KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Best described as primate capital of the world, Kibale Forest National Park is Uganda’s one of most magical primate destination with a huge concentration of primate species. This park stretches up to 795 square kilometers and it straddles in western Uganda. Kibale Forest National Park was founded in 1993 to offer refuge to its rare species. This forest park hosts over 13primate species including more than 1500 chimpanzees, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and others. Kibale Forest National Park also inhabits several buffaloes, forest elephants, bush pigs and 350 bird species including the African green breasted pitta, bee-eaters, black eared ground thrush, little greenbuls, yellow romped tinker bird, red faced woodland warbler and others. It also boasts of its magnificent tropical rainforest, patches of grassland, swamps and others. Over 14 snake species, 27 frog species, 20 reptiles, 200 butterfly species also do thrive within Kibale National Park.
Activities
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is a popular safari activity in Kibale National Park. This allows you to get close to habituated chimpanzee group. Chimpanzee treks always kick start at Kanyanchu visitor center with briefing on the set rules and regulations that you have to observe while on chimpanzee tracking. Only 6 visitors are assigned to a park ranger guide. Permits for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park cost $150 per person. Chimpanzees are a few closest creatures to humans and a trek to see them allows you to explore their behaviors, take as many pictures as possible.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Besides the usual chimpanzee treks, Kibale National Park also offers you a great opportunity to take part in chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEXP). This is a whole day primate adventure that involves you following a semi habituated group while making them get used to human presence.
Nature walks
The best way to explore the hidden treasures within Kibale National Park is by embarking on a nature walk. This gets you the best sights of pristine forest, grassland and other sites with variety of primate species including vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons, pottos, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys and others; bird species, tree species and plants.
Birding
Kibale Forest National Park is Uganda’s one most significant birding site. A birding tour in this park allows you to spot out varied bird species including the white winged warbler, white collared Olive back, papyrus canary, grey throated flycatcher, papyrus Gonoleks, western green ticker bird, white bellied crested flycatcher, African grey parrot and endemic ground thrush, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, yellow romped tinker bird, Abyssinian ground thrush, crowned eagle, brown chested alethe, purple breasted sunbird, red faced woodland warbler, masked and black capped apalis, blue headed sunbird a mention but a few. As well, you can also take part in cultural encounters, children activities, nature walks among others.
Accommodation options in Kibale Forest National Park
The available accommodation options for your overnight stay in Kibale forest national park include Kibale forest camp, primate lodge, Kyaninga lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzee forest guesthouse, Kibale Guest Cottages, Chimps Nest, Kibale Safari Lodge and others. The other nearby lodging options include Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Lake Nkuruba Nature reserve and community campsite, Nyinabulitwa country resort and safari camp and many more.
When to visit Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park can be visited at any time of the year. Most significantly, take note of which season you wish to pay a visit because this park experiences 2 seasons. They include the dry and wet season with dry season starts is usually the most preferable and it starts from June to September and December to February. The wet/rainy season on the other hand kick starts from March to May and from October to November. The rainy or wet season is usually characterized by heavy rainfall but incredible for bird watching.
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park
The best way to get to Kibale Forest National Park for a safari is either by road or by air. By road, your road trip begins from Kampala via Mubende-Fort Portal route and you will spend about 5 hours on a road trip. The other route takes you from Entebbe or Kampala through Mbarara-Kamwenge then to Kibale Forest National Park. By air, take a flight from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi and land into Nyakisharara airstrip in Mbarara or Kasese airstrip and connect to Kibale Forest National Park by road. By road, a 4 wheel drive safari car is more preferable to help you navigate through the remote routes to Kibale National Park.
In summary, Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Uganda that are worth exploring especially for chimpanzee tracking.
