Kibale forest national park is one of Uganda’s most magnificent tropical rainforest located in the districts of Kabarole and kamwenge in western Uganda, the forest covers area of about 795 sq.km in total. The rainforest is home of 13 different primate species such as famous and endemic Uganda Managabay and well known for chimpanzee trekking in East Africa, “the primate capital of the world”.
The climatic condition of the park is at an average temperature between 14°C -27°C. There are 2 dry and wet seasons, the wet season starting March to May and the other season starts in September to November.
The southern part of the park consists of 180m long migration corridor for wildlife between Sebitoli forests in kibale national park to Queen Elizabeth. The forest harbors elephants, buffaloes, duikers, leopards, and giant forest hogs which are not easily spotted due to the nature of the vegetation in the park.
The park is also home to 200 butterfly species which have been recorded and 351 species of trees found in this moist tropical forest of the park.
There are 13 different primate species recorded within and the most popular being the chimpanzees. The park is the best place to enjoy chimpanzee habituation experience and chimpanzee tracking safari in the countryside. Other primates seen while in Kibale forest are red colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Uganda Managabay, olive baboons, bush babies, pottos and blue monkeys.
The park has 372 bird species of which 60% are recorded forest birds. Some of the commonly spotted birds include; African Grey Parrots, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pitta, Abyssinian Ground-thrush, Black-capped Apalis, Green-breasted Pitta, Brown-chested Alethe, Little Green Bul and Blue-headed Sunbird.
Chimpanzee tracking is most interesting adventure which starts at Kanyanchu visitor center, where the park rangers brief the Guests about the dos and don’ts with chimps and then divide them into smaller groups of 6 persons per group. Quests will spend an hour observing these beautiful creatures as they take pictures and videos to make their travel experience a memory.
Chimpanzee Habituation experience allows the tourist to accompany the rangers guide as they follow chimpanzees during their daily activities like feeding, copulate, hunt, and breast feeding. This process is to get chimpanzees used to the presence of human beings. This interesting experience starts very early in the morning with packed lunch before the chimpanzees de-nest and ends at 7pm when the chimpanzees have made their new nests.
You can choose to have a close contact with nature as you walk in the forest. The nature walk starts at Kanyanchu visitor’s center and takes about 2 – 3 hours. A unique wonder in Kibale. During this walk you will spot a variety of bird species.
Most tourists, pay regular visits to Bigodi wetland sanctuary to see the large number and diversity of wildlife residing in this swamp and wetland residents include over 138 bird species, different primates such as chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, and black and white colobus monkey in addition to other types of animals including mongoose, bushbucks and sitatunga. To best explore this wetland we recommend you take a nature walk through the trails.
Cultural tour are interesting while at the park, walk through the rain forest and meet local people and gain insights into their cultures. During this walk you will discover some of the important traditions and norms of the Batooro and Bakiga. Visit the community school, church and traditional healer.
