Tourist attractions in Kibale national park
Tourist attractions in Kibale national park
Tourist attractions in Kibale National Park have made this destination ranked as one of the top in Uganda and East Africa at large. Kibale National Park is an important ecotourism and tourist destination found in western Uganda. Kibale National Park covers an area of 795 square kilometers lying at the altitude range of 1100 meters to 1600 meters. The park protects the last remaining lowland and montane forests in Africa; it also shelters moist evergreen forests, which makes it an important ecological system.
Kibale National Park is a very exciting tourist destination that can be added to your safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The attractions include.
Primates
Kibale National Park is a prominent habitat for primates in Uganda with the highest population of chimpanzees. kibale national park is generally covered by thick forest cover with big tall trees where primates habit, feed and build nests to sleep in.
According to statistics, Kibale National Park is a habitat for 13 spectacular species of primates, which are chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Ugandan red colobus monkeys, and Central African monkeys.
Among all these primates, chimpanzees have the largest population, with 1450 chimpanzee individuals. Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park offer the most fascinating chimpanzee habituation and chimpanzee tracking experiences, and these are mostly done in Kanyanchu.
In Kibale National Park, there are also nocturnal primates, which are potto and bushbabies, that can be seen while on night forest walks.
Wildlife species
Kibale National Park is not only a home to primates; the park is also a home to other wildlife species that inhabit the thick forests featured around the park.
Other animals in the park include elephants, golden cats, leopards, lions, serval cats, buffaloes, bush pigs, Peter’s and Harvey’s duikers, African palm civets, Alexander’s cusimanses, marsh mongooses, warthogs, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, sitatungas, swamp otter and many more.
Sitatunga and swamp otters are seen near Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, and an estimated elephant population of 500 elephants, golden cats, leopards, and lions are occasionally seen migrating from Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is adjacent to Kibale National Park.
Birds
Kibale National Park is an important birding site that is favored by the forested nature of the park. The park is a home to about 375 attractive, colorful species, including ground thrush bird species that are endemic to Kibale National Park.
The park generally harbors forested bird species and migratory bird species, which occasionally migrate from Queen Elizabeth National Park and other neighboring areas. Bird species seen in the park include the western tinkerbird, African grey parrot, olive long-tailed cuckoo, blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, brown-crested alethe, red-chested owlet, red-faced woodland warbler, black bee-eater, Nahan’s francolin, little greenbul, brown illadopsis, black-eared ground thrush, yellow-spotted nicator, African pitta, black-capped apalis, purple-breasted sunbird, white-naped pigeon, African grey parrot and many others.
Spectacular vegetation
Kibale National Park features a thick moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forest cover, which consists of approximately 250 tree species. Among these tree species, there are some species that are endangered timber species, such as Cordia millenii, Entandrophragma angolense, Lovoa swynnertonni, and many more.
Other species include eucalyptus and pine trees. Though the park has lost a wide range of tree species due to logging, which has been illegally done by the locals, due to numerous efforts, this illegal activity has been stopped.
Culture
Kibale National Park is a home to authentic African culture. Kibale National Park is surrounded by settlements of 2 local groups: the Bakiga and the Batooro.
These communities offer numerous authentic African cultural activities like local dances and songs and local handmade crafts through their association in the name of Kibale Association of Rural Environment Development (KAFFRED).
Ndali-kasenda craters
The Ndali-Kasenda craters, also referred to as the Kibale Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes, offer a tranquil, scenic view. These lakes are situated near the park and can be visited as an addition to your safari in Kibale National Park.
This area is dotted with a series of 60 stable and seasonal freshwater crater lakes filled with water; these lakes include Lake Nyamasingiri, Lake Ntambi, Lake Mubiro, Lake Nyanswinga, Lake Nyinabulitwa, Lake Kifuruka, Lake Lyantonde, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Nyabikere, Lake Nkuruba, and many more.
Upon your visit to these lakes, you get to enjoy beautiful thick vegetation, butterflies, and monkeys; sights of the Rwenzori ranges; and panoramic views of tea plantations.
These lakes are not only beautiful but they also harbor a beautiful legendary story behind their formation. Legendary stories state that the lakes were formed by Ndahura, a Chwezi ruler, during the time when he had just fled from his kingdom after he was dethroned by his son Wamala.
Butterfly species
Kibale National Park is a home to approximately 250 colorful butterfly species, which are seen in the park.
Where to stay in kibale national park
Kibale National Park features a wide range of accommodation facilities both inside and outside the park. These accommodations are so hospitable and welcoming to all visitors regardless of your status because they offer services tailor-made to fit your needs.
These facilities include Primate Lodge Kibale (luxury), Kanyanchu River Camp, and Sebitoli Camping Ground (for camping); Nyinabulitwa Resort and Safari Camp; Crater Valley Kibale Lakeside Resort; Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve; Chimp’s Nest; Kibale Safari Lodge; Kibale Forest Camp; Mantana Tented Camp; Safari Hotel Bigodi; and many more.
Directions to kibale national park
Kibale National Park is a very accessible national park situated in western Uganda with numerous routes linking to it from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. From Kampala, it is a 5-hour drive to the park, covering a distance of 308.1 kilometers.
When traveling to the park for a safari, you either use road transport or air transport. Kibale National Park can be reached from the north and south directions.
Using road transport the quicker and shorter route is the route leading to the northern region of the park through Kanyanchu, which is the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal route.
The Kampala-Mbarara-Kamwenge route leads to the southern region of the park. When using air means of transport, domestic flights are available from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kasese Airstrip.
Kibale National Park is a very magical national park offering the most exciting chimpanzee habituation experience and chimpanzee tracking you can ever get in Uganda. The park is a very fine tourist destination and when you visit it, you will be amazed by its numerous attractions.
