Kibale forest National park.

Kibale forest National park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee trekking safaris and has the highest number and diversity of primates in East Africa.

Kibale National park is an attractive park in Uganda covering an area of 795 square kilometers with the most beautiful and most diversified tracts of tropical rain forest in Uganda. The park shelters 13 species of primates including the most renown chimpanzees.

Location of Kibale National park.

Kibale National park is located in western Uganda about 348kms (5 hours’ drive) from Kampala and about 26kms south east of the beautiful Fort portal town, one of Uganda’s awesome places to explore.

The park is located close to the serene Ndali Kasekende crater area and it takes half a day’s drive to Queen Elizabeth National park, Rwenzori mountains, Semuliki National park, Toro semuliki wildlife reserve. Southern Kibale borders Queen Elizabeth National park and collectively these conserved areas protect a 180km long migration corridor for wildlife that stretches from the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National park in Ishasha to Sebitoli in northern Kibale.

Vegetation areas in Kibale National park.

Kibale’s varied vegetation offers different varieties of wildlife habitats ranging from the moist ever green forest (wet tropical forest) along the Fort portal plateau then through the dry tropical forest and then to the woodland and tropical savannah along the rift valley floor.

In the central part of the park around Kanyanchu, the high forest consists of a mixture of ever green trees with ever green species being dominant. The vegetation rises to over 55m and established a semi closed canopy of massive stratified tree crowns. With shed tolerant herbs, a variety of ferns, shrubs and broad-leaved forest grasses. The under growth is sparse. The park also is recorded to have 351 tree species.

 

Wildlife in Kibale National park.

With 13 different species, the number and diversity of primates in Kibale National park is the highest in the whole of Africa. The most popular of these are chimpanzees with over 1500 individuals living here making it the best safari destination for chimpanzee tours in Uganda and Africa. A Ugandan safari will enable you see all these primates.

In addition, Kibale National park is home to the rare L’hoest’s monkeys, East Africa’s biggest population of the endangered red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, pottos, grey cheeked mangabeys among others.

There is quite a number of other wildlife in Kibale National park but hardly seen. These include the buffaloes, elephants, leopards, bush pigs, duikers and so on. Also, a visitor is able to view different species of amphibians, reptiles and a variety of beautiful butterflies.

Activities to do in Kibale National park.

Chimpanzee trekking.

Kibale National park is the leading destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. No wonder it is referred to the primate capital because of the many primate species that it shelters.

For the best chimpanzee trekking experience, Kibale National park guarantees the best views for these endangered species. The forest has been ranked as the best destination in East Africa for seeing these wild chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees are the second most exciting popular primates after the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park in south western Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda involves walking through the jungle of the rain forest in search for them for about 2-4 hours depending on the location of the primates. Upon finding them, the visitors are allowed to only one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees.

Many years back the visitors had 20% chances of meeting these primates but today there are 99% chances of visitors seeing the chimpanzees during their chimpanzee trekking safari.

Chimpanzee habituation.

Chimpanzee habituation is an activity carried out by the researchers, scientists and the park authorities like rangers to make the chimpanzees get used to human beings before visiting them for trekking.

The process of habituating these primates takes long, it can take up to three years before they are open for trekking. Uganda has over 4950 chimpanzees and 1500 chimpanzee are found here. Kibale National park happens to be the only place for chimpanzee habituation in Uganda.

During this chimpanzee habituation exercise the travelers are given much more time with the primates unlike chimpanzee trekking where visitors are allowed to spent 1 hour with the chimpanzees, chimpanzee habituation can take even up to 6 hours to a whole day in the presence of the chimpanzees.

Bigodi swamp walk.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a fascinating wetland that is located in Magombe swamp adjacent to Kibale National park. This wetland is located 6kms from the part headquarter at Kanyanchu.

Bigodi swamp is known as one of the best birding sites in Uganda hence the paradise of birders. The swamp has been recognized with approximately 138 bird species and experts are said to spot 50 new birds every day including the Grand blue Turaco.

Several primate species are also spotted in the wetland including the black and white colobus, blue monkeys, red tailed, monkeys, olive baboons among others. And mammals too like bush bucks, warthogs, mongoose are sighted in the wetland.

Cultural tours.

The cultural tours in Kibale National park are led by the local guides, where you get a chance to meet the native Batooro and the Bakiga immigrants who are as a result of the densely populated south western part of Uganda. They came and stayed around the park.

During the cultural tours in Kibale National park, you will visit the traditional villages to see the traditional lifestyles of the Batooro people, visit the local churches, schools as you get close encounter with the natives. Also enjoy some energetic traditional dances and songs from the Bakiga communities.

Best time to visit Kibale National park.

Although Kibale National park can be accessed throughout the year, but the best time to visit the park is during the dry seasons when the trails are dry and passable.

The dry season runs from December to February and then June to September. The wet area in the park is the northern part which receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1700mm mainly during march to May and late September to November.

 

Getting to Kibale National park.

Kibale National park is situated in the western part of Uganda which is easier accessible by driving at a distance of 300kms from Kampala or Entebbe international airport and the north through mubende to Fort portal town. And about 36kms from Fort Portal town to Kanyanchu the main gate of the park. In the southern part you can use Mbarara Kamwenge route to get to the park.

Most travelers say that the northern route to Kibale through Fort Portal is the shortest compared to the others. Adding up to a total distance of 336kms from Kampala to Kibale National park approximately 5-6 hours’ drive.

 

Where to stay in Kibale National park.

Kibale National park has got a variety of accommodations ranging from luxury, midrange and budget where you can stay during your safari in Kibale National park.

Luxury accommodations.

Kyaninga lodge

Crater safari lodge

Ndali crater lodge

Primate safari lodge

Papaya lake lodge

Mid-range accommodations

Isunga lodge

Kibale forest camp

Kibale guest cottages

Chimpanzee forest guest house

Chimp nest

Mountains of the moon hotel

Budget accommodations.

Rwenzori view guest house

Kitojo guest cottages

Nyinalibulitwa country resort and safari camp

Lake Nkuruba nature reserve and community campsite