Travel Guide to Kibale Forest National Park
Travel guide to Kibale forest national park; Kibale forest national park is located in western part of Uganda in Kabarole district close to Ndali-Kasenda crater area, Fort Portal and Queen Elizabeth national park. Kibale forest national is also known as the primate capital because it harbors 13 primate species including over 1,500 chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys among others. The national park harbors other wildlife species including mammals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, bush pigs, duikers and more than 375 bird species such as purple breasted sunbird, blue breasted kingfisher, African grey parrot, red chested owlet among others.
Activities in Kibale forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the most famous activity in Kibale forest and it involves moving into the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park starts early in the morning at around 8:00am with a briefing about the rules and regulation to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and an experienced park guide. Chimpanzee trekking takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view different wildlife species including mammals, other primates like grey checked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, view different plant and tree species, birds among others. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their habits, take photos, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, fight, play, rest, record videos among others.
Chimpanzee habituation experience
Kibale forest national park also offers chimpanzee habituation experience an adventurous activity where the wild chimpanzees are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation experience start very early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing you will join a team of researchers, scientists, park guides, rangers and start trekking in the jungle in search of the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee habituation experience is a whole day activity and during trekking you will be able to view other primate species, birds, plants among others. once the chimpanzees are found, you will be able to spend four hours with the chimpanzees which gives you an opportunity to learn and monitor their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, copulating, hunting, patrolling, resting, grooming young ones, take photos among others.
Bird watching
Kibale forest national park is a home of over 375 recorded bird species including endemic species, forest birds, migratory birds among others. during bird watching in Kibale forest national park, you will be accompanied by an experienced park guide who will help you to spot different bird species like African pied wagtail, yellow spotted nicator, African emerald cuckoo, brown eared woodpecker, white shrike flycatcher, black billed turaco, African jacana, African green pigeon, black bee-eater, blue throated roller, masked apalis, nahans francolin, blue headed bee-eater, yellow rumped tinker bird, blue breasted kingfisher, little greenbul, chubbs cisticola, black capped waxbill, cassins spinetail, African pitta, black billed weaver, red faced woodland warbler, dusky crimsonwing among others.
Nature walk/hiking
Kibale forest national park offers interesting nature walks in Kibale forest national park where you will be able to explore the park on foot with the company of a trained park guide and armed park ranger to protect you from dangerous animals. During the guided nature walk, you will be get up-close and personal with different primate species, mammals, view colorful butterflies, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind, take beautiful pictures among others thus Travel Guide to Kibale Forest National Park.
Night walk
Night walk is an exciting activity in Kibale forest national park where you will be able to explore the forest at night with powerful torches, a park guide and armed rangers. During the night walk you will enjoy great views of nocturnal animals such as pottos, bush baby, nightjar, tree hyrax, civet, serval cats, mongoose among others.
Best time to visit Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season the park receives less rainfall therefore chimpanzee trekking and nature walk trails will be dry and passable.
Kibale forest national park can also be visited in the rainy season during the months of March to May and November because that’s the best period for bird watching where you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.
How to get to Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where by you will drive from Kampala through Mubende, Fort Portal or Mbarara, Kamwenge to Kanyacha visitor Centre which takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive thus Travel Guide to Kibale Forest National Park.
Where to stay in Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari including Chimpundu Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Kibale Guest Cottages, Primate Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Nyinabulitwa Country Resort, Rweteera Safari Park, Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops, Ndali Kasenda Lodge, Kibale Safari Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Nyankuruba Nature Reserve and Community Campsite, Chimps Nest, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge among others.
For more information about Kibale forest national park, you can contact us at Achieve global safaris or visit our website for affordable chimpanzee trekking packages.
