Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations well known for chimpanzee tracking and it has got a wide range of diversity of primates in East Africa. There are over 13 species of primates including chimpanzees living in the forest with the most beautiful tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda.
Location of Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda in Kabarole district. About the distance, it takes about 5 to 6 hours from Kampala covering a total area of 795 square kilometers. You can also decide to set off from Fort Portal which is one of Uganda’s most lovely places to explore, and continue with the journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest National Park has got varied vegetation which has offered favourable habitats to the wildlife species ranging from the moist ever-green forest along the Fort Portal plateau. Kibale Forest National Park is very easy to access due to its good road networks that connect to some major beautiful towns and the National parks around it including Fort Portal, Kamwenge, Kasese, and then Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Activities done in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking is the number one activity carried out in Kibale Forest National Park. The national park is home to about 1500 chimpanzees and the trekking of these chimpanzees starts very early in the morning with a briefing at the Kanyachu Visitors Center about the rules and regulations which are to be followed during the gorilla trekking activity. Immediately after the briefing, you will be given a guide who is knowledgeable about the chimpanzees leading you to the juggle and this will take you 30 to 4 hours to find them depending on their movement in search for food, and given one hour to watch them breastfeeding, play, fight, mate among others. During the same time of trekking chimpanzees, you will get to see primates and the different tree species.
Chimpanzee habituation
Chimpanzee habituation is also another interesting activity carried out in Kibale Forest National Park. In this activity, chimpanzees are well-trained on how to get used to humans when they are present. Still, chimpanzee habituation will begin very early in the morning with a briefing from the park headquarters and later accompanied by the park guide to the juggle in search for gorillas under the habituation process. The moment the chimpanzees are found, you will be given four hours and get to learn about their way of living, breastfeeding, play, hunting, resting, and taking photos among others which will give you unforgettable memories of Kibale Forest National Park.
Birdwatching in Kibale Forest National Park.
Bird watching is another adventurous activity done in Kibale Forest National Park. This Park is home to more than 375 bird species including forest birds, migratory birds, and endemic birds. Birdwatching is done in the morning and in the late evening with a well-trained guide who will help you spot some of these birds including the flycatchers, weaver birds, yellow spotted barbet, black billed turaco, wagtails, black bee-eater, green-breasted pitta, purple-headed starling among others. For someone to enjoy this activity, you will need to carry some gadgets like cameras and binoculars to view birds that are far away from you, books and pens to note down the different bird species names among others.
Nature walks
Kibale Forest National Park is also known for interesting nature walks which begin with an early morning briefing at the Kanyachu Visitors Center. After the briefing, you will start moving within the forest with a well-trained guide spotting the different wildlife species such as the forest elephants, bushbucks, and primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, viewing the different bird species, plant species among other attractions.
Where to stay during your safari in Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest National Park has got a lot to offer for accommodation ranging from budget, mid-range, and luxury including Kibale Forest Camp, Isunga Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Kanyuchu River Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, mountain of the Moon Hotel, chimp nest, crater safari lodge, Kibale safari lodge, Rweetara safari lodge among others.
The best time to visit Kibale Forest National Park
When planning a safari to Kibale Forest National Park you should also consider the appropriate time to visit it. Kibale Forest National Park is eligible to be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as peak season. The dry season has got two seasons in a year. One is from June to September and the second one is from December to February which makes the trails dry thus making them very passable. Kibale Forest National Park can also be visited in the wet season in March to May and from October to November since it’s the best time for birders who engage themselves in viewing the different bird species mostly the migratory birds.
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest National Park can be accessed by road transport where one will drive from Kampala to Masaka to Mbarara and then to Kibale Forest National Park or you can decide to use the other route from Kampala to Mubende via the fort portal to the park headquarters and this journey will take 5 to 6 hours.