Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is Africa’s primate haven, located in the western region of Uganda, with Fort Portal as the nearest developed town. The park is one of the few places in Uganda to have both Montane and lowland forests. It covers an area of 795 square kilometers, protecting the moist evergreen rainforest, and lies between 1,100 meters to 1,590 meters above sea level. The park stretches through four districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, and Kasese, which is good for

breathtaking views while on Uganda Safaris Tours. The park is situated about 24 kilometers East of the Rwenzori mountains foothills and 20 kilometers southeast of Fort Portal. The park borders Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south park forming the wildlife corridor of approximately 180 kilometers stretching from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park. This corridor is used by wildlife species such as elephants, buffalo, leopards, warthogs, bush pigs, golden cats, and others to migrate between the two protected areas. Kibale is famously known for being a home to 13 species of primates with the largest population of Chimpanzees in East Africa, recorded to be over 1,450 individuals. Because of the huge population of chimpanzees, the park is the best place in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. The park was gazetted as a national park in 1932, purpose of protecting the primates inhabiting the park and various tree species from being logged by the locals. As a way of conserving the forests, the British the then administrators of Uganda, planted exotic trees after the hardwoods were wiped out in the forest

The 13 Primates of Kibale

The main reason people visit this forest is to see primates. No other place in East Africa has such a high density of these animals.

Common Chimpanzees

 Chimpanzee tracking is the highlight of Uganda safari activities offered in Kibale Forest National Park. This activity offers an opportunity for tourists to see chimpanzees. This activity starts at 08:00 am at the park’s headquarters, the Kanyanchu Tourist Center, with a short briefing session. Chimpanzee activity is offered in two sessions: a morning session starting at 08:00 am and an afternoon session starting at 02:00 pm. This activity is restricted to only 12 people per group and offers 1 hour of being in the presence of chimpanzees. In the presence of the chimpanzee, you will learn their behaviors, watch them play, and feed them, among other behaviors.

CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE

Chimpanzee habituation experience is a unique chimpanzee experience offering more time of staying in the presence of the chimpanzee and an opportunity to learn more about them, as chimpanzee tracking. This experience starts with a briefing at Kanyanchu Tourist Center. After the briefing and being grouped into 4, the group is escorted by a ranger guide together with researchers into the forests of the park. You set off at exactly 06, 30 which is an opportunity to find chimpanzees still in their nests at the break of dawn. You are to spend 4 hours in the presence of the chimpanzee, seeing them breastfeeding their young ones, patrolling their troops, copulating, hunting, and resting. You will also get an opportunity to take pictures and videos.

NATURE WALK AND FOREST HIKE

Nature walks and forest hike is a perfect activity to do in Kibale for nature enthusiasts. Nature walks and forest hike starts from the Kanyanchu center or Sebitoli, offering a chance to experience nature and encounter various forest creatures. Nature walks start at 08:00 am from Kanyanchu and finish at

the Elephant wallow at around 02:00 pm, on these experiences, tourists have an opportunity to spot a variety of birds such as black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, and purple-breasted sunbird. Animals such as duikers and bush pigs, and primates such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons, among others. Nature walks and forest walks are done in the presence of a ranger guide who will explain to you the various flora and fauna species you will encounter during your walk and hiking.

BIGODI WETLAND NATURE WALK

Nature walks in Kibale Forest national walk can also be done in the Bigodi wetland sanctuary the Magombe swamp, the swamp is recognized for its extensive array of biodiversity, nature walks in the Bigodi swamp walk offer tourists a chance to encounter several primate species such as red colobus monkeys, baboon, black and white colobus monkeys, mangabeys, vervet monkeys and many bird species such as Abyssinia, the African pitta, collared apal, ground thrush, crowned eagle, black-capped apalis, kingfisher, weavers, cuckoos, green breasted pitta, papyrus gonolek, flycatchers, hornbills among others.

BIRD WATCHING

The park is listed among the Important Birding Areas (IBAs) and is a greater birding paradise, hosting about 375 bird species living in the forests of Kibale and the Bigodi swamp Sanctuary. Bird watching tours are done in two sessions, that is morning session starting at 07:00 am and the evening session starting at 03:00 pm. This activity starts at the Kanyanchu park’s headquarters with a short briefing. Birding offers an opportunity to marvel at various bird species such as dusky crimsonwing, black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, and purple-breasted sunbird, the green-breasted pitta, African pitta, black bee-eater, Abyssinian ground thrush, yellow-spotted nicator, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brown chested alethe, yellow rumped tinkerbird, blue-breasted kingfisher, and crowned eagle, among others.

GUIDED CRATER LAKE TOUR

The guided Crater Lake tour is an exciting tour offering stunning views of Crater Lake. This experience is conducted in the Ndali crater area situated outside the park. This area, “the Kibale-Ndali-Kasenda area,” is a natural paradise dominated by numerous crater lakes often referred to as Ndali Crater Lakes, totaling about 52 crater lakes. Some of the stunning lakes you will enjoy watching include Lake Nyamirima, Lake Nyinabulitwa, and Lake Nyabikere.

The People Around the Park

Two main groups of people live near Kibale. These are the Batooro and the Bakiga. The Batooro have lived here for a long time. They belong to the Tooro Kingdom. They are proud of their culture and their language. They grow tea and bananas on the hills outside the park. The tea plantations look like a green carpet around the forest edge. The Bakiga moved to this area from the south. They are known for being very hardworking. They grow many types of food, like potatoes and beans. The Uganda Wildlife Authority works with these communities. They share 20 percent of the park entrance fees with the local people. This money helps build clinics and roads. It also encourages people to protect the animals instead of hunting them.

BY ROAD – Kibale forest national park is located about a 300-kilometer drive from Kampala using various routes, such as Kampala – Mityana – Mubende – Fort Portal route of about 5 hours drive, and Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara, Ibanda – Kamwenge to Kibale forest national park. A tourist can opt to use either private or public means of road transport to get to the park.

BY AIR – Air means of transport is the quickest means of transport to get to the park, domestic chartered flights are offered from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip. These flights take about 2 hours.

When to Visit Kibale

You can visit the park at any time of the year. However, the weather changes the experience.

The Dry Season

The best months are June to August and December to February. During these months, there is less rain. The trails are not as muddy. It is easier to walk through the forest. The chimpanzees are also easier to find because they stay in certain areas where fruit is still available.

The Rainy Season

March to May and September to November are the wet months. It can rain for many hours. The forest becomes very green and lush. There are fewer visitors, so the park is very quiet. This is a good time for bird watching. Many trees flower during the rain, which attracts different birds.

WHERE TO STAY IN KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The park has a variety of accommodation facilities used by tourists visiting for a Uganda safari experience; these facilities are categorized as luxury, midrange, and budget.

Luxury accommodations

• Kyaninga lodge
• Ndali lodge
• Papaya Lake Lodge
• Crater safari lodge

Midrange accommodations

• Primate Lodge Kibale
• Kibale Forest Camp
• Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Budget accommodations

• Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
• Kibale Safari Lodge
• Rweteera Safaro Park
• Isunga Lodge
• Chimpanzee Nest Lodge

Research and Conservation

Kibale is a world-class site for science. The Makerere University Biological Field Station (MUBFS) is located at Kanyawara. Scientists from many countries come here to study the forest. One famous study is the Kibale Chimpanzee Project. It has been running for over 30 years. Researchers watch the chimpanzees every day. They know the names and families of all the chimps in the Kanyawara group. This long-term work helps us understand how chimpanzees think and act.  The Netflix series “Chimp Empire” was filmed in the Ngogo area of Kibale. Ngogo is a remote part of the park. It has a very large community of chimpanzees. This show helped people all over the world see how amazing these animals are.

Protecting the Forest

Kibale Forest National Park is a precious place. It holds a large variety of life that is found nowhere else. By visiting the park, you help support conservation. Your fees pay the rangers who protect the animals from traps. They also help the trees grow back so future generations can see the primates. The forest acts like a giant sponge. It cleans the water and the air for the people living nearby. Without the forest, the hills would lose their soil. The chimpanzees and monkeys would have no home. Protecting Kibale is important for Uganda and for the whole world.

Summary of Key Facts

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