Aardwolf in Kidepo Valley National Park
- Sightings
- Not typically seen
- Best Months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Where
- Kidepo Valley National Park
The aardwolf is a small, highly elusive insectivorous mammal belonging to the hyena family, instantly distinguished by its yellowish-white coat marked with vertical black stripes and a long, shaggy dark mane running along its spine. Unlike its larger, bone-crushing relatives, the aardwolf has evolved specialized, flattened cheek teeth and a long, sticky tongue designed exclusively for consuming up to 300,000 harvester termites in a single night. Because it does not dig its own burrows, this nocturnal creature repurposes abandoned holes left by aardvarks or porcupines, emerging under the cover of total darkness to forage across open plains while living in stable, monogamous pairs.
From Our Guides
These unique, insect-eating hyena relatives are completely absent from Uganda's wetter western parks, only in Kidepo. Spotting them requires scanning the open plains under darkness; watching a rare aardwolf use its sticky tongue to forage for thousands of termites in the dry soils is an exclusive privilege reserved for nocturnal explorers.
- What Kidepo Valley National Park Is Known For
Kidepo is renowned for its spectacular, crowd-free landscapes and harboring Uganda's unique wilderness predators, including the largest single herds of African Cape buffalo on the continent
- Best Time to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park
September to March, with the prime window of the dry season from December to February, when wildlife congregates heavily around the permanent water sources of the Narus Valley.
Last updated October 22, 2026
· Written by Enoch, Huko Safaris
5.0average traveler rating
Local expert: Enoch
Best Months to See Aardwolf in Uganda
From our team
Aardwolf
If you're coming to Uganda, there's a 99% chance you've never heard of the aardwolf, making it a true holy grail sighting if you're a safari enthusiast. It is completely restricted to the semi-arid, remote north-eastern frontier: specifically inside Kidepo Valley National Park and the rugged plains of Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Because they are exclusively nocturnal and feed almost entirely on harvester termites, you will not see them on standard daytime game drives, only on night safaris.
— Enoch, Huko Safaris
Kidepo Valley National Park
Clients always ask if the long trip north is worth it. Our answer is a definitive yes. Kidepo offers a profound, untouched wilderness you won't find in Uganda’s western parks, featuring endemic species like cheetahs and ostriches without any of the tourist crowds. Our insider tip: We highly recommend booking a domestic flight straight there; it bypasses the long drive and drops you directly into one of Africa's most exclusive, private wildlife spectacles.
— Enoch, Huko Safaris