Kibale Forest National Park | Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda

Kibale Forest National Park is a primate paradise and a great destination for tracking and hunting Ugandan chimpanzees. The park is located in the western region of Uganda, about 348 kilometers from the capital of Uganda, Kampala, about 5 hours from the capital, Kampala. in Uganda. By car, Fort Portal is the nearest town about 26 km to the southeast.

The park is close to many other breathtaking Ugandan safari destinations such as the beautiful Serene Kasenda Crater Area, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Hills, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Semuliki National Park, and Toro-Semuliki Game Reserve. The park borders Queen Elizabeth National Park in the southern region and forms a 180-kilometer migration corridor for many animal species from Ishasha in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park to Semuliki in the northern part of Kibale National Park.

Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda

History of Kibale Forest National Park

Protecting moist evergreen rainforest, Kibale Forest National Park covers 776 square kilometers and is one of the last remaining lowland and montane forests on the African continent, preserving the last large montane forest in East Africa. It was gazetted in 1932 and established as a national park in 1993 to protect the area’s ecosystem.

Kibale Forest National Park protects a range of moist evergreen forests (humid tropical forests), dry tropical forests (humid semi-deciduous forests), and rift forests and savannas along the Fort Portal Plateau. The central area of ​​Kibale Forest National Park around Kanjancha is a mainly tall forest with a mixture of mainly evergreen species, the vegetation of the park is more than 55 meters high and consists of a huge canopy, the semi-enclosed canopy of hardy herbs, various ferns Plants, shrubs and forest grasses.

Birding in Kibale Forest Uganda

About 351 tree species are also registered in the park. The park is a paradise for primates. The park is home to 13 primate species and a large number of chimpanzees. The park is home to a popular chimpanzee population with over 1,450 recorded, the largest number of chimpanzees in the world and on the African continent. Website Other primates in the park include L’ howler monkeys, endangered red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, jungle baboons, and photos. Kibale Forest National Park is also home to animals such as water buffalo, leopards, bush pigs, elephants, and ducks.

There are also amphibians, reptiles, and various colorful butterflies. Kibale Forest National Park is a paradise for bird watchers and one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. The park and its forests are home to 325 species of birds, including 6 natives to the Albertine Rift Valley. Kibale Forest National Park hosts such birds as a crimson-winged warbler, black-headed warbler, blue-headed warbler, collared warbler, maroon, and purple-winged warbler, green-breasted pita, African pita, black bee-eater, both Xenia’s ground-thrush, yellow-spotted nicator, little green-throated, black-eared thrush, tawny thrush, tawny spoonbill, blue-breasted eagle, eagle, etc. Uganda Safari in Kibale National Park.

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest Walk Adventure

Chimpanzee Tracking in Bigodi Wetland

Kibale Forest National Park is a famous chimpanzee-tracking safari destination in Uganda that offers amazing chimpanzee encounters. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park starts already at 08:00 from the Kanjanchi visitor center with a briefing about the experience.

Chimpanzee tracking takes about 2-4 hours using various trails to trek through the dense Kibale forest, while trekking through the forest you can see many primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked manga monkeys, and many birds. When you meet chimpanzees, you only have an hour in front of them to observe their behavior and take amazing photos.

The Domestication of the Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees are used to the amazing Ugandan primate hunt offers more time in the presence of the chimpanzees and is offered in Kibale Forest National Park, the chimpanzee hunt is similar to the chimpanzee tracking experience, but with the difference that it offers a full day with the chimpanzees. The park is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, the largest chimpanzee population in Uganda, all in one location, and chimpanzee tracking starts as early as red.

After the briefing, you will go to the Kibale forests to look for chimpanzees and when you find them, you will spend the whole day in front of them with the researchers. In front of the chimpanzees, you can feed them, take pictures and learn more about them.

Bird Watching in Kibale Forest

Kibale Forest National Park is one of the most Important Bird Watching Areas (IBA) in Uganda and is ideal for bird-watching in Uganda, Kibale National Park is an ideal destination for bird lovers, you will get to see many beautiful colorful birds in the park. such as Crimson-winged, Black-headed, Blue-headed Thrush, Collared Thrush, Red-breasted Thrush, and Purple Thrush, Green-breasted Pita, African Pita, Black-winged, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-spotted Finch, Little Green Bunting, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Brown-breasted Alet, etc.

Cultural Trip

The cultural tour of Kibale Forest National Park takes place in the local communities near the park, where you can visit schools, communities, and several homesteads where you can experience the different cultures of the local people, including the local way of dressing, taste locally inspired food, have fun with the local people. and buy souvenirs.

Bigodi Swamp Trail

The Bigodi Swamp Walk in Kibale Forest National Park takes place in the Bigodi Wetland Reserve, a community site designed to provide economic benefits to local people. Bigodi Wetland Reserve is a bird paradise home to more than 138 species of birds such as wagtails, flycatchers, crested eagles, African pita, white-spotted plover, western tit, blue-breasted kingfisher, lapwing, Abyssinian ground starling, green-brown pita, tawny Alethe and many more things you’ll love to see as you stroll through the bog. During the Bigodi Exchange trek, you can see black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mango monkeys, olive baboons, L’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys.

Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking in Bigodi Wetland

How to get to Kibale Forest National Park?

The park is located in the Western region of Uganda, about 26 kilometers southeast of Fort Portal, the main tourist town in the region, and is accessible from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, where most game drives to the park originate. From Kampala, the park is accessible by car or air,

Go, Overland

By road, the park is 300 km from the fort gate and 36 km from Kanjanchu Fort via the Murram road. You can use public or private vehicles on the way.

Air Transport

There are domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport to Kasese Airstrip, Kihihi Airstrip, or Mweya Airstrip operated by Aero link.

Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park?

Kibale National Park has first-class, internationally recognized accommodations in and around the park, ranging from budget to mid-range, and luxury. Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park includes Kibale Forest Camp, Kanyanchu River Camp, Chimpanzee Nest, Nyinabulitwa Country Resort, Primate Lodge Kibale, kyanginga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, and more. When to visit Kibale Forest National Park

The park can be visited all year round, although the best time to visit the park for amazing Ugandan safari activities like chimpanzee tracking is during the dry season. During the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to September, the trails used in the park are dry and easy to navigate.