Kibale Forest National Park Popularly known as the primate capital of the world, Kibale National Park is located in Western Uganda.
The park is among Uganda’s beautiful wild places right at the foothills of the great Rwenzori region. With a total land area of 766 square Kilometers, Kibale Forest National Park protects one of East Africa’s moist evergreen rainforests.
The area has diverse landscapes favoring various wildlife species including both montane and lowland forests.
It is home to 13 primate species including the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and Ugandan mangabey among others.
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Discovery Journeys To Kibale National Park
Activities To do in Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is also home to over 325 bird species and mammals including elephants, bushbucks, duikers, and forest hogs among others. There are also predators in the forest including leopards and serval cats among others.
Chimpanzee Trekking
Kibale National Park has the highest chimpanzee population in East and Central Africa making it the ultimate chimpanzee trekking destination. Chimpanzees live in groups/families of up to 20 or 30 individuals. There are a number of habituated chimpanzee families in Kibale National Park that are open to tourist visitation.
The chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the regulations to follow while in the forest. From here you are led to the forest as you enjoy the sounds of nature as well as spotting other wildlife like birds. The hike to the chimpanzees takes 2 to 3 hours and once you get to the chimps stay in their presence observing, taking photographs, and getting to know more about them. Return by mid-day and be taken to your lodge for a rest or proceed to your next destination. Chimpanzee Habituation experience. This experience gives you 4 hours in the presence of the chimpanzees. Unlike the normal chimpanzee trekking,
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
The chimpanzee habituation experience is an all-day learning experience that starts in the morning following their daily routine. This will give you an insight into the day’s activities of a chimpanzee in the wild. You will closely observe the researchers and participate in the habituation or grooming process.
This experience not only gives you more time with chimpanzees but also an opportunity to see other wildlife species in the park, especially birds and other primates. For the ultimate time with chimpanzees, the habituation experience is what we would highly recommend.
Other Wildlife Activities
Other optional wildlife activities in Kibale National Park include night nature walks, guided day nature walks, birding excursions, other primate trekking, and community visits.
Night nature walks enable you to explore the nocturnal wildlife with high chances of spotting the NightJar, and bushbaby owls among others.
Birding excursions in the park are also very rewarding as it is home to over 320 bird species. Notable birds here include the ground thrush, great blue Turaco, black bee-eater, and the yellow-spotted nicator. Right outside the park is the Bigodi wetland, another great birding sanctuary that supplements birding safaris in Kibale National Park.
Apart from chimpanzees, you can trek to see other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and l’hoest monkeys among others.
Getting To Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park can be accessed by road transport in a 6 to 7-hour drive from Kampala Uganda’s Capital city. The drive features en-route stopovers at various places of interest for photography and sightseeing. The tea plantations in Kyenjojo are very magnificent and one can enjoy a tea plantation experience.
If coming from Queen Elizabeth National Park it would only take a 3-hour drive to Kibale National Park. The drive is often via the craters of Ndali and Kasenda some of the most iconic crater lakes in Uganda. Those traveling from Murchison Falls National Park can reach the park in a 7 to 8-hour drive. The Murchison Falls to Kibale NP drive is also very adventurous offering great views of Lake Albert and the Great Rift Valley.
There is an option of flying to Kasese airstrip which is about a 1.5-hour drive to Kibale National Park. This serves better for those with a tight itinerary who would like to maximize their time in the park.
Accommodation in Kibale National Park
There are a number of accommodation options near the park ranging from budget to high-end luxury facilities. Many of these are in the park’s premises making it easy to access the park for wildlife safari activities. Some of the Lodges include Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, and Crater Safari Lodge among others.
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