Kibale Forest National Park - Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda

If you are looking for one of the best primate safari parks to explore on Uganda safaris then look no further than Kibale Forest National Park. This magnificent primate park is positioned in Western Uganda and it is accessible between 5 and 6-hours’ drive from Kampala capital city of Uganda. About 4 districts surround Kibale National Park and they include Kibale, Kabarole and Kasese. It is a premier chimpanzee trekking safari destination and straddles between elevation 1100 and 1600m. Kibale Forest National Park was founded in 1993 and it extends up to 795sq.kms, composing largely of a tropical rain-forest, swamps, grassland which serve as habitats to its diverse primates and many other mammal species, birds, butterfly species.

Primates in Kibale Forest National Park

An estimate of about 13 species of primates are confined in Kibale Forest National Park which makes it an exceptional primate tracking tour destination in Uganda and East Africa. This is one reason why this primate safari park is best described as a primate capital of the world. The different primates to look out for on Uganda safaris in Kibale Forest National Park include an estimate of about 1500 chimpanzees, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, pottos, red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys. Most of these incredible creatures can be spotted while on chimpanzee trekking tour or guided nature walks.

There are also several other mammals which make up a total of about 70 mammal species in this protected area and they include buffaloes, bush pigs, mongoose, sitatunga, elephants, golden cats. Aside from primates and mammals, Kibale Forest National Park also hosts incredible number of reptiles, butterflies and amphibians.

Birds in Kibale Forest National Park

An estimate of about 370 bird species call Kibale Forest National Park a home thus making it one of the best birding spots in Uganda. They include the Great Blue Turaco, African grey parrot, black bee-eaters, red faced woodland warblers, purple breasted sunbird, yellow rumped tinkerbird, African green breasted pitta, blue headed sunbird, little greenbul, black eared ground thrush and a lot more.

Other attractions to expect to explore on Uganda safaris in Kibale Forest National Park include the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes which include Lake Kifuruka, Lake Lyantonde, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Nyabikere and many more.

Kibale Forest National Park also hosts an estimate of about 350 tree species and the other iconic tourist site that is worth exploring is Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru which is credited for its unique cultural and historical background.

Activities to do in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the leading primate safari activities Kibale Forest National Park has to offer the world. It is conducted either in the morning or in the afternoon and it takes trekkers about 2-4 hours including 1 hour of magical encounter, exploring more about their daily behaviors and take so many pictures. Chimpanzee treks in Kibale National Park always begin from Kanyanchu Visitor Center with briefing on guidelines for chimpanzee tracking. Besides viewing chimpanzees, expect to also see other primates including the olive baboons, bush babies, vervet monkeys, red colobus monkeys, pottos, blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys plus bird species.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Kibale Forest National Park is also an exceptional destination to embark on chimpanzee habituation experience. This primate adventure involves following chimpanzees in order to make them get used to human presence before they are opened for tracking. It takes a process of about 2 years less or more depending on how fast these apes can get familiar to human presence. Visitors take the whole day having in-depth exploration on how chimpanzees feed, mate, play till they make new nests to retire in the evening.

Birding in Kibale Forest National Park

Bird watching tour in Kibale Forest National Park involves you spotting birds such as papyrus gonoleks, black bishop, white winged warblers, papyrus canary, bush shrike, hairy breasted barbet, Great Blue Turaco, African grey parrot, black bee-eaters, red faced woodland warblers, purple breasted sunbird, yellow rumped tinkerbird, African green breasted pitta, blue headed sunbird and a lot more.

Guided nature walks in Kibale Forest National Park

Guided nature walks in Kibale Forest National Park take you through various trails on foot with an experienced park ranger guide. Forest walks normally commence from Kanyanchu visitor center and you can go for morning nature walk or in the afternoon. Along the way, expect to see variety of primates, birds and unique flora.

Cultural tours in Kibale Forest National Park

A visit to a nearby local community in Kibale Forest National Park lets you have a close interaction with local residents, explore more about their traditions, lifestyles, dances and a lot more. A visit to KAFRED (Kibale Association for Rural and Environment Development) gets you the best of authentic African cultural experience while on Uganda safaris in Kibale Forest National Park.

When to visit Kibale Forest National Park

Uganda safaris to Kibale Forest National Park can be carried out at any time of the year although this may vary from one traveler to another. Usually it depends on someone’s travel needs. However, the dry season is considerably the best time to pay a visit to this magical primate safari park for chimpanzee trekking. The dry months of the year in this conservancy area begin in June, July, August, September and December, January, February. The wet or rainy months are the best for bird watching and they start in March, April, May and October, November.

Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park features budget, mid-range and luxury lodges for tourists on Uganda safaris to spend a night. They include;

Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Nyinabulitwa Country Resort and Safari Camp (Budget options)

Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Isunga Lodge and Chimps Nest (Mid-range)

Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge (Luxury)

How to get to Kibale Forest National Park

By road, there are 2 routes that take you to Kibale Forest National Park; you can start your drive from Entebbe/Kampala via Mubende-Fort Portal Town-Kibale Forest National Park and this may cover about 5 hours. Or you can drive from Kampala via Mbarara-Kamwenge then connect to Kibale Forest National Park.

It is also for you to fly from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe International Airport to Nyakisharara airstrip in Mbarara or Kasese where you can easily drive to Kibale Forest National Park to have your Uganda safaris holiday.