Kibale Forest National Park Uganda

“The Primate Capital in East Africa”

Size 795 Sq Kms

Overview:

Some of the Accommodations near Kibale Forest: Photo credit – Paul K.K.

Kibale forest national park is located in the districts of Kabalore and Kamwenge approximately 330 kilometers west of Kampala. It extends southwards from fort portal and forms a block with Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori and Semliki national parks as well as Toro Semiliki game reserve. It was first protected in the 1940s as a forest reserve and gazetted in October 1993 as a national park.

Today, it is one of the rewarding destinations to explore. Kibale forest is interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp has one of the richest ecosystems in the whole of Africa. It contains over 340 birds species that include the African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta to mention just a few, making it a wonderful spot for bird watchers, 14 species of snakes, 27 species of frogs and toads, at least 20 species of other reptiles and at least 200 species of butterflies. Other animals to be seen here include: chimpanzee, elephant, bush pig, giant forest hog, bats and rodents, etc.

Shinning Blue Kingfisher at Bigodi swamp – Kibale. Photo credit – Stavros Christodoulides

This is one of East Africa’s oldest forests. A primatologist’s dream. It’s a home to a population of more than 1000 chimpanzees and a community of about 80 of these has been habituated and used for tourist visits and really observed monkey species including the L’hoests monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangbay, Baboons, Black and White and Red Colubus Monkeys among others.

Activities in Kibale national park.

Chimpanzee trekking:

This is usually done into routes, that’s the central circuit and Ngogo route to the southern part of the park. Trekking chimpanzees is another exiting but can be rather challenging activity since sometimes visitors move a long journey to meet these giant apes. While trekking  one can see other primates like Velvet, Red-tailed, L’hoest’s and Blue monkey, Grey-checked Mangabey to mention but a few.

Nature walks:

The Park is highly alluring to nature lovers and thus appreciating it’s scenic beauty. It has a well maintained trail network crisscrossing the depth of the forest, allowing good viewing opportunities for both day and nocturnal wildlife. And if one would like do the night walk, this has to be booked early enough to allow the park authorities arrange it for you.

Bird watching:

Kibale national park has a wide range of forest birds including those not recorded in any other park. Species include; Green-breasted Pitta, Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Spinetail, Blue-headed Bee-eater and Masked Apalis among others.

African Grass Owl at Kibale NP: Photo credit – Stavros Christodoulides

Accessibility:

The park can be accessed through many different routes some of which may include Kampala via Fort portal to kibale National park that is a distance of 330km.

Accommodation:

There is a variety of accessible and reliable lodges for accommodation if its the concern of were to have a break off before and after a wonderful day of enjoying Chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, bird watching etc.

Some of the lodges we have in place include; Guereza Canopy lodge located about 3 kilometers from the park offices, Crater safari lodge located 4.3km from Kibale forest National park, it offers mid-range accommodation. Ecolodge located on the rim of the kifuruka crater lake 12km from Kibale Forest National Park. Chimpanzee forest Lodge located at Isunga – Kibale National Park. etc.

Chimpanzee at Kibale national park: Photo credit – Paul K.K.

By road:

The park is located near Fort-Portal which is about 300 kilometers west of Kampala and from Fort Portal you drive about 36 kilometers on the Fort-Portal – Kamwenge road, to the park entry. The road is all tarmacked from Kampala to the park entry, providing easy access to the tourists.

By air:

The park can also be accessed by air and transport can be arranged on chartered flights from Kampala or Entebbe international airport. So you land at Kasese airstrip and board a vehicle, drive about 50 kilometers to the park entry.

Book your Gorilla Trekking Tour Today:
Here are some of our tours; Kibale Birding Tours – Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking – Bigodi Swamp Nature Walks & Kibale Cultural Tours.

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