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EAST
AFRICAN HOLIDAYS
KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
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, Clapperton'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-coloured Penduline Tit, Northern
White-crowned and Yellow-billed Shrikes, Slate-coloured 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 Pytilias,
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, Carcal, 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,
Bohor Reedbuck, Waterbuck and Kongoni. Predators are plentiful
and Spotted Hyena, Leopard and Lion are frequently seen. Oribis
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
$100 per person per night with full board.
National Park Bandas at
Apoka cost $30 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 $10 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 travelling 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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