Kibale Forest national park | Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale

Kibale Forest national park is Africa’s primate haven located in the western region of Uganda with Fort Portal as the nearest developed town, the park is one of the few places in Uganda to have both Montane and lowland forests. Kibale forest national park covers an area of 795 square kilometers protecting the moist evergreen rainforest and lies in between 1,100 meters to 1,590 meters above the sea level. The park stretches through four districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Kasese which is good for breathtaking while on Uganda Safaris Tours.

Kibale Forest national park is situated about 24 kilometers East of the Rwenzori mountains foothills and 20 kilometers south east of Fort Portal, the park borders Queen Elizabeth national in the Southern park forming the wildlife corridor of approximately 180 kilometers stretching from Queen Elizabeth national park to Kibale national park. This corridor is used by wildlife species such as elephnats, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, bush pigs, golden cats and other to migrate between the two protected areas.

Kibale Forest national park famously known for being a home to 13 species of primates with the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa recorded to be over 1,450 individuals, because of the huge population of chimpanzee the park is the best place in Africa to chimpanzee tracking.

Kibale Forest national park was gazetted as a national park in 1932 purposely to protect the primates inhabiting in the park and various tree species from being logged by the locals. As a way of conserving the forests, the British the then administrators of Uganda planted exotic trees after the hardwoods were wiped out in the forest

Primates in Kibale Forest national park

Kibale Forest national park is a home to 13 primate species and these include chimpanzees, bush babies, L’Hoest’s monkey, red colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, blue monkey, Vervet monkeys and Potto.

Birds in Kibale Forest national park

Kibale Forest national park is one of the important Birding Areas in Uganda and a prime birding spot hosting over 375 bird species including 6 species endemic to the Albertine Rift Area, these birds include Green breasted Pitta, Red-chested owlet, Purple breasted sunbird, African Grey Parrot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, little Greenbul, Black Bee eater, White-naped pigeon, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Western bronze-napped Pigeon, Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-throated Nicator, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Red Headed malimbe , Yellow-spotted barbet and Dusky-blue Flycatcher among others.

Kibale Forest national park is also a home to 250 species of butterflies, several species of reptiles and amphibians.

SAFARI ACTIVITIES TO DO IN KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

CHIMPANZEE TRACKING

Chimpanzee tracking is the highlight Uganda safaris activity offered in Kibale Forest national park, this activity offers an opportunity to tourists to see chimpanzees, this activity starts at 08:00 am at the park’s headquarters the Kanyanchu Tourist Center with a short briefing session. Chimpanzee activity is offered in two sessions that is morning session starting at 08:00 am and afternoon session starting at 02:00 pm, this activity is restricted to only 12 people per group and offers 1 hour of being in the presence of chimpanzee. In the presence of the chimpanzee you will learn their behaviors, watch them play, feeding among other behaviors.

CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE

Chimpanzee habituation experience is a unique chimpanzee experience offering more time of staying in the presence of the chimpanzee and an opportunity to learn more about them, like chimpanzee tracking this experience starts with briefing at Kanyanchu Tourist Center. After the briefing and being grouped into 4, the group is escorted a ranger guides together with researchers into the forests of the park. You set off at exactly 06: 30 which is an opportunity to find chimpanzees still in their nests at the break of the dawn, you are to spend 4 hours in the presence of the chimpanzee seeing them breast feeding their young ones, patrolling their troops, copulating, hunting and resting. You will also get an opportunity to take pictures and videos.

NATURE WALK AND FOREST HIKE

Nature walks and forest hike is a perfect activity to do in Kibale Forest national park for nature enthusiastic, nature walks and forest hike starts from the Kanyanchu center or Sebitoli offering a chance to experience nature and encounter various forest creatures. Nature walks start at 08:00 am from Kanyanchu and finish at the Elephant wallow at around 02:00 pm, on these experience tourists have an opportunity to spot a variety of birds such as black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warbler and purple-breasted sunbird, animals such as duikers and bush pigs and primates such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons among others.

Nature walks and forest walks are done in the presence of a ranger guide who will explain to you of the various flora and fauna species you will encounter during your walk and hiking.

BIGODI WETLAND NATURE WALK

Nature walks in Kibale Forest national walk can also be done in the Bigodi wetland sanctuary the Magombe swamp, the swamp is recognized for its extensive array of biodiversity, nature walks in the Bigodi swamp walk offer tourists a chance to encounter several primate species such as red colobus monkeys, baboon, black and white colobus monkeys, mangabeys, vervet monkeys and many bird species such as Abyssinia, the African pitta, collared apal, ground thrush, crowned eagle, black-capped apalis, kingfisher, weavers, cuckoos, green breasted pitta, papyrus gonolek, flycatchers, hornbills among others.

BIRD WATCHING

Kibale forest national park is listed among the Important Birding Areas (IBA) and a greater birding paradise hosting about 375 bird species living in the forests of Kibale and the Bigodi swamp Sanctuary. Bird watching tours in Kibale Forest national park is done in two sessions that is morning session starting at 07:00 am and evening session starting at 03:00 pm, this activity starts at the Kanyanchu park’s headquarters with a short briefing. Birding watching offers an opportunity to marvel at various bird species such as dusky crimsonwing, black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warbler and purple-breasted sunbird, the green breasted pitta, African pitta, black bee-eater, Abyssinian ground thrush, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brown chested alethe, yellow rumped tinker bird, blue-breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle among others.

GUIDED CRATER LAKE TOUR

Guided Crater Lake tour is an exciting tour offering stunning views of the crater lakes, this experience is conducted in the Ndali crater area situated outside the park. This area “the Kibale-Ndali-Kasenda area” is a natural paradise dominated with numerous crater lakes often referred to as Ndali crater Lakes totaling to about 52 crater lakes. Some of the stunning lakes you will enjoy watching include Lake Nyamirima, Lake Nyinabulitwa and Lake Nyabikere.

HOW TO GET TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

BY ROAD – Kibale forest national park is located about 300 kilometers drive from Kampala using various routes such as Kampala – Mityana – Mubende – Fort Portal route of about 5 hours drive and Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara, Ibanda – Kamwenge to Kibale forest national park. A tourist can opt to use either private or public means of road transport to get to the park.

BY AIR – Air means of transport is the quickest means of transport to get to the park, domestic chartered flights are offered from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip. These flights take about 2 hours.

WHERE TO STAY IN KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The park has a variety of accommodation facilities used by tourists visiting for a Uganda safari experience, these facilities are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget.

Luxury accommodations