Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best places in Africa for bird watching. It has many special bird species that make it a favorite for bird lovers. The best time to watch birds is early in the morning or late in the evening.
Some birds you may see in the park include Pallid Harrier, Superb Starling, Purple Grenadier, Ethiopian Swallow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, White-bellied Tit, Karamoja Apalis, Secretary bird, Golden Pipit, Fox Kestrel, Jackson’s Hornbill, African-pied Hornbill, Mouse-colored Penduline, Dusky Turtle Dove, Black-breasted Barbet, Francolin, Ostrich, Pygmy Falcon, Slate-colored Boubou, and many others.
There are several bird watching spots in the park, such as the edges of Narus Valley, Kidepo Valley area, around Apoka Rest Camp, the Morungole mountain range, and Namumukwenyi Valley. The cost for bird watching is 40 USD per person for non-resident foreigners, 30 USD for foreign residents, and 30,000 UGX for East African residents.
Apoka Rest Camp is south of Narus Valley. Its thorn trees provide homes for many birds. Around Apoka, you can see species like Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Marsh Tchagra, Vinaceous Dove, Nubian Woodpecker, Little Weaver, African Grey Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Shrike, Silver Bird, Mosque Swallow, Abyssinian Simiarbill, and Superb Starlings.
Seed-eating birds like Black-rumped Waxbill, Yellow-rumped Seedeater, and Four-banded Sandgrouse gather at a small permanent water hole at Apoka Rest Camp.
The large savannah grasslands near the edges of Narus Valley are another good bird watching area. Birds found here include Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Dark Chanting Goshawk, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Marico Sunbird, Red-billed Oxpecker, Karamoja Apalis, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Bateleur, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Long-crested Eagle, Slate-colored Boubou, Hammerkop, and Violet-backed Sunbird.
Narus Valley gets water from the Narus River, so it has water all year round. Water-loving birds can be found here. Some parts of this valley can only be reached by game drive because of the presence of animals like cheetahs, lions, and leopards.
Kidepo Valley is a unique place for bird watching because of its desert palm trees. Birds here include Chestnut Sparrow, Kori Bustard, Pygmy Falcon, Ostrich, White-crowned Shrike, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Little Green Bee-eater, and Four-banded Sandgrouse.
For a good bird watching trip, visitors should bring a field guide book to help identify the many bird species. Binoculars are useful to see small or distant birds. A camera is great for capturing memories. Also, carry drinking water to stay hydrated because the park is in a semi-arid area.
Kidepo Valley National Park offers excellent bird watching with many kinds of birds, including waterbirds, birds of prey, and colorful endemic birds in the short savannah grasslands of Narus Valley, Kidepo Valley, and around Apoka Rest Camp. It is a special experience to listen to the birds singing and watch their bright colors.
Kidepo is the only park in Uganda where you can see wild ostriches, Karamoja Apalis, and Black-breasted Barbets. Visiting Kidepo Valley National Park is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy lasting memories of bird watching.
