Kidepo Valley National Park

National Park · Uganda

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Photo © Rod Waddington

Photo © Rod Waddington — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Narus and Kidepo rivers carve through northeastern Uganda's semi-arid lowlands, a landscape of sparse acacia woodland, grassland, and riverine thickets creates one of East Africa's most remote and least visited national parks. The terrain rises gradually from river valleys into gently rolling terrain, with volcanic outcrops and seasonal waterholes that concentrate wildlife during the dry months. This harsh, water-limited environment supports a characteristic assemblage of savanna predators, plains herbivores, and nomadic pastoralists whose presence shapes the ecological mosaic. Birds of prey hunt across open grasslands; nocturnal carnivores patrol the acacia scrub; herds of large grazing mammals move between pastures according to rainfall patterns. The riverine zones harbor small forest mammals and moisture-dependent bird communities that provide stark contrast to the arid expanses beyond.

For those willing to venture into Uganda's far northeastern corner, Kidepo offers rewards unavailable in more accessible parks: genuine wilderness, minimal tourist infrastructure, and the intimate experience of watching predators and prey navigate a genuinely challenging landscape. The dry season, roughly December through March, concentrates animals at permanent water sources, creating intense viewing opportunities despite the heat and dust. Morning light across the open savanna illuminates hunting birds of prey with exceptional clarity, while riverine habitats yield their own specialized fauna during dawn and dusk. Access remains deliberately limited—rough roads and sparse lodging ensure that visitors here are invariably serious naturalists rather than casual safari tourists, preserving both the park's ecological integrity and the profound solitude that defines the experience.

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus abyssinicus

Abyssinian Roller

Coracias abyssinicus

Woodchat Shrike

Clapperton's Spurfowl

Pternistis clappertoni

White-backed Vulture

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Stone Partridge

Ptilopachus petrosus

Black-headed Lapwing

Vanellus tectus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Falco tinnunculus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Cisticola troglodytes

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Jackson's Hornbill

Tockus jacksoni

Fan-tailed Raven

Corvus rhipidurus

Eastern Plantain-eater

Crinifer zonurus

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Black-breasted Barbet

Pogonornis rolleti

Struthio camelus

White-crested Turaco

Tauraco leucolophus

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Streptopelia vinacea

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Poicephalus meyeri

Bruce's Green Pigeon

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Speckled Pigeon

Streptopelia semitorquata

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Ptilostomus afer

Myrmecocichla nigra

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Ploceus cucullatus

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Actophilornis africanus

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Scopus umbretta

Pin-tailed Whydah

Empidornis semipartitus

Pycnonotus barbatus

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Saxicola rubetra

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Red-billed Quelea

Terathopius ecaudatus

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Western Cattle Egret

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Sagittarius serpentarius

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Coracias naevius

Centropus grillii

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Amirafra rufocinnamomea

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Red-pate Cisticola

Cisticola ruficeps

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Northern Red Bishop

Euplectes franciscanus

Caprimulgus natalensis

Crecopsis egregia

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Falco ardosiaceus

Western Black-headed Batis

Batis erlangeri

Black-headed Gonolek

Laniarius erythrogaster

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

White-fronted Black Chat

Oenanthe albifrons

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Centropus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Orange River Francolin

Scleroptila gutturalis

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Hartlaub's Bustard

Lissotis hartlaubii

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Spilopelia senegalensis

Zapornia flavirostra

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Yellow-billed Stork

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeola ralloides

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Greyish Eagle-Owl

Bubo cinerascens

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Neophedina cincta

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Passer domesticus

White-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis albirostris

Speckle-fronted Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Euplectes gierowii

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda paludicola

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Green-winged Pytilia

Anomalospiza imberbis

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Western Crested Guineafowl

Guttera verreauxi

Coturnix coturnix

Pternistis squamatus

Heuglin's Spurfowl

Pternistis icterorhynchus

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Caprimulgus inornatus

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Long-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus climacurus

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Standard-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus longipennis

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Tachymarptis melba

Great Blue Turaco

Corythaeola cristata

Denham's Bustard

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Buff-crested Bustard

Lophotis gindiana

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Four-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles quadricinctus

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Black-billed Wood Dove

Turtur abyssinicus

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Rallus caerulescens

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Black Crowned Crane

Balearica pavonina

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris minuta

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Egretta garzetta

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Scissor-tailed Kite

Chelictinia riocourii

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Necrosyrtes monachus

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Beaudouin's Snake Eagle

Circaetus beaudouini

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Polemaetus bellicosus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Circus macrourus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Northern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis leucotis

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Black Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus flavirostris

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Hemprich's Hornbill

Lophoceros hemprichii

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill

Bycanistes subcylindricus

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Red-throated Bee-eater

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Black-billed Barbet

Lybius guifsobalito

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Brown-backed Woodpecker

Dendropicos obsoletus

Polihierax semitorquatus

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco biarmicus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Grey-headed Batis

Batis orientalis

Brown-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira cyanea

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Three-streaked Tchagra

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike

Campephaga phoenicea

Oriolus brachyrynchus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Lanius dorsalis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

White-shouldered Black Tit

Melaniparus guineensis

Mouse-colored Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus musculus

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica

Hirundo angolensis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Whistling Cisticola

Cisticola lateralis

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Black-backed Cisticola

Cisticola eximius

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Karamoja Apalis

Apalis karamojae

Grey-capped Warbler

Grey Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-backed Eremomela

Eremomela canescens

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Turdoides plebejus

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Bronze-tailed Starling

Lamprotornis chalcurus

Splendid Starling

Lamprotornis splendidus

Purple Starling

Lamprotornis purpureus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas galactotes

Brown-backed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas hartlaubi

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

Northern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis edolioides

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Oenanthe pleschanka

Oenanthe familiaris

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes orientalis

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Hedydipna platura

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Cinnyris mariquensis

Red-chested Sunbird

Cinnyris erythrocercus

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Shelley's Sparrow

Passer shelleyi

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser superciliosus

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Ploceus luteolus

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Heuglin's Masked Weaver

Ploceus heuglini

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Black-headed Weaver

Ploceus melanocephalus

Golden-backed Weaver

Ploceus jacksoni

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops

Pachyphantes superciliosus

Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

African Silverbill

Euodice cantans

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Black-cheeked Waxbill

Brunhilda charmosyna

Estrilda astrild

Black-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda troglodytes

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Ortygospiza atricollis

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Orange-winged Pytilia

Red-winged Pytilia

Pytilia phoenicoptera

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Black-bellied Firefinch

Lagonosticta rara

Bar-breasted Firefinch

Lagonosticta rufopicta

Steel-blue Whydah

Vidua hypocherina

Straw-tailed Whydah

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Anthus cinnamomeus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Crithagra frontalis

White-rumped Seedeater

Crithagra leucopygia

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Brown-rumped Bunting

Emberiza affinis

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Butorides striata

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

Apaloderma narina

Shining-blue Kingfisher

Alcedo quadribrachys

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

Yellow Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus parvulus

Brown Woodland Warbler

Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler

Bradypterus cinnamomeus

African Hill Babbler

Sylvia abyssinica

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris reichenowi

Black-crowned Waxbill

Estrilda nonnula

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Common Patas Monkey

Erythrocebus patas

Syncerus caffer

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Phacochoerus africanus

Crested Porcupine

Hystrix cristata

Sylvicapra grimmia

Heterohyrax brucei

Tantalus Monkey

Chlorocebus tantalus

African Grass Rat

Arvicanthis niloticus

Mauritian Tomb Bat

Taphozous mauritianus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Side-striped Jackal

Lupulella adusta

Procavia capensis

Tragelaphus oryx

Northern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

Crocuta crocuta

Panthera pardus

Gambian Sun Squirrel

Heliosciurus gambianus

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