Activities in Kibale forest national park : Visitors during their tours to Kibale national park engage in a number of activities. Kibale national park is also known as the primate capital of Uganda and it is located in the western part of Uganda.
Kibale forest national park is located close to Fort Portal town. During a tour of the rainforest in Kibale national park, over 13 primate species can be seen. This national park is famous for chimpanzee trekking which is an activity that can be done at the destination throughout the year.
Some of the primates which can be seen during a tour of Kibale forest national park include l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, debrazza monkeys, blue monkeys and many others. The various activities to do around Kibale national park include the following;
Chimpanzee trekking
The chimpanzee trekking experience is the activity which brings many visitors to Kibale forest national park. The activity involves moving into the kibale forest in search for the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale national park cost 200 USD for foreign non residents, 150 USD for foreign residents and 150,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park starts with a short briefing at the park headquarters and then moving in groups with a ranger guide to search for the chimpanzees. When the chimpanzees are found the time spent with them is 1 hour during which photos and videos of the chimpanzees can be taken.
As you walk through the forest in Kibale national park, you will also enjoy seeing various tree species, bird species as well as other primates like colobus monkeys. Kibale forest is also home to forest elephants among other wildlife species.
In Kibale forest national park, the chimpanzee trekking experience can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon. The early morning chimp trek starts around 8:00 am and the afternoon chimpanzee trekking experience is done around 2:00pm.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park is best done during the dry season around June to August.
Chimpanzee habituation
Another activity which is done during tours to Kibale forest national park is chimpanzee habituation.
The chimpanzee habituation experience which is also referred to as CHEX is an activity which involves getting the chimpanzees used to the presence of humans in their natural habitat. This activity costs 250 USD for foreign nonresidents, 200 USD for foreign residents and 200,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale forest national park is a full day experience and the fees for the permits is inclusive of park fees and guide fees. The chimpanzee habituation experience is best done during the rainy season from March, April and May as well as around November.
When engaging in chimpanzee habituation experience around Kibale national park, it gives visitors more time to spend with the chimpanzees and also get to observe their behavior while getting the chimpanzees used to the human presence. A whole day is spent with the chimpanzees during this activity in Kibale park.
Visiting Bigodi wetland sanctuary
The Bigodi wetland sanctuary visit is another activity to take part in during a tour to Kibale national park.
Bigodi wetlands are located about 6 km from Kanyanchu information center which is also the park headquarters where briefing for different activities around Kibale national park is done.
The local community living around Kibale national park runs the Bigodi experience and it is an initiative through which the locals also benefit from tourism. the locals are also trained as guides and provide information and guide visitors during their tours of the Bigodi wetland.
A variety of butterfly species can be seen around the Bigodi wetlands and there are also various bird species which can be seen around the wetland. The visit to Bigodi wetland takes about 2 to 4 hours and it involves walking along a trail where there is a lot to see including different primate species, bird species, mammals and also getting to know how the local community lives.
Bird watching
Kibale forest national park is also known for being home to numerous bird species. Bird watching is among the activities to do during a visit of this national park.
Over 370 bird species are found in Kibale forest national park and they can be seen in places such as the Kibale forest and also around the Bigodi wetland. This activity can be done throughout the year when visiting Kibale national park.
The best time to engage in bird watching around Kibale forest national park is during the months from March to May and also around November. From November to April, migratory bird species can be seen around the national park.
Some of the bird species which can be seen around Kibale forest national park include king fishers, gonoleks, crowned eagles, African pied wagtail, white winged warbler, slender billed weavers, bee eaters, green breasted pitta, purple breasted sunbird, francolins among others.
Nature walks
Nature walks can also be done during a tour around Kibale national park and they bring visitors closer to the forests of the park and the natural surroundings, Activities in Kibale forest national park..
During a tour around Kibale forest national park, you can also engage in a nocturnal forest walk. The nocturnal forest walks involve moving in Kibale forest during the night time and spotting nocturnal wildlife species in the forest. Spotlights are used during this activity as visitors follow different trails around the forest.
The nocturnal forest walks start around 7:30 pm and can take about 2 hours. You can also engage in a nature walk around Kibale national park during the day time with the company of a ranger guide as you see various primate and bird species around the destination.
Hiking
Forest hiking in Kibale national park is also among the activities to do at the destination. This activity take about 3 to 5 hours of moving around the Kibale forest. The best time for these hikes is during the dry season around June to September and also around February.
Visiting the crater lakes
You can also visit the crater lakes during a tour to Kibale forest national park and enjoy beautiful views around.
Hiking to the crater lakes is part of the experience and there are different crater lakes which can be visited and they include Lake Nyabulitwa, Lake Nyabikere, Lake Kasenda, Lake Nkuruba, Lake Kiruruka, Lake Lyantonde, Lake Nyinambuga.
The area where the crater lakes are found is called the Ndali Kasenda crater region. The crater lake tour also involves seeing the falls, community walks, visiting the top of the world and also visiting the tea plantations.
Tea plantation tour
You can also engage in a tea plantation visit during a tour around Kibale forest national park and this activity involves visiting the plantations and getting to know how tea is planted, picked and also packaged, Activities in Kibale forest national park.
This tea plantation tour is very exciting and is an experience during which you can experience the local way of life.
Cultural encounters
Another activity to do when visiting Kibale forest national park is the cultural tours which involve visiting the local communities such as the Batooro.
Getting to know more about their way of life, trying out the traditional dishes of the locals and also enjoying the traditional dances is also part of the cultural encounters around Kibale forest national park.
How to get to Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park is located about 5 to 6 hours drive from Kampala.
