Kibale National Park – Uganda

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park- Uganda, formally Kibale Forest National Park, is an amazingly beautiful Uganda national park located in the western part of the country. Kibale National Park is about 766 square kilometres mostly comprising of forest cover. Kibale National Park was gazetted as a Uganda national park in 1993, majorly to protect the existing chimpanzees and other primates recorded in the park.

Kibale National Park is Uganda’s premier chimpanzee tracking destination, and undoubtedly the best primate tracking and chimpanzee tracking destination in the entire region of East Africa and the world at large.

The main tourist visitor centre and the trailhead for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park is Kanyanchu Vistors’ Centre which is only about 35km south of Fort Portal town. The drive from Fort Portal town is very smooth, given the newly tarmacked road, you shall surely enjoy your drive as you see so much activity along the way.

Kibale National Park is mainly dominated by a rainforest, but is also intercepted with tracks of grassland as well as swamps. Kibale National Park has an altitude range of 1100-1590m above sea level, and thus has various floral composition, with about 200 tree species recorded in the park. Given the old nature of the rainforest, giant mahogany trees can be spotted, as well as figs and other hardwood trees with canopies as high as 60m.

Animals in Kibale National Park

Animals in Kibale National Park are quite abundant. Kibale National Park is indeed the primate capital of the world given the 13 primates recorded in the park, all living and flourishing there. The eastern chimpanzees, which are recorded to be well over 1500 individuals are the most prominent and one of the reason why many travellers do visit; just to encounter them on a chimpanzee tracking adventure or even chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park. Other primates in Kibale National Park include the red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, potto, bush babies among so many others.

Asides the 13 primate species of Kibale National Park, other animals in Kibale National Park that travellers can encounter include forest elephants which are estimated to be about 500 in the park, buffaloes, golden cats, antelopes, wild hogs, among so many others. Kibale National Park also hosts about 70 reptiles and amphibians roaming the park.

Birds in Kibale National Park

The second most sought after attraction in Kibale National Park after chimpanzees are the abundant bird species in the park. There are about 370 bird species recorded to be in Kibale National Park, with a number of forest specials like the much sought after African pitta.

Other bird species in Kibale National Park that travellers can spot while on various activities like chimpanzee tracking or bird watching include the blue-headed bee-eater, Nahan’s Francolin, Masked Appalis, Green-breasted Pitta, Crowned eagle, Abyssinian ground thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, among so many others.

Things to do in Kibale National Park

Things to do in Kibale National Park, or the tourist activities in Kibale National Park that travellers can do while in the park to enjoy the amazing nature and vast array of attractions in Kibale National Park include;

Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park is the most done activity in Kibale National park, and most often the reason why most travellers visit the park in the very first place. With over 1000 chimpanzees recorded in Kibale National Park, chimpanzee tracking is an activity that shall see you encountering these noisy creatures in their natural habitat.

Travellers only get encounter the already habituated chimpanzees, which do live in groups. Given that there are not so many habituated chimpanzee groups in Kibale National Park and that travellers are limited to be only 8 per chimpanzee group to be trekked, booking a chimpanzee tracking permit early in advance is recommended especially if planning to travel during the peak season.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park has travellers being escorted into the rainforest by the park rangers and guides to find the habituated chimpanzees.

Primate Walk

Primate walk is another activity in Kibale National Park that travellers after a complete primate safari in Kibale National park can do. Primate walks in Kibale National Park are in two sessions, one in the morning which starts at 8am and the other at 3pm. Each primate walk session can take about 2-3 hours, taking you through some really amazing trails in Kibale National Park and encountering the various primates of Kibale National Park.

Bird Watching

With over 370 bird species recorded in Kibale National Park, bird watching is an activity not to be missed while in the park. Be sure to have a knowledgeable bird guide with you, and remember to carry a good pair of binoculars to have spot even those birds which may be at a far.

Best time to visit Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park just like other Uganda national parks can be visited all throughout the year depending on your availability as a traveller. The best time for chimpanzee tracking is during the off peak season when the chimpanzees do find forage nearer and need not move far off to get food.

The dry season is however more recommended because the paths are less slippery then and travellers can easily spot the chimpanzees unlike the wet season when the lush vegetation makes it hard to clearly see them or even take good pictures. However, the best time for bird watching is during the wet season which falls in the months of March to May and September to November. Given the slippery nature of the paths and the roads, be sure to carry good hiking shoes with a strong grip.

How to get to Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda. Travellers from Entebbe or Kampala can access the park via Mubende to Fort Portal from where you then proceed for about 22 minutes to Kibale National Park. Alternatively, travellers can use the Kamwenge Mbarara route though it is quite longer.

Accommodation in Kibale National Park

There are a number of accommodation in Kibale National Park, both inside the park and outside the park, which travellers can book into and stay as they enjoy their stay in the park. The accommodation in Kibale National Park ranges from Luxury to budget, thereby catering for all kinds of travellers. Some of the lodging options you may consider booking include Primate Lodge, Chimp’s Nest Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, among others. During the peak season, booking in advance is advised.

Kibale National Park is a great Uganda national park that travellers should include on their Uganda safari tour. You may combine your Kibale National Park adventure with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from where you can even have a golden monkey tracking adventure.

For wildlife game viewing and boat safaris, you may choose to add on Queen Elizabeth National Park or Murchison Falls National Park, or better yet, the remote Kidepo Valley National Park. Whatever your choice, get in touch with a reputable tour operator to help you put together an amazing Uganda safari tour.