards, white-tailed mongoose, side-striped jackal, and Senegal galago.
Special birds that are only found in Kidepo include secretary birds walking in the open plains, the colorful Abyssinian simitarbill, northern carmine bee-eaters, and little green bee-eaters.
Kidepo Valley National Park offers a great chance to enjoy game drives and bird watching while seeing many animals and birds in their natural home.
Find out about the snakes that live in Kidepo.
