Kibale Forest National Park is popular for Chimpanzee trekking Safaris and is located in Kabarole district in western Uganda near Fort Portal. It is the most accessible of Uganda’s major rain forests and home to 13 primate species including; red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey. For the most exciting Uganda Chimpanzee tracking tours, Kibale remains the ideal park to visit.
Things to do in Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee tracking
The major tourist attraction in Kibale is the opportunity to track habituated chimpanzees. These delightful apes, more closely related to humans than any other living creature, are mesmerizing to watch as they freely squabble and enjoy their play in fruiting trees with in the forest.
The park has a highly successful Chimpanzee tracking program. More primates may be found on these guided walks that include Olive baboons, the grey-cheeked Mangabeys, the blue L’Hoest’s gentle, Guereza colobus, and Red-tailed monkeys usually found in open areas close to the forest. You may also find Elephants, Hogs and Buffaloes along the way. Bush buck, Harvey’s and Peter’s duick-ers are yet other inhabitants of this forest.
Bird watching
Kibale`s network of shady forest trails provides much delight to botanists and butterfly lovers. With 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush, birders are greatly impressed. Bird species in Kibale Forest National Park include; the Grey-winged Robin, White-naped Pigeon, Red-winged Francolin Green-brested Pitta, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Chestnut-winged Starling Red-chested Flufftail, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, White-bellied Crested Flycather, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Masked and Black-capped Apalises Chestnut-winged Starling, Grey-headed Olive-back ,Orange-tufted and Tiny Sunbirds, Uganda Woodland Warbler and Chestnut-winged Starling.
Where to stay in Kibale
Primate Safari Lodge, with luxury tented camps and Forest cottages offers one of the best accommodation facilities in Kibale national Park. Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodges and Crater Safari Lodge are the top most luxury accommodation facilities with thatched cottages overlooking crater lakes.
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park
By road; Drive to Fort Portal then Kamwenge, commence near the bridge over the Mpanga River in Fort Portal from here the route is well sign posted. Turn left at the junction 12-km from Fort Portal and follow signpost for 24 km ahead to Kanyanchu tourist centre.
By Flight: Kibale can be accessed via Kasese Airstrip close to Queen Elizabeth National Park, this is just a hour’s drive to Kibale Forest National Park. 2X daily flights in to Kasese leaving Entebbe International Airport, the morning and the afternoon flight sessions.