Kibale Forest National Park is a lush tropical rain-forest park with swamps, grassland and a paradise for tourists on Uganda safaris to enjoy good hours trekking to see chimpanzees in the wild. Kibale Forest is undoubtedly Africa’s favorite chimpanzee tracking destination, guaranteeing primate lovers 99% chances of viewing chimps in their natural habitat.
The rich and biodiverse Kibale Forest National Park is nestled right in Western Uganda, about 6 hours’ drive from Kampala. It is a home to over 13 primate species of the world’s interest making it a favorite primate safari destination and in-deed the primate capital of the world. The park has existed as officially designated National Park in Uganda since 1993 and its border areas spread covering over 795sq.kms. Kibale Forest straddles on altitudinal range of 1100-1600m.
Wildlife & primate species of Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park is truly the primate capital of the world, offering magical encounter of diverse primates. The 13 species of primates are all concentrated in this park alone including over 1500 chimpanzees, the red colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, pottos, blue monkeys, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, bush babies, etc. The park also hosts many forest elephants, bush bucks, buffaloes, bush pigs, golden cats, sitatungas and others.
Birds of Kibale Forest
A total of 375 species of birds live in the lush and scenic rain-forest, grassland and swamps of Kibale National Park making it an important birding safari destination in Uganda. They include the African green breasted pitta, red faced woodland, blue headed sunbird, yellow throated nicator, white napped pigeon, yellow spotted barbet, dusky blue flycatchers, Nahan’s francolins, purple breasted sunbird, white headed wood hoopoe, scaly breasted illadopsis, red headed malimbe and more.
Safari Activities in Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee trekking
For enthusiastic chimpanzee or primate lovers, Kibale Forest National Park is with no doubt the best place to start your trek to search for chimpanzees in the wild. A home to 13 primate species, Kibale offers unforgettable chimpanzee encounters. Over 1500 chimpanzees live in this scenic natural rain-forest and treks are conducted twice a day- in the morning and during afternoon.
Before actual search for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest begins, briefing on rules for chimpanzee tracking is done at Kanyanchu Tourist Center. It is from Kanyanchu where visitors are assigned to park guides to lead them through a 2-4 hours’ chimpanzee search in the forest. As you search for chimpanzees, there are lots of birds, colorfully beautiful butterflies, primates, amphibians, flora and reptiles to be seen.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
For nature lovers who would like to enjoy more hours with chimpanzees other than 1 hour, chimpanzee habituation experience is definitely an experience of a lifetime. This is an all-day chimpanzee search in Kibale in which semi-habituated chimpanzee communities are made to get used to human presence.
The habituation experience with chimpanzees lets you to explore how these apes live, patrol, hunt, feed, make new nests for sleeping and you have plenty of time to take their pictures. Unlike chimpanzee trekking permits which cost USD200 per person, chimpanzee habituation experience permit are available for reservation at USD250.
Birding/bird watching
Kibale is also a bird watcher’s paradise, offering incredible bird sightings of countless bird species right from the time enter the park. A total of 375 bird species are available for spotting with higher chances of identifying the purple breasted sunbird, blue headed sunbird, black bee-eaters, African green breasted pitta, Nahan’s francolin, red faced woodland, yellow spotted barbet, white napped pigeon, yellow throated nicator and more.
Nature walks
Enjoy a rewarding guided nature walk through the trails of Kibale to see different birds, butterflies- Kibale has over 200 butterfly species, flora, primates and other wildlife. The guided nature walks in and around Kibale National Park begin from Bigodi Swamp, Amabere cave, forest trail and Crater Lake hikes, etc.
Community walks/cultural tours
Besides primate encounters, Kibale National Park is also perfect for cultural safaris. Visit the local communities of Batooro and Bakiga living at adjacent to the park to learn more about their practices, cultures, traditions, norms and craft making.
When to visit Kibale Forest
The amazing part about Kibale National Park safaris is that tourist activities can be conducted at any time of the year. The park experiences favorable weather conditions but the dry season is the best time for enthusiastic primate lovers to enjoy Kibale chimpanzee tracking. And this is during the extended dry season- June to September and short dry spell from March to April.
Where to stay
All categories of lodging facilities exist in and around Kibale National Park that is budget, midrange and luxury. They include Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Chimps Nest, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Kyaninga Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, etc.
Getting there
By road: Drive from Kampala through Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal city route 6 hours in a mechanically fit 4×4 vehicle. From Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest takes 3-4 hours and you drive via Fort Portal tourism city; Murchison Falls NP to Kibale, it is about 7-8 hours’ drive.