My 2023 wildebeests Calving Season Photo safari update

Early this year, i ran two great photography safari to South Serengeti (Ndutu) for a wildebeests calving experience. The small groups i led, each capped at only 4 photographers per trip, had a memorable safari of their lifetime. We started our trip in Arusha, then visited Ngorongoro Crater, South and Eastern Serengeti (Namiri) with lengthy stay in South Serengeti where the herds were concentrated. We were lucky in the at did not rain heavily, which allowed us free movement over the plains of South Serengeti looking for calving wildebeest. 

January-February is the peak of the calving season and our safari will perfectly coincide with this peak of the birthing season. The herds did not move to far from Ndutu woodlands, so we had easy access to where they were. The calving this year happened a little earlier in January so but eh time we started our trip on 3rd February, most had given birth. There were hundreds of calves seen on our trip.  The most memorable experience was seeing hundreds of wildebeests crossing Lake Ndutu everyday in what is seen as a test-run, taking the young calves across the muddy shallow lake with many getting stuck while other manage to cross, coming out the other end very exhausted. There was also a lot of predation by Hyaenas, Lion and cheetahs who are normally abound in the area at this time of the year.

The was no shortage of photographic opportunities, from the wildebeests to the smaller creatures. This is what makes a trip great. There was also large flock of flamingos on the shores of the lake. Every morning we would leave camp while still dark and just watch as the day break while we took lots of photos of the birds on the shore against the sunrise. We always stay out the whole day. Our chef at Njozi camp, (Our base in South Serengeti) always prepares best take away meals for us to keep us out on game drive for the whole day.

SAFARI PICTORIAL: ALL PHOTOS CREDIT ©PAUL KIRUI

 

Destination profile: Kidepo National Park, Uganda

 Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with south Sudan in the north west and only 5km from the eastern border of Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species. Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. 

 

The park contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife. The local communities around the park include pastoral Karamojong people, similar to the Maasai of Kenya, and the IK, a hunter-gatherer tribe, who lives on top of Mt. Morungole and whose survival is threatened.

During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location especially with its dense populations of Lion, Buffalos, Elephant and many similar angulates.

Kidepo’s elephant population has surged from around 200 in the mid 1990’s to between 650 and 1000 today. The African Buffalo population is now estimated at 10,000-15,000.The Rothschild Giraffe is very notable ,breeding more than 50 individuals from the bottleneck of the mid 1990’s population of three and supplemented  several from translocation. There are also 2 rare antelope species; A Mongalla gazelle and a White Eared Kob. Both animals come from South Sudan

The bird checklist of over 476 species with the common Ostrich, secretary bird, northern carmine bee eater, little green bee eater, Abyssinian scimitar bill and many more colourful and visible species. Some of the regions endemic species of birds includes Rose Ringed Parakeet, Bruce's Pigeon, Clapperton's francolin etc.

 

Getting there:

Kidepo Valley is reachable both by road and flight. However, if you choose to drive to Kidepo, it is advisable to break the journey for a night or two at Murchison Falls National Park, which lies almost halfway between Kampala and Kidepo, (about 305kms). Here, you will also get a change to see Kabalega Falls as well as doing a boat ride on the Nile. You will also have a change to do game drives to see general game. The distance from Murchison to Kidepo is 366Kms and it takes about 7-8hrs.

If you choose to fly, from Kampala, using a light aircraft it will take you about 1hr 30-40mns. Please take note that if you choose to fly, the minimus number of passengers required on each leg is 3. So if you are only 1 or 2, then you will have to pay for an extra seat in order for the flight to operate.

         Jackson's Hartbeeste is one of the antelopes found in the park, often seen in small herds

On my recent visit to Kidepo Valley National Park,  i saw for the first time, The maneless zebra (Equus quagga borensis) This is a subspecies of the plains zebra, spread over the northern parts of eastern Africa. It ranges from the Karamoja district of North Eastern,Uganda into north-western Kenya. It is also found in eastern South Sudan, east of the Nile River, for example in Boma National Park. It is the northernmost subspecies of the plains zebra.

Beautiful Landscape is what adds to the beauty of the park. The you take your eyes from the animals and look around, you still see nature's beauty in the mountains ranges around

A Clapperton's Francolin is one of the park's special birds.

When storms gathers in a distance, it just adds to the beauty of the landscape 

Rose Ringed Parakeet is also another bird found and is one fo the special birds to look for.

Uganda Kob are found in reasonable herds here.

A white eared Kob is one of the special animals to look for. This rare antelope comes from Sudan

Another speciality at Kidepo is the Mongalla gazelle (Eudorcas albonotata ) which is a species of gazelle found in the floodplain and savanna of South Sudan. Its range, may reach the borders of Kenya and Uganda. Though very rarely. It was first described by British zoologist Walter Rothschild in 1903. The taxonomic status of the Mongalla gazelle is widely disputed. While some authorities consider it a full-fledged monotypic species in the genus Eudorcas, it is often considered a subspecies of Thomson's gazelle, while other authorities regard it as subspecies of the red-fronted gazelle. 

Masters of Camouflage: Freckled nightjar playing "Can't see me" tactic 

Kawalakol ranges with Mt. Morungole in the back, lies to the north of the park.

Lions are also found in this park

Apoka Lodge is one of the established lodges in the park and is strategically located.