The chimp’s share 98.6% of human DNA isn’t that surpringly

Kibale Forest National Park is located in western Uganda in Kabarole district, near Fort Portal town and covers 795 square kilometers of tropical rainforest. The park was gazetted in 1932 as a forest reserve. After years had passed the forest was declared a National Park in 1993.  The Park is also called the primate capital of the world with a number of Chimpanzees dominant in the forest.  The parks temperatures are measured at a range between 14-27 Degrees hence being relatively cool. It takes about a 2 hour drive from Kasese and 6 hours from Kampala to Kibale forest National Park.

Kibale Forest National Park is home to over 1,500 chimpanzee making the park a good haven for chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda.  The park is also home to a number (13) of other primates such as Red colobus Monkey, Black and white colubus Monkey, Rare I’Hoest’s monkey, Bush babies, Red-tailed Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Potto and the Blue Monkey. The chimp’s share 98.6% of human DNA isn’t that surprising!!  In their routine the chimps groom each other, hunt, eat as well as resting.

Kibale forest is home to about is home to over 60 mammals such as antelopes, leopards, duikers, forest elephants, forest buffaloes, warthogs, bush pigs and the leopards. It’s also home to about 75 bird species including Wood Picker, Africa Grain Hepista Red-chested Flufftail, White-naped Pigeon, Green-brested Pitta among others.

Best time to visit Kibale Forest National park

Kibale forest National Park can be visited throughout the year and the best time to visit is during the dry season between July to September and January to February in good seasons when the area is not slippery.

How to Access Kibale Forest National Park

You can access the park from Entebbe International Airport using the scheduled/charter flights to Kasese Airstrip and it’s about 1 to 2 hours Kasese to Kibale National Park

By road transport the drive from Kampala via Fort portal to Kibale Forest is approximately 6 -7 hours.

Activities in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking

The experience can be engaged in Early Morning at 8:00 am and Afternoon session at 2:00 pm depending on your arrival time at the park. Best tracking time is during the morning and the trek usually takes about 2-3 hours. While in the jungle chimps are found in groups and are usually headed by the alphor male. Baby chimps are often seen playing in the trees and they also do grooming. When the chimps are found visitors observe them for 1 hour just like the gorillas of Bwindi.

Kibale forest national park is home to over 1500 chimps and these happen to be our closest relatives of the humans with a DNA that is close to that of the humans.

Children have to be 15 years and above to able to track the chimpanzees. 

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience 

Chimp Habituation starts at 6:30 am, the activity involves following the chimps as they wake up early in the morning. Before the experience you shall be briefed by a park ranger and researchers at Kanyachu information center. You will witness in their families and groups doing a number of activities as well as feeding and playing.  The park rangers will take you through the different ways of habituation.  The habituation process ends in the evening when the chimps go to make their nests for the night.

We shall have packed lunch during this experience.

Children have to be 15 years and above to able to do the chimpanzee habituation. On the other hand they could engage in other interesting activities like the Bush craft classes, viewing wildlife such as birds, monkeys and plant etc.

Bigodi Swamp Walk

Bigodi wetland sanctuary is located 6 km on southern edge of Kibale Forest National Park, look out for primate like the Olive Baboons, Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangaby, Red-tailed Monkeys among others

It is home to about 138 species of birds. Crested Eagle, Little Egret, the Green-breasted Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, a Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pitta, Black-eared Ground Thrush, and Yellow-rumped.

Engage into the community walk which involves encountering culture, engaging the local people. You shall witness things like brewing, coffee processing, craft making and learn how to use local medicine.                                                 

Kanyanchu Primate Nature Walks

At Kanyanchu is the most popular of the walks in Kibale National Park, with chimps being the prominent primate but we have other primates such as Black and White colobus, red tailed monkey and gray cheeked mangabey that you should look out for while on the walk. Mammals, horned ungulates and predators as antelopes, forest elephants, and forest buffaloes, but they are rarly seen. Birds like the sun birds, pittas, and other bird species and this walk is taken on either at 08:00 am or 15:00 pm and takes about 2- 3 hours.

Seasonal Forest Hike

The 12km hike is restricted to mid-November-February and June-September which are dry seasons o. you will have an opportunity to explore the park’s diverse habitats including tropical rainforest, riverine forest, swamp and grassland. With chance of seeing a number of different bird species, primates, rare antelopes like the duiker and bushbuck.  While on this walk we recommend you carry enough drinking water and snacks.

The walk begins at 08:00 from Kanyanchu Visitor centre and ends at the elephant wallow around 14:00. 

Crater Lake Hikes

Kibale Forest National Park is situated in the Rift valley region of western Uganda with scenic crater. Uganda has a number of scenic crater lakes found in the areas of Fort Portal, Kasese and Kabale. Ndali- Kasenda craters, kyanyinga Crater Lake, the twin craters of Fort portal and the scenic crater of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is closer to Kibale.

While in Kibale we can hike to the crater lakes offering us scenic view and the landscape below. The crater lakes hike if blended with visit to the ancient caves of Amabere and get to know more about the ancient culture. The hike can take about 2-3 hours

Bird Watching

Kibale Forest National park is a good birding haven and is home to over 375 bird species and while on your birding safari in the park look out for birds like the Red-chested Owlet, Purple-breasted Sunbird, African Grey Parrot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, , Black Bee-eater, White-naped Pigeon,  rare Green-breasted Pitta etc.

While on your safari carry your binoculars and a camera to make your trip memorable.

Sample Trips in Kibale Forest National Park

2 Days Chimp Safari Kibale National Park

3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking Kibale Forest National Park

6 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Experience and Queen Elizabeth National Park Experience

7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari