Kidepo Valley Birding Guide
Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda's remote northeast is one of Africa's great wilderness birding destinations. With 475 species including Abyssinian zone specialities found nowhere else in Uganda, a visit to Kidepo adds a unique set of birds impossible to see elsewhere in the country.
Abyssinian Zone Specialities
Kidepo's Abyssinian zone birds include: Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian scimitarbill, black-breasted barbet, fox kestrel, Karamoja apalis (virtually endemic to this park), white-crested turaco, ostrich (Uganda's only breeding population), Jackson's hornbill and Heuglin's courser. The open Narus Valley is superb for raptors: martial eagle, tawny eagle, long-crested eagle, bateleur, African hawk-eagle and, occasionally, secretary bird.
The Narus Valley — Best Birding Zone
The Narus Valley is Kidepo's main wildlife and birding zone. Flat, open savannah with scattered acacias and seasonal watercourses supports dense bird activity especially in the dry season when animals gather at remaining water. Game drives at dawn deliver Abyssinian ground hornbill at close range, northern carmine bee-eater (seasonal), grey-breasted spurfowl and spectacular raptors on watch posts.
Getting to Kidepo
Kidepo is 10 hours by road from Kampala (via Gulu) or accessible by charter flight from Entebbe (approximately 90 minutes). We recommend 3 nights minimum at Kidepo. The park can be combined with Murchison Falls on the return route for a northern Uganda birding circuit. Contact us to plan your Kidepo birding expedition.