Kibale National Park Uganda, Best For Chimp Trekking

(The Primates Capital of the World)

Kibale National Park is without doubt one of the premier primate safari destinations in Africa, attracting thousands of holidaymakers to enjoy chimpanzee trekking experiences. Kibale forest National Park, also previously known as Kibale National Park shelters one of the stunning and most distinct tracts of tropical rain-forests in Uganda, a few of which still exist in Africa. The vast rain-forest protected area boasts of its huge profusion of primates, birds, colorful butterflies, reptiles, flora and a lot more, all available for tourists on Uganda safari holiday to explore and experience.

Location and size of Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is located suitably in the Western part of Uganda and it is surrounded by 4 (Four) major districts; Kabarole, Kasese, Kibale and Kamwenge. From Kampala capital city of Uganda, Kibale National Park is approximately 5-6 hours’ drive and from Fort Portal Tourism City, it is 26kms/half hrs drive. Kibale National Park is found adjacent to the scenic Ndali-Kasenda Crater Area and takes Uganda safari travelers about 3-4 hours to drive up to this Park starting from Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Other tourist sites that surround Kibale forest National Park and they are worth visiting include Semuliki National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve and many others. Kibale National Park, extends to cover a large area of about 795sq.kms featuring mainly the an extensive rain-forest cover, patches of grassland, swamp etc. Kibale National Park was officially established as a Park in 1993 and its altitude varies from 1100m (the lowest point in the South) to 1590m (the highest point along the Northern part).

Attractions in Kibale National Park

Wildlife in Kibale Forest

Kibale National Park is boasts of its biodiversity including over 13 primate species with over 1500 chimpanzees all thriving within the Park’s vast 795sq.kms of land area. This makes it one of the most sought after chimpanzee tracking destination in East Africa and remarkably, it is of no doubt a true the primate capital of the world.

The 13 primate species make up part of the 70 mammal species and other than chimpanzees, Kibale forest National Park also protects a range of other interesting mammal species. They include l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, pottos, grey cheeked mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, bush babies etc. There are also forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers to mention but a few.

Bird species & butterflies

Kibale National Park hosts all 375 bird species including several Albertine Rift Valley native birds, making one of the important birding areas in Uganda.

The birds of birder’s interest while on Uganda safari in Kibale National Park include the green breasted pitta, dusky crimson wing, blue headed sunbird, red faced woodland warblers, Abyssinian ground thrush, black bee-eater, yellow rumped tinker bird, purple breasted sunbird, collared apalis, yellow billed barbet, brown chested alethe, blue breasted kingfishers, crowned eagles, little greenbul, yellow spotted nicator and others. Kibale National Park is also an ultimate destination when it comes to butterfly watching safaris.

Vegetation

Kibale National Park prides itself for its unique vegetation where diversity of its wildlife, butterflies, birds all thrive. The Park’s distinct vegetation cover ranges from the moist evergreen forest/wet tropical forest to dry/semi deciduous; as well as woodland and some patches of savanna on the rift valley area.

Over 351 species of trees all exist in Kibale National Park with some rising up to about 55m and survived for about 200 years old. Other attractions near Kibale National Park include Crater Lakes and Amabere G’Nyinamwiru caves.

Activities to do in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee trekking/tracking

In Kibale National Park, chimpanzee tracking is amazingly every visitors’ dream experience. A chimpanzee trek in Kibale is a great opportunity for primate loving visitors to get a close encounter with chimpanzees while in the wild rather than in the zoo. Trekking to see chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park starts early in the morning/8:00am or afternoon/2:00pm from Kanyanchu Tourist Centre with briefing.

Briefing in  Kibale N. Park is conducted to give visitors insight into chimpanzee trekking rules and it is during this period when park guides are allocated to every group of 6 visitors. Chimpanzee permits for Kibale are issued out at USD200, obtainable through a reliable/trusted ground tour operator or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Birding- Bird Watching

Located in Western Uganda, Kibale National Park is a birder’s haven-offering shelter to over 375 bird species. Birding tour in Kibale is incredible and lets birders to enjoy great sight of papyrus gonoleks, green breasted pitta, papyrus canary, white winged warbler, purple breasted sunbird, dusky crimson wings, Abyssinian ground thrush, blue breasted kingfisher, red faced woodland warblers, black capped apalis, brown chested alethe, black bee-eaters, crowned eagle, yellow rumped tinker bird and others.

Walking/forest hikes

Kibale National Park is also known for its rewarding forest hikes or walking or nature walk experiences. While on a nature walk in Kibale National Park, enthusiastic nature lovers have 12 kms trail to explore and hiking through it is perfect during the dry months of the year that is from June, July, August to September or Mid-November, December, January to February.

The Kibale Forest walk trail takes from 5 to 6 hours to complete but introduces you to Kibale National Park’s distinct habitats like swamps, grasslands, tropical forests etc. The best spots to start your nature walks in Kibale National Park include Kanyanchu, Sebitoli and in the adjacent areas, the Crater Lake Area, Bigodi, Amabeere cave trail etc.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Chimpanzee Habituation is one of the must-do activities and it offers visitors opportunity to get a close interaction with chimpanzees while in their natural habitat.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is a process where semi-habituated chimpanzee communities are made to get used to human presence before they are opened for chimpanzee tourism or tracking. Visitors spend more time about a day following chimpanzees while exploring more about their behaviors from the time they get up till they make new nests for overnight stay. Usually, participants in chimpanzee habituation include trackers, researchers, scientists etc.

Cultural Tours

Community walk/cultural tours at Kibale National Park provide deep insight into the unique lifestyles, traditions, dress code, dances, cultural practices etc of the local residents in the adjacent local communities. Visitors have opportunity to have hands on experience during basket making, interact with the Batooro or Bakiga while children can also engage in bush craft experience etc.

Best time to travel to Kibale National Park for Uganda safari

Kibale Forest National Park is open to all primate safari travelers throughout the year but the best time to consider visiting it is during the dry season when the ground is drier and trails are passable. The dry season in Kibale runs from June to September, December to February. The Northern area is the wettest area in Kibale N/P with record of rainfall amount of about 1700mm especially from March to May, September to November.

Accommodation/Lodges to stay in Kibale National Park

Kibale forest is an ultimate Uganda safari destination with all kinds of accommodation facilities ranging from budget/basic, midrange/standard to luxury/upmarket. The luxury/upmarket accommodation include Papaya Lake Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge and Kyaninga Lodge etc.

The Midrange/standard accommodation in Kibale National Park include Chimps Nest, Kibale Forest Camp, Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal while budget/basic lodges in Kibale include Isunga Lodge, Rwenzori View Guesthouse in Fort Portal, Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve & Community Campsite, Nyinabulitwa Country Resort & Safari Camp.

Getting to Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is one of the most accessible Uganda safari parks either by road or by air. By road, there are many road networks which lead up to Kibale but the most accessible ones are Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal route and Kampala-Mbarara route. From Kamwenge Town to Kibale National Park is about 38.6kms/40 minutes’ drive, from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale it is 3-4 hours and from Fort Portal, it is 26kms/30 minutes’ drive. From Semuliki Wildlife Reserve to Kibale, it is 67kms/1 and half hrs’ drive.

By air, there is an alternative of flying from Entebbe Airport, Uganda or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese airstrip where you can then be picked and transferred to Kibale National Park, about 3 hours’ drive.