Kibale National Park
ONE OF AFRICA’S RICHEST TROPICAL RAINFOREST PARKS
Kibale National Park Overview
Kibale National Park is one of Africa’s richest tropical rainforest parks, home to a huge concentration of primates and other wildlife. This park is without doubt visitors’ choice of destination when it comes to chimpanzee tracking and birding expeditions.
Within the lush forest of Kibale National Park, there exist over 13 primate species making it a true primate capital of the world. This park was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 and upgraded to a national park in 1993, occupying a land area of 795 sq.km. Kibale National Park is located at an altitude of 1100 to 1590m and features tall trees measuring 55m high forming a semi-closed canopy. The park also has a record of 351 species of trees making it a treasured destination for scientists, researchers and most field workers.
Location
Kibale National Park is situated in the Kabarole district, Western Uganda about 5 hours drive off from the Kampala capital. From Fort Portal city, the park is 26km and is on the South-east side. Kibale is strategically lying near the spectacular Ndali-Kasenda Crater Area, Queen Elizabeth National Park to the South, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Semuliki National Park. The Southern side border between Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park forms a 180 km long wildlife migration corridor. This corridor connects the Ishasha sector in the Southern Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Northern part of Kibale–Sebitoli.
Vegetation
Kibale National Park features varying vegetation types where its diverse faunal species reside. The park’s vegetation cover consists of the moist evergreen forest which is concentrated on the Fort Portal plateau, the dry tropical forest/moist semi-deciduous and woodland plus savanna grassland that thrives on the rift valley floor. Kanyanchu is Kibale National Park’s central point and also a tourist centre. It is at this area where briefing about chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations is always conducted.
Wildlife and primates of Kibale
With a record of over 13 species of primates, Kibale National Park is with no doubt world’s most sought for primate safari park. The park holds a huge concentration of primates and other wildlife including the red colobus monkeys, bush babies, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red tailed monkeys, pottos, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys.
Additionally, there are other animal species living together with primates in the same habitat. They include elephants, duikers, leopards, buffaloes, bush pigs, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, and golden cats, etc. Besides, the park also contains a good population of colorful butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians, etc.
Birds
Within Kibale National Park, there are more than 375 species of birds to be searched for on birding tours. They include four native species and other Albertine rift endemic species. The park’s bird species include the Nahan’s francolins, yellow-spotted nicator, red-chested owlet, African green-breasted pittas, Abyssinian ground thrush, blue-headed sunbird, Cassin’s spinetail, black bee-eaters, masked apalis, Rwenzori Apalis, crowned eagles, blue-headed kingfishers, yellow-spotted barbets, brown illadopsis, black bishops, superb sunbird, grey winged robin chat, yellow rumped tinker bird, red-faced woodland warblers, purple breasted sunbirds, scaly breasted illadopsis, little greenbul, brown-backed scrub robin, and more.
Activities to do in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale National Park is visitors’ choice of destination thanks to its exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experiences. The chimpanzee trek through Kibale Forest allows you to have a deep understanding of chimpanzee behaviours, the renowned human relatives whose DNA is 98 per cent the same as that of man.
Each day, there are 2 sessions of chimpanzee trekking in the morning and afternoon –all starting at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. The entire chimp trek runs for 2-4 hours but includes one hour for visitors to enjoy a close encounter with chimpanzees in the wild. Normal chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale are available for booking at USD 200 and they can be reserved through a reliable tour operator on the ground – info@wanderluxsafaris.com.
Chimpanzee habituation experience is a long day search for semi-habituated chimpanzee community. This primate adventure is perfectly done with trackers and involves following chimpanzees while observing their daily behaviors from sunrise to sunset when they make new nests to sleep.
Birding is one of the leading safari activities offering birders a chance to look for the park’s diverse bird species including native and Albertine rift valley species. On a bird watching tour, birds to search for in this park include the little greenbul, red-faced woodland warblers, black-capped apalis, collared apalis, yellow rumped tinker bird, blue breasted kingfishers, African green breasted pitta, crowned eagles, yellow spotted nicator, Abyssinian ground thrush, purple breasted sunbird, dusky crimson wings, blue breasted kingfishers, brown breasted alethe, and others.
Kibale nature walk is all about exploring the 12km stretch trail and this is perfectly done during the dry season (June, July, August to September), December, January to February. You can go for a short guided nature walk taking 2 hours or half day to explore the different habitats of the park including swamps, river line forest, tropical rainforest and grassland.
Other tourism activities to do around Kibale National Park include Bigodi Wetland nature walk, cultural visit, visit Amabere G’Nyina Mwiru, Crater Lake tour.
When to travel to the park
Kibale National Park is open to holidaymakers all year-round thanks to its favourable weather conditions. To enjoy excellent animal encounters on Kibale National Park safaris the dry season is the best time to visit the park and this is from June, July, August, September and December, January to February. The wettest months receive a high rainfall amount of about 1700mm, which is from March, April, May and October to November. The park’s average annual temperature range is 14-27 degrees celsius.
Where to stay
- Luxury lodges – Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge and Crater Safari Lodge.
- Midrange accommodation options – Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, and Nyinabulitwa Country Resort.
Getting there
Kibale National Park access is perfect by road or air. By road, you can drive for 5-6 hours and we recommend a 4×4 safari vehicle. You drive via Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal city –the shortest route and longest route takes you through Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese route. Taking domestic flight means you fly from Entebbe airport to Kasese airstrip/Mweya airstrip or Semliki and our driver guide picks you up for drop off to Kibale National Park.
