Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale National Park is a national park in Western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rain forest. It is 766 square kilometers in size and is located between 1,100 meters to 1,600 meters in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes. Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. The park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve and forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park and this adjoining of the parks creates a 180 kilometers wildlife corridor. It is an important Eco-tourism and safari destination, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and twelve other species of primates

Kibale National Forest has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa and home to a large number of endangered chimpanzees, as well as the red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey. The park has 13 species of primates and protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus, and the L’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey

The park’s population of elephants travels between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivores that are present include leopards, African golden cats, servals, different mongooses and lions visit the park on occasion. Bird life is also prolific and the park boasts 325 sited species of birds, including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinker bird, two species of pittas and the grey parrot. The ground thrush is endemic to Kibale National Park

Activities in kibale national park

Kibale National Park is a top safari destination with a growing number of travelers coming into Uganda for Chimpanzee tours and other wildlife tours. Travelers to Kibale National Park have a variety of activities to do depending on their travel interests and time. With no doubt, the park is Uganda’s most visited tour destination for most if not all travelers to the pearl of Africa and below are popular activities to do in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee tracking and habituation experience

Kibale Forest is the best destination in the whole of East Africa for seeing the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, the park protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus and the L’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey

A lifetime experience that allows you to accompany Kibale’s research and habituation team on their daily activities. You will spend a full day with the chimpanzees and witness them de-nesting, feeding and playing.

Birding watching

Bigodi Wetland sanctuary is the wetland is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species, other birding hikes can be organized in the National Park or through our private forest trail. The park boasts over 300 sited species of birds, including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinker bird, two species of pittas and the grey parrot, 6 species of birds are endemic to the Albertine Rift region

Cultural encounters

Tourists can make excursions with the local community who are Batoro and Bakiga, Both tribes depend on the Park to extract medicinal plants, materials for making crafts, firewood and honey.  The two tribes have diverse cultural beliefs, norms and practices, dances, music, folktale which you can enjoy.

Night walks

A one and a half to 2 hours walk through the forest in search of nocturnal forest residents like the Bush Babies, Pottos, at times Tree Pangolins and other nocturnal animals, including the birds that rule the night in the forest

Exploration of the Crater Lakes

The stretch between Fort Portal and Kibale Forest is known as the crater lakes region. Here you can simply enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes and the stunning views.

Visit to the tea plantations

Kibale Forest is surrounded by large, green tea plantations. A visit to the area cannot go without a stop in one of the tea estates. Learn how the leaves are processed and transformed into tea.