Kidepo Valley National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda

🦓 Untamed Zebras Roam Remote Valleys
🌍 #28 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Africa #22 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Uganda 1165 spp. recorded

Kidepo Valley National Park is a remote tropical savanna nestled in the rugged mountains of northeastern Uganda. Its landscape features open grass plains and dry acacia valleys bound by distant peaks, offering wide walking tracks through sun-drenched shrublands.

3.938° N   33.887° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

Insufficient data
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

40–50% · Likely
Northern Giraffe ★
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

70–80% · Very likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

70–80% · Very likely
Hartebeest
LC

Hartebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus buselaphus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

70–80% · Very likely
Crested Francolin
LC

Crested Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortygornis sephaena

70–80% · Very likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

60–70% · Likely
Piapiac
LC

Piapiac

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ptilostomus afer

60–70% · Likely
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
LC

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus bengalus

60–70% · Likely
Oribi
LC

Oribi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ourebia ourebi

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-billed Shrike

Yellow-billed Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvinella corvina

60–70% · Likely
Clapperton's Francolin
LC

Clapperton's Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis clappertoni

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

Insufficient data
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

40–50% · Likely
Northern Giraffe ★
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

70–80% · Very likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

70–80% · Very likely
Hartebeest
LC

Hartebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus buselaphus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

70–80% · Very likely
Oribi
LC

Oribi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ourebia ourebi

60–70% · Likely
Patas Monkey
NT

Patas Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Erythrocebus patas

60–70% · Likely
Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

60–70% · Likely
Common Eland

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

60–70% · Likely
Kob
LC

Kob

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus kob

60–70% · Likely
Bohor Reedbuck
LC

Bohor Reedbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Redunca redunca

50–60% · Likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Crested Francolin
LC

Crested Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortygornis sephaena

70–80% · Very likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

60–70% · Likely
Piapiac
LC

Piapiac

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ptilostomus afer

60–70% · Likely
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
LC

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus bengalus

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-billed Shrike

Yellow-billed Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvinella corvina

60–70% · Likely
Clapperton's Francolin
LC

Clapperton's Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis clappertoni

60–70% · Likely
Abyssinian Roller
LC

Abyssinian Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias abyssinicus

60–70% · Likely
Sooty Chat
LC

Sooty Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myrmecocichla nigra

60–70% · Likely
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

60–70% · Likely
White-browed Coucal
LC

White-browed Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus superciliosus

60–70% · Likely
Meyer's Parrot
LC

Meyer's Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poicephalus meyeri

50–60% · Likely
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

African Five-lined Skink
LC

African Five-lined Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis quinquetaeniata

40–50% · Likely
Finch’s agama
LC

Finch’s agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama finchi

40–50% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

Insufficient data
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

Insufficient data
West African Crocodile

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

Insufficient data
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

Insufficient data
Graceful Chameleon
LC

Graceful Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo gracilis

Insufficient data
Smooth Chameleon
LC

Smooth Chameleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chamaeleo laevigatus

Insufficient data
Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise

Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kinixys belliana

Insufficient data
Neumann's Marsh Terrapin

Neumann's Marsh Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa neumanni

Insufficient data
Sudanese Sand Snake
LC

Sudanese Sand Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Psammophis sudanensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🦌

Lion Pride Dynamics

FebMayJul

Lions in Kidepo are often spotted hunting in prides along the Narus Valley, offering rare opportunities to observe social behaviors and cub interactions.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

Insufficient data
🦌

Elephant Valley Drinking

JanFebMarMay

Herds of elephants gather at waterholes in the Narus Valley, creating dramatic scenes of social interaction and bathing in the dry riverbeds.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

40–50% · Likely
🦌

Giraffe and Ostrich Co-feeding

FebMayOctNov

Northern giraffes and ostriches are frequently seen foraging together in the open savannas, highlighting the park’s unique predator-prey balance.

Northern Giraffe
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lion
20–30
40–50
20–30
10–20
70–80
20–30
40–50
10–20
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
African Bush Elephant
50–60
70–80
50–60
20–30
60–70
30–40
10–20
20–30
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Northern Giraffe
60–70
70–80
60–70
30–40
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
50–60
80–90
70–80
50–60
African Buffalo
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
Plains Zebra
60–70
80–90
80–90
50–60
70–80
50–60
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
Hartebeest
80–90
70–80
80–90
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
Common Warthog
80–90
80–90
80–90
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
Waterbuck
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
Crested Francolin
60–70
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
African Grey Hornbill
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
Piapiac
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
80–90
Oribi
80–90
70–80
70–80
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
Yellow-billed Shrike
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
Clapperton's Francolin
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
Animal Events
🦌 Lion Pride Dynamics
🦌 Elephant Valley Drinking
🦌 Giraffe and Ostrich Co-feeding

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🦓 Untamed Zebras Roam Remote Valleys

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
834
🐒 Mammals
199
🦎 Reptiles
113
🐸 Amphibians
19
1165 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
38 Threatened 20 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
71%
📊
Coverage (259 species at ≥5% of 1165 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 mammal, 6 bird)
46% Global avg
67%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
228
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
35
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
52

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Kidepo Valley National Park?

The most likely sightings are African Buffalo (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Plains Zebra (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Hartebeest (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Warthog (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Waterbuck (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1165 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park for wildlife?

March has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Lion in Kidepo Valley National Park?

Yes — about 36% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Kidepo Valley National Park, based on 4 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Kidepo Valley National Park?

Yes — about 49% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Kidepo Valley National Park, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Northern Giraffe in Kidepo Valley National Park?

Yes — about 63% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Giraffe sighting in Kidepo Valley National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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