Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is bio-diverse primate destination, home to over 13 species of primates with the highest chimp population. The park offers the most memorable chimpanzee tracking and habituation experiences to enthusiastic primate travelers on Uganda safaris. Kibale also prides itself of its unique landscape that is characterized by patches of grassland, tropical forest, swamps/wetlands, tree species and more.

Where is Kibale National Park located

Kibale National Park is set in Kabarole District, Western Uganda and adjacent to it, there are other districts including Kibaale, Kasese and Kamwenge. The nearest and the most beautiful city is Fort Portal and accessing the park takes about 6 hours’ drive. This park is also surrounded by other magnificent protected areas and craters including the Ndali-Kasenda Craters; Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Flora of Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park isn’t entirely a tropical forest but features a mixture of other vegetation types. It hosts the most evergreen forest, moist semi-deciduous forest, woodland, savanna grassland and has over 350 tree species.

Wildlife of Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park inhabits an estimate of 70 species of mammals and they include 13 primate species. The park’s diverse animal species include buffaloes, elephants, sitatungas, mongoose, bush pigs, golden cats, amphibians, duikers, reptiles, and more. The different primates to explore on primate tours in this park include the bush babies, vervet monkeys, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, 1500 chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, pottos, and red tailed monkeys.

Birds

Kibale National Park accounts for over 375 bird species and these include endemic and forest species. The park’s bird species to spot include the yellow rumped tinker bird, yellow spotted nicator, black crowned tchagra, African green breasted pitta, African shrike flycatchers, African pied wagtail, white collared olive, collared apalis, blue breasted kingfishers, Abyssinian ground thrush, black-headed bee-eaters, black and white casqued hornbills, cassin’s spine tail, blue headed bee-eaters, black billed turacos, ash flycatchers, masked apalis, Nahan’s francolins, and others.

Tourism Activities in Kibale National Park (KNP)

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee trekking adventures are the main highlights of every safari in Kibale Forest National Park. The chimp trekking excursions begin at Kanyanchu Tourism Center with briefing and each day, there are 2 sessions to engage in all offering visitors a lifetime opportunity to see chimpanzees. The morning chimpanzee trekking excursion in Kibale begins at 8:00 am and 2:00 pm (afternoon excursion).

Kibale is comprised of numerous habituated communities and tourists require valid permits to be allowed to visit chimpanzees in the park. A single Kibale chimp permit goes at USD 200 per person and your tour operator can book it for you. A normal Kibale chimpanzee trek lasts for 2 to 4 hours- this is inclusive of one hour of a close interaction and photography.

Chimpanzee habituation

Chimpanzee habituation is dedicated to primate enthusiasts, an incredible opportunity to explore and experience more about chimpanzees in the wild. With chimp habituation, tourists engage in a long-day search for semi-habituated communities, observe how they behave from morning till they make new nests for the night stay. It should be noted that chimpanzees are human-closest relatives, sharing up to 98% of their DNA with humans. Kibale chimpanzee habituation permits are available for booking at USD 250 per person.

Birding

Bird watching trips in Kibale Forest National Park present visitors an incredible opportunity to search for some of the finest birds in Uganda. The long list of birds to identify in this park include the brown backed scrub-robin, African green breasted pitta, black bee-eaters, brown crowned tchagra, blue headed sun-eaters, papyrus gonoleks, black capped apalis, yellow rumped tinker bird, red faced woodland warblers, red chested owlet, Rwenzori apalis, and more

Forest walk

Forest or nature walks draw visitors close to Kibale Forest National Park hidden habitats rich in wildlife. There are trails to take including the 12 km trail taking visitors via the forest while you keep an eye on primates, birds and butterfly species.

Cultural safari tours

Cultural visits are also done in the local communities around the park. The park is bounded by Bakiga and Batooro communities each with a special cultural experience to offer. Other than exploring traditions, cultures and lifestyles, you can also have a taste of traditional meals with locals. The best place that offers authentic cultural and community-based tourism experience at Kibale is KAFRED in Bigodi.

The Crater Lakes exploration

Kibale National Park lies within an area impacted by volcanic eruption. As a result, multiple Crater Lakes are dotted around the area estimated to be about 50 in total that is the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes Region.

When is the best time to visit the park

Most of Kibale National Park’s tourism activities are done at any time of the year, although the dry season is the most preferred time. The dry season is ideal for primate lovers visiting the park for chimpanzee trekking and it starts from June, July, August; December, January to February.

Kibale Forest National Park accommodation properties

Kibale National Park accommodation facilities are many and exist as budget, midrange and luxury. The top lodges for you to book include Kibale Forest Camp, Kanyanchu River Camp, Chimps Nest, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali, Primate and Isunga Lodges.

How you can get to the park?

Travel by road: Begin driving from Kampala via Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal route –the shortest route which takes 5-6 hours’ drive and the longest is the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara route. By air, you can take a flight from Kajjansi/Entebbe to Nyakisharara/Kasese airstrip then get picked up for transfer to the lodge.