About Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is one of Uganda’s most mind blowing tropical rain forests and a memorable chimpanzee destination to explore.
Kibale forest has 13 species of primates including the localized red colobus, l’hoest’s monkeys and the endemic Uganda mangabay.
Chimpanzees can be seen swinging in tree branches on a walk through the forest trails.
Over 300 bird’s species are also hosted by this forest besides a variety of mammals like the forest elephants, buffalos, giant forest hogs and half dozen antelope species. Kibale forest is ideally in the heart of the Toro Kingdom in western Uganda near Fort portal town.
The park lies close to the tranquil Ndali-kasenda crater area and is within a 3 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth, Ruwenzori Mountain and Semuliki National parks.
Accessibility to Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is accessed by road and the park can be reached from Kampala via Mubende and Fort portal or through Mbarara and Kamwenge.
There is daily public transport between Kampala and Fort portal town by bus.
Air travel
The park has access to two airstrips; Nyakisharara airstrip in Mbarara (about 98km through Kamwenge from Kanyanchu) or via Kasese air strip, 75km from Fort portal town. It can also be reached from the airstrip in Toro/ Semliki wildlife reserve, only 86km to Kanyanchu where the chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest starts off.
Activities in the Park
Chimpanzee habituation experience
This activity allows you to accompany Kibale’s researchers and habituators as they follow chimpanzees in the forest throughout the day.
Habituation is aimed at getting the chimpanzees to human presence without altering their natural behavior. The activity starts off early morning to witness the chimps de-nesting. Throughout the day follow the chimps to watch them feeding, copulating, hunting, breast feeding, resting, patrolling and displaying different swinging styles. Depart the forest after they build new nests and retire for the night usually at bout 7pm. Chimpanzee habituation should be booked in advance and is not available during the peak season.
Walks are available all year and start from kanyanchu visitor’s center at 8am and 2pm daily lasting 2-3 hours per walk. Guides are readily available to take tourists through this walk with 6 persons per group - advanced booking is a prerequisite. During the walk remind your guide to show you the naked Adam and Eve tree, one of kibale’s unique wonders.
Bird watching and night nature walks
These are also available, moreover Kibale National Park boasts of over 300 bird species of which 60 percent are recorded Uganda’s forest birds.
The night nature walk allows visitors to track unique species of birds, insect and animals like: bats, owls, pottos, bush babies, civets, genet cats and more which are most active at night.
Children’s activities
The park has a variety of activities like pond dipping, cyanotype photography and batik- making. The children can learn about the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Parents can learn more on the forest walk with the comfort that their children are occupied in worthwhile activity with trained ranger guides.
Cultural heritage and nature trail
This can last 2-6 days on a cultural heritage through the tropical forest to meet local people and gain insights into their cultures. The full walk can start or end at either kanyanchu or Sebitoli. Explore the forest during the day and finish off at the community – run campsites near the villages of Kinoni, Nyaibanda and Nyakalongo to rest and have a drink.