Kibale National Park is in Western Uganda and covers a size of 766 square kilometres. the park is mostly made up of moist evergreen forest and has a diverse relief. The altitude ranges from 1100m to 1600m. Kibale National Park was set up as a protected area in 1932 and was made a national park in 1993to protect the forest from being encroached on by the local people. The park forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park and the adjoining of the 2 parks creates a wildlife corridor of 180 kilometres. The park is a great eco-tourism destination and is popularly known for its population of habituated chimpanzees and other primate species living in the park.
The park has great wildlife diversity ranging from mammals, birds and plants. It has one of the largest primate concentrations in Africa. There are 13 recorded primate species in the park and some of them include; habituated groups of Chimpanzees, Uganda mangabey, Uganda Red Colobus monkey, L’Hoest monkey, Black and White Colobus monkey, Blue monkey, Baboons among others. Other mammals living in the forest include; Elephants, Bush Pig, Sitatungas, Giant Forest Hog, Red And Blue Duiker, Bush Bucks, African Buffalo, Warthog, Leopards, Serval cat among many others. The park is a home to about 325 bird species some of which include; Olive Long-Tailed Cuckoo, Western Tinkerbird, African and Green-Breasted and the Grey Parrot, Ground Thrush (which is endemic to the park) to mention but a few. Approximately 229 tree species have been recorded is this great moist tropical forest. some of them include; Cordia millenii, Entandrophragma angolense, and Lovoa swynnertonnii. The forest understory is dominated by shade-tolerant shrubs and herbs, which include Palisota schweinfurthii and Pollia condensata, in addition to ferns and broad leaf grasses.
Some of the activities one can do while visiting the park include;
Chimpanzee Tracking: This is the mostly done activity in the park and is one of the trip highlights to most Uganda travellers. The activity starts at 8:00 am from the park headquarters where visitors are briefed first by the park ranger guide. Then they are led to the forest by 2 ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority. It takes from 2-4 hours or more depending on the location of Chimps that day and you will expect to spot chimps as they chill or jump from one tree to another. As you walk through the forest, expect to spot some of the other primates living in the forest as well as various bird species.
Chimpanzee Habitation: This activity offers more that what chimp tracking offers; you get to spend almost a day in the forest. This activity starts earlier and you get to watch the chimps as they leave their nests, follow them as the go about their daily activities, play feed and groom and also watch them as they prepare new nests that they shall spend their night. This activity required high fitness level because you will be moving all way through the forest.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary: Bigodi Wetland Swamp Sanctuary is about 6 km south of Kibale National Park and is run by the community surrounding the park. 200 bird species that include the great blue turaco, about eight different primates that include the Grey Checked Mangabey, the Blue Monkey, the red-tailed, the black and white colobus monkey among others, beautiful butterflies call this swamp home. The guided swamp walk takes about 2 to 3 hours walking through beautiful grasslands and communities with children waving at you warmly. The walk also offers great scenery of the area.
Bird watching: With over 300 bird species, the park is a great birding destination. You get to spot large numbers of forest birds like breasted pitta, great blue turaco, black and white cascade hornbill among others. As you move through the forest, expect to spot some of the primates that live in the forest.
Crater lakes walk: Kibale area has over 70 crater lakes and the walk to spot some of the lakes takes from 2-3 hours. The top of the highlands offers stunning views of the area. Some of the lakes include; Nyabikyere, Ndali and Kyaninga.
Night nature walk: the night walk offers great chances to spot some nocturnal mammal. Some of these include; Pottos, Golden Cats and Bush Babies. The activity is usually done in the company of an armed park ranger guide to ensure tourist safety.
The park can be accessed by either road or air means of transport.
By road: It is about 6 hours from Kampala to Kibale Forest National park and 1 hour from Kasese. We use customised safari vehicles to make your journey a comfortable one.
By air: A visitor can fly from Entebbe to Kasese town with our partners, Aerolink Uganda. From here one can drive for about an hour to Kibale Forest National Park.
