Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is known as the primate capital of the world because it hosts over 13 species of primates making chimpanzee the most famous activity. Kibale National Park covers total surface area of 795 kmwith the highest tip standing at 1,590m above the sea level and the lowest point is at 1,100m on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south. Apart from the primates, It’s also a home to 70 mammals and over 375 species of birds. Its popularly known for chimpanzee trekking and habituation experience. It’s also occupied by rain forests on the plateau with over 351 recorded different tree species some of which rise to over 55m and are over 200 years old and savanna wood land on the rift valley floor.

The park is between the Kabarole and Kamwenge with an estimated distance of 320km from Kampala. The park was first gazetted as forest reserve in 1932 and finally established in 1993 as a national park. The park has an ecosystem with ever green forest species which stretch to queen Elizabeth national park to the south to create 180km long between Ishasha and Sebitoli in North, woodlands, tropical forest, savannah grassland that are easily found in the rift valley floor.

Tourist Activities in Kibale Forest National Park Include

Chimpanzee trekking: Chimpanzee trekking is the most famous activity done in Kibale National park which starts from Kanyanchu Visitor Information Office with briefing to prepare you for chimpanzee tracking starting at 7:45 AM. This is a half day activity lasting between 3 to 5 hours depending on the movement of the chimpanzees. On finding the primates, you will spend 1 hour with them while studying their behavior and taking pictures in close range. You will have an opportunity to see other primates including velvet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons among others.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience; It starts from Kanyanchu Visitor Information Centre. This is a full day activity where you will go with researchers to explore the behaviors of chimpanzees and the experience starts right from nesting. This activity helps you explore the behaviors of chimps, their way of leaving including feeding, mating and nesting among others. Kibale is known as primate capital and so expect to see a lot of other primate species during habituation experience. You are likely to also sight other animals like forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, warthogs, reptiles as well as a colorful butterfly. The group under habituation is normally under research and trying to get used to people until its ready for tracking.

Birding; Kibale national park hosts over 375 species and therefore it’s a good place to sight different bird species including; African pitta, green breasted pitta, Afep pigeon, white –naked pigeon, crowned Eagle , Red chested Owlet, Black Bee-eater, Blue headed sun bird yellow spotted Nicator, black-eared ground thrush and the Abyssinian ground-thrush.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk; This is rich in biodiversity and beautiful scenery; the wetland is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species. Located outside the park in Magombe Swamp it also hosts eight species of primates including the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, l’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Bushbucks and mongooses can also be found here. The sanctuary was set up to preserve the exclusive environmental features along with the wetland and is managed by the local community.

Cultural Experience; The park is also near the Toro kingdom palace which is a few meters from Fort portal where you can visit and learn the cultural history of the Batoro. You can as well visit the (Amabere Ga nyinamwiru).Their creation have a rich history where the father cut the breasts of his daughter because he never wanted her to produce with the man and since then the breasts are ever mourning by leaking breast milk. There is a lot more to listen to with the experienced community guides.

Distances to Kibale National park.