Kibale Forest National park
Kibale Forest National Park is substantially ever-green tropical rainforest lying on 795 square kilometers in area width in the Western parts of Uganda particularly near Fort Portal town. The beautiful moist ever-green tropical rain-forests with grassland vegetation importantly influencing the weather conditions gives sanctuary to about 70 mammal species, some of which are the impressive 13 primate species foremost the families of chimpanzees. There is an estimation of 1,500 chimpanzees making it Uganda’s largest chimpanzee population and other notable primates include the Bushbaby ( creature of the night ) and the Potto that are normally spotted during guided night walks in the rainforest and the other primate species include red-tailed monkeys , olive Baboons (keep your meal and bag safe ), blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, galagos, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. The chimpanzees are in habituated groups that can be tracked with a professional ranger guide at Kanyanchu River Camp.
Kibale Forest National Park is also regarded as the Primate capital of the world because of it’s diverse concentration of primates in Africa and in the world at large. It is a popular destination for birders as the park asserts about 325 bird species like the Olive long-tailed cuckoo, African Grey parrot, and western tinker bird among more.
Location:
Kibale Forest National Park is situated in Western Uganda and it’s shared by (four) 4 districts that’s to say Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, and Kasese but largely in Kabarole district. It is about 348 km ( 5 hours drive ) from Kampala and about 26 km southwest of Fort Portal city ( Tourism City ) and it adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south and Semliki National park to the north.
Kabale Forest National Park was found in 1993 and it’s set on an altitude of 1590 meters.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN KIBALE:
- Primates and wildlife;
Kibale Forest National Park concentrates on a wide range of animal species , about 70 mammals which include 13 different primate species making it the world’s primate capital, 375 birds, floral species and other animals. The impressive list of the 13 primate species include; red-tailed monkeys, 1500 chimpanzees , olive Baboons (keep your meal and bag safe ), blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, galagos, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. The other animals that survive in the park include bushbucks, bush pigs, Bush Elephants, warthogs, Leopards, African golden Cats, Otters, Forest hogs, mongoose, buffaloes, and many more.
The main tourists attraction being the Chimpanzees where chimpanzee trekking starts at Kanyanchu Tourist Center and it’s conducted by a professional ranger guide guaranteeing an unforgettable experience with the intelligent primates in their beautiful rich habitats for at least an hour of sight and interactions.
- Birds;
Kibale Forest National Park is a popular destination of bird spieces hosting about 375 birds particularly the forest bird spieces and the endemic. The Park hosts specifically 4 unique bird spieces that are only found in this park, these include the blue-headed bee-eaters, Cassin’s spine tails, Masked apalis and the Nahan’s francolins , blue turacos, Rose turacos. These you will find no whereelse than Kibale, isn’t that very beautiful?
Other bird residents that survive in Kibale include African green breasted pittas, blue breasted kingfishers, tropical boubou, slender billed weaver’s , Grey parrots, red chested owlets, little greenbul, superb sunbird , purple breasted sunbirds and among more. These can be best sighted during the wet season in Uganda that’s March to May and October through November
Activities In Kibale forest national park
Chimp Trekking
Kibale Forest National Park regarded as the primates capital of the world hosts about 1500 chimpanzees that enhances chimpanzee tracking .Kanyanchu being the main tourism centre in Kibale,it’s where the Chimpanzees are tracked and the habituation starts with a great breifing conducted by a professional forest ranger guide . The trekking takes about 2 to 4 hours inclusive of the one hour close interraction experience.
Kibale Chimpanzee trekking requires early valid permit booking of about Usd 250 per person for foreign non-resident citizens, Usd 200 for foreign residents and Shs 180,000 for all East African citizens inclusive of Ugandans.
Chimpanzee Habituation
Kibale Chimpanzee Habituation is mainly for the tourists that would love to spend more time with the chimpanzees probably a full-day or half-day trying to learn, understand and observe how they behave, stay and feed. This movement is in accompany of a professional experienced forest ranger guide and there is Lunch meals organised for the tourists in the forest hence Lunch in the forest.
Kibale Chimpanzee Habituation requires an early valid Permit booking and each permit costs Usd 300 foreign non residents and 250 usds for foreign residents well as East African residents pay Ug Shs. 250,000 per person with Ugandans included.
- Bird watching;
Kibale hosts a wide range of bird population both endemic and forest bird species making it an idea stop for birders. The park has an impressive list of about 335 forest birds, swamp and grassland spieces including the 4 bird species endemic to only Kibale. Some of the beautiful bird species include the purple breasted sun birds, African green breasted pittas, black-necked weavers, red-capped robins, among.
Kibale is adjacent to Bigodi Wetland, a popular destination for birders hosting a total of 138 bird spieces . Bigodi Wetland features peculiar birds like the great blue turacos, the primates such as the nocturnal bush babies, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys
- Cultural Expendition;
Kibale Forest National Park is situated in the Kabarole district, a place occupied by a number of Batooro and Bakiga. An interaction with these tribes gives an insight of their traditional and cultural practices and many more.
- Bush- Craft Children;
These are beautiful activities that can be conducted whilst the parents are doing chimpanzee tracking in the Forest flavouring children age group of 5 to 15 years. During the games, the children are in position to explore floral species, butterflies, primates and birds.
WHEN TO TOUR KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK:
Kibale Forest National Park provides are greater sight of all the primates, birds, floral species and other animals in the dry season of Uganda. The Dry season months of Uganda are early June to early September and December through February.
STAY IN AND AROUND KIBALE:
The places to stay in and around of Kibale Forest National Park range in budget, mid-range and luxury places.
The Bugdet Accomodations include; Kibale Forest Lodge, Kibale Eco-Home, Lake Nyamirima cottages.
Mid-Range Accommodations are; Turaco tree tops , Kibale Guest Cottages and Kibale Forest Camp
Luxury Accomodations like; Trackers Safari Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge and Kyaninga Lodge, primates lodge , Ndali lodge
DIRECTIONS TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK:
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the most reachable parks by either air or road in Uganda about 348km from Kampala using Kampala- Fort Portal road through Mubende approximately 5 to 6 hours drive or Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese road still in proximite of 6 to 7 hours drive or by Air fly from Entebbe Airport/Kajjansi Airstrip to Kasese Airstrip then connect to Kabale.
