
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
The Primate Capital of the World
Often referred to as the primate capital of the world, Kibale national park is 792 square kilometers and 348km (5 hrs drives) from Kampala city the capital of Uganda. The magnificent tropical rain forest of Uganda is one of the most rewarding areas to explore and stands 1590m above sea level. The park has 13 primate species including the red colobus monkey, the Central African Monkey, the Black and White Colobus Monkey, the Blue Monkey, the L’Hoest’s Monkey, and the Monkey Uganda mangabey, without forgetting the chimpanzees among others. Over 300 bird species have also been recorded. The 180km long corridor for wildlife also harbors forest elephants, buffalos, giant hogs, and antelope species.
Kibale national park has about 351 tree species with varied vegetation that gives different varieties of wildlife habitat, like the dry tropical forest (moist semi-deciduous), the moist evergreen forest (wet tropical forest) along the Fort Portal plateau, and then the woodland and savannah along the rift valley floor. Around Kanyanchu, the high forest consists of a mixture of evergreen trees and deciduous with the evergreen species being dominant. The vegetation rises more than 55m and establishes a semi-closed canopy of massive stratified tree crowns. With shade-tolerant herbs, shrubs a variety of ferns, and broad-leaved forest grasses.
The park also seats in the heart of the Tooro kingdom in western Uganda and is only half day’s drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Things to do
Chimpanzee habituation experience
The chimpanzee habituation experience is an all-day activity that allows visitors and researchers to follow chimpanzees and watch them in their natural environment without distorting their natural environment, this is always done to prepare chimps to be tracked and get used to human presence around them. Get the amazing experience of watching the chimps de-nesting, feeding, breastfeeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling, and displaying until they build nests and retire for the day at 7:00 pm (advanced booking is required)
Chimpanzee Habituation Process
Chimpanzee habituation begins in the hours at dawn between 6-6:30 am after your breakfast and with packed lunch and with a guide that will lead the habituation process, you head out to locate the chimps. Only a maximum of 4 people per group inclusive of the researchers and guides are permitted to go see these Chimps. Enjoy the site where the primates built their nest and if lucky you may find these beauties just waking up, breastfeeding or even resting. This is the process of making wild primates get used to having human beings around and preparing them to be tracked later on. It can be done for both Chimps and Gorillas and it takes close to 3 years to be completed. Chimpanzee habituation costs $250 per day so do not miss the educational yet very adventurous experience.
Nature walk
Nature walk lasts for about 2-3 hours from 8 am, 10 am, and 2 pm starting from Kanyanchu tourist center where briefing is made. The walk is mostly done in the dry season of December-February and June-September because most trails are hard to pass through in the wet season. Here you are able to spot more variety of birds and animals with the naked Eve and Adam tree a unique feature of Kibale national park that you should look forward to. On a lucky day, you may also encounter bush pigs, Duikers, and Elephants. One may also opt for a night walk to see the nocturnal active like the bush baby among others.
Chimpanzee tracking
Get a chance to meet our closest relatives in Kibale National Park known as the best tourist destination for chimpanzee trekking, a rain forest with over 13 primate species, aside from that, Chimpanzee habituation is also a popular experience where you spend a whole day with chimpanzees watching them do a number of things like breastfeeding, making a nest for the night, mating among other things. One can do chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge in Maramagambo Forest located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo Forest near Murchison Falls National Park, Ngamba Sanctuary Island where these orphaned primates are kept and the wildlife education centre.
Birding watching
The park is home to 325 different bird species, including 6 that are native to the Albertine Rift area. Expect many bird species like Grey-winged Robin, the Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-spotted Nictor, Yellow-ramped Tinker bird, Speckled Tinker bird, White-naped Pigeon, Little Greenbul, Superb Sunbird, the African Pitta, White-thighed hornbill, Blue shouldered Robin Chat, Yellow-spotted Barbet, the Black bee-eater, Green-breasted Pitta, Purple-headed Starling, Greenbul, Cabanis Greenbul, Grey-throated Tit Flycatcher, Scarlet-tufted, Green-throated, Purple-Breasted sunbirds, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked Apalis, Tiny Sunbird, White-collared Olive-back and Black-billed Turacco, etc.
The Bigodi nature walk is an extension that gives you a great opportunity to not only see primates but numerous birds with about 138 bird species.
Community visit
Get a chance to meet the native Batooro people as well as the Bakiga immigrants who stay around this park led by a local guide, and enjoy cultural tours visiting a traditional village to see the traditional lifestyle of the Batoro, primary school, traditional healer visit the local church, and get a closer encounter with the local natives. You will also enjoy some energetic traditional dances and songs by the Bakiga.
Crater Lakes Tour
The magnificent view of craters in the Kasenda area found in Fort Portal a home to more than 50 different crater lakes each lake being uniquely different and are surrounded by steep-sided volcanoes. The landscape of the area is one to really fall in love with offering glimpses of green vegetation,
Location and How to Get to Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is in the western part of Uganda near Ndali Kasenda crater area about 348km (5 hrs drive) from Kampala and approximately 26km south-east of the beautiful Fort Portal town, one of Uganda’s most lovely places to explore. The park is located close to Queen Elizabeth National Park and it takes a half day’s drive, Rwenzori Mountains & Semuliki National Parks and the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
The route to Kibale National Park runs north from Mbarara via Ibanda and Kamwenge. This route is tarmac and passes between some lovely hills on the way to Ibanda, north of which the road is recently paved and the most preferred as it is shorter.
Minibus taxis often run back and forth between Bigodi and Fort Portal throughout the day and are far more comfortable and safer than boda-boda (motorbikes) for anyone that would be traveling solo using public transport. Taxis tend to overcharge travelers, so it’s advisable to check what local passengers are paying.
When to Visit
Even though one can easily visit Kibale National Park any time of the year, the Best time to Visit the park is during the dry season when the trails are dry and passable. This runs from December to February and then from June to September. The wettest area in Kibale is the northern area of Kibale is the wettest and receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1700mm, mainly in March to May and September to November leaving an average annual temperature of about 14℃ to 27℃. The southern part of the park experiences the highest temperatures and lower amounts of rain.
Where to stay
Luxury
Kyaninga Lodge: If you are looking for luxury, then this lodge is your 1 stop shop as this lodge offers a stunning backdrop of Lake Kyaninga and the Rwenzori Mountains beyond, Kyaninga Lodge has 9 spacious exclusive cottages made from hand-carved logs, with choice of twin or double beds made up with the softest bed linen and feather pillows., indoor seating area where you can enjoy morning tea or coffee with views over the lake and the Rwenzori mountains. The en-suite bathrooms have marble countertop basins set a top crafted Elgon olive pedestals, claw-footed freestanding baths and glass-walled showers. With full-time solar power to always have a hot shower at will and electrical charging points also superb dining at the restaurant, therefore, enjoy beautiful experiences on your African safari swimming or simply sipping your preferred drink gazing at the wonderful views around you.
Midrange
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge is just 500 meters away from Kibale National Park Headquarters and chimp trekking at the park’s Kanyanchu Tourist Center is just 10 Km away. The lodge offer beautifully furnished accommodation that is; self-contained cottages (Bandas) with a panoramic view of Kibale Forest National Park and the surrounding Tea plantations. They also have a large ancient colonial house, which was formerly home to the British commissioner in the 1950s. It is well furnished with two self-contained rooms in a colonial setting with beautiful views of Kibale national park, the Tea plantation, and Crater Lake. A hot shower in a Western-style bathroom is one you need after a long day of travel or activity.
Enjoy delicious hot meals from organic seasonal fruits and vegetables, freshly baked bread, pancake breakfasts, and percolated coffee not leaving out cold drinks that will sooth your thought whiles enjoying the beautiful tea plantations out of the restaurant.
Budget
Isunga Lodge: Isunga Lodge is uniquely positioned beside the rainforest and also in the midst of the crater lakes area, with just eight simple, stylish cottages spread around the large grounds which gives you a wonderful feeling and bond with nature even most exciting, you can see three national park while there although it is from a distance how cool is that! Meddle in this beautifully quiet lodge and private lode.
