What Animals Are In Kidepo Valley National Park ?
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the remote North Eastern corner of Uganda. It is one of Africa’s most spectacular wilderness destinations. It has rugged landscapes and vast savannah plains that are surrounded by high mountain ranges. The park has lots of wildlife species recording over 77 mammal species and more than 470 bird species. Animals here include predators, primates, herbivores, mammals and birds.
Predators In Kidepo Valley National Park
The park is amongst the few National Parks in Uganda where all major African predators exist and co exist with each other. The vast plains of Narus and Kidepo Valley support healthy populations of both large and small predators.
Lions
The park has tree climbing lions. These often rest on rocky outcrops on the acacia trees. They are common in the Narus valley where prey is abundant.
Leopards
Secretive and solitary, the Leopards freely enjoy the wooded areas plus the rocky escarpments. They are nocturnal as they hunt at night. They prey on small antelopes, hares and sometimes birds.
Cheetahs
They prefer relaxing in open grasslands. This is because here, they can prey and use their speed to chase them down. They feed on antelopes and other smaller animals.
Spotted hyenas
These scavengers are common in the park and are often heard laughing at night. They are hunters and scavengers and once in a while, they hunt in packs.
Black backed jackals and bat eared foxes
These are small predators that roam in the park’s open plains and grasslands. They feed on insects, rodents and other small animals.
Other predators include the side stripped jackals, serval cats and caracals.
Herbivores In Kidepo Valley National Park
The park not only boasts a large number of predators but also a wide variety of grazing and browsing animals that sustain the predator population. The savannah ecosystem present in this park supports both herds of large and small herbivores.
African Elephants
Large herds of elephant roam freely in the Narus valley. These elephants on some rare occasions do trumpet as a way of expressing their emotions. They are the largest herbivores at the park and are easily spotted at water sources where they love to drink water.
Cape Buffaloes
There are over one thousand buffaloes here in Kidepo Valley National Park. They are often move in herds. Besides that, lions and hyenas stalk the herds for food.
Giraffes
The Rothschild giraffes, which are an endangered subspecies also grace this park with their elegance. Acacia leaves are their major source of food. Apoka and Narus valleys are the common hanging spots for these beautiful long legged animals.
Burchell’s Zebra
Burchell zebras are many in number at this park. They graze alongside Hartebeests and the Oribis in the park’s open plains.
Antelopes
Various antelope species like the Eland, Jackson’s hartebeests, Bushbucks, Uganda kobs and Oribis grace this park. Due to their large number, they form the main prey base for the carnivorous animals.
Warthogs
Warthogs often graze freely in the park in the short grass while kneeling around the valleys and water points.
Other herbivores include African hares and rock hyraxes among others.
Primates In Kidepo Valley National Park
A few primate species inhabit the forested areas and the riverine vegetation around the park.
Patas monkeys
This type of monkey has a reddish brown coat, a white underside and a black stripe above their eyes. They are the fastest primates in Africa as they escape very fast from predators. They are easily spotted since they love sitting on high grounds like anthills. It is from the raised grounds that they easily spot predators.
Olive baboons
These primates are commonly spotted near camps grounds and river valleys. They live in large troops and depend on fruits, seeds and insects for survival.
Vervet monkeys
They enjoy the wooded and riverine areas of the park. A visit to Narus valley is a must as the vervet monkeys prefer this place over other areas in the park. This is because the Narus valley is endowed with various trees that provide a play ground and forage for the Vervet monkeys.
Birds In Kidepo Valley National Park
The park is one of Uganda’s most rewarding birding destinations. The park is home to some of the most sought after birds not only in East Africa but also Africa at large. Some of these birds are unique to the semi arid Karamoja region where they have learned to adapt and live in the harsh conditions around the park.
Raptors
Raptors are carnivorous birds that hunt and feed on other animals for food. The park has numerous raptors like the Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian Vulture, Bateleur, Pygmy Falcon and the martial eagle among others.
Ground Birds
These are birds that live and nest predominantly on the ground compared to their counterparts that live in trees. The Kori bustard, Abyssinian ground hornbill and the Ostrich are the common ground birds at Kidepo Valley National Park. It is important to note that the Ostrich is only found at Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda.
Endemic and rare species
These include the Karamoja apalis, the chestnut weaver and black breasted barbet.
Water and woodland birds
Around the riverine and wetland areas of the Narus and Kidepo rivers, the water and woodland birds thrive so wonderfully. Bird watchers and ornithologists can spot the yellow billed stork, African Jacana, Grey crowned crane, red and yellow barbet and the beautiful lilac breasted roller.
Migratory birds
Between November and April, migratory birds from Europe and Asia join the resident species of this park. This makes bird watching so special during this period. Migratory birds include the Ethiopian swallow, the lesser kestel bird, red footed falcon among others.
Kidepo Valley National Park is indeed an unmatched of wildlife. This is because of the dramatic effect caused by the co-existence of predators, prey. herbivores, primates and the melodies of the different species.
