Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale National Park is also known as the ‘’primate capital’’ and then popular national park basically located in the western part of Uganda. The park is most recognized and it is known as a leading destination for the chimpanzees in the entire country that is the park has got the large numbers of the chimpanzees, this is the amazing park and renowned as the best place where various tourists explore the park to trek the chimpanzees on the planet, and besides that the park is a home to over 13 primate species. Kibale Forest National Park covers an area of 795 square kilometers. The park is protected and managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Attractions in Kibale Forest National Park.
Primates.
Kibale forest national park is a perfect destination for the primates that are 13 in number where the park has got the largest numbers of the chimpanzees as the main primates that are over 1450 in number in the entire country where they inhabit in the thick forest cover with the big tall trees as they build in their nests to sustain their living. Not only the chimpanzees being the top primate in the park, as well the park has got other primates like white and black colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Olive baboon, grey checked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkeys and among others, as well as nocturnal primates these can be best spotted during the night forest walks like bush babies, pottos.
Kibale forest national offers the tourists who come to explore the park with chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation in the park especially in Kanyanchu in the park.
Animal species.
Kibale forest national park not only being popular destination for the chimpanzees, but at the same time the park has got other animal species being the unique park with the well facilitated habitats that is the thick forests in the park. Animals that can be found in the park includes the elephants, lions, leopards, African pam civet, warthogs, bushbuck, sitatunga, marsh mongoose, golden cats and among others.
Bird species.
Kibale national park is a birding haven where most of the travelers who visit the park get exposed to various bird species that are over 375 including the endemic bird species to Kibale national park, forest birds, and migratory birds and among other. Some of the bird species that can be spotted in the park includes the yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, little greenbul, red-faced woodland warbler, black-eared ground thrush, yellow spotted Nicator, purple-breasted sun bird and among others.
Activities to do in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking is the top safari activity that is done in Kibale national park which attracts various number of the tourists to explore the park. This is one of the most gorgeous Uganda safari activity in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking starts very early in the morning at the park headquarters with the briefing about rules and regulations to follow while carrying out chimpanzee trekking. Then after the briefing you can be led by the park guides to the forest in the park while following the perfect chimpanzee trekking trails.
Chimpanzee trekking takes the trekking team around 30 minutes to 3 hours while looking for the chimpanzees regarding to the location of the chimpanzees as these keeps moving far in the forest while searching for food, on your way of trekking you keep encountering other animal, plant and bird species that are found in the park. After finding the chimpanzees you are given one hour to be them while watching their behavioral characteristics, feeding habits, grooming their young ones, breastfeeding, taking pictures and videos with them and among many others.
Chimpanzee habituation.
There is nothing incredible like carrying out chimpanzee habituation in Kibale national park, this is very interesting safari activity where the chimpanzees are trained to get used to the human presence this as well starts very in the morning approximately at 6:00am with a briefing about the rules and regulations about the expectations, rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you join the group of the researchers, guides, scientists, park rangers and immediately you start trekking in the forest while looking for the chimpanzees, this becomes magical during on the you way looking for the chimpanzees you keep spotting the different primate species, plant, bird species and many others. When you get to find the chimpanzees the trekkers are given four hours to be with them as this is perfect compared to chimpanzee trekking for one hour.
Chimpanzee habituation is where the travelers are given more time to be with the presence of chimps as they get used to them, while as they are observing their behaviors, grooming their young ones, hunting, building their nests for the night, participating in their naming process and among many others.
Bird watching.
Bird watching is best done in Kibale national park, the park is the haven of various bird species which are over 375 species that are such attractive and colorful like migratory, forest and the Albertine endemic bird species, this activity is done in different timings of the day either morning or evening with the help of the experienced bird guide who helps you to spot the famous bird species in the park. Including crowned eagle, African pied wagtail, black capped waxbill, great blue turaco, Little Greenbul, African green pigeon, blue breasted kingfisher, yellow spotted Nicator, papyrus canary, African dusky flycatcher, Ash flycatcher, Brown-eared woodpecker, papyrus gonolek, collared appalis, African Emerald Cuckoo and among many others.
Guided nature walks.
Nature walks is the best way to adventure Kibale national park that’s where the tourists encounter the park parts on foot where the vehicles do not reach with the help of the guide where he helps you to get exposed to the hidden gem of the park. Nature walks helps the tourists to close spot the most attractive various species like the animals including the elephants, primates like the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and among others without forgetting the beautiful bird species, colorful butterflies and among others.
Night forest walks.
Tourists who choose Kibale national park as their right destination get involved in the night forest walks which are only done in the park. This is where the tourists with the help of the park guides and help of the spotlight torches get to observe the park features especially the nocturnal animal species like the hyenas, pottos, bush babies, serval cats, civet and among others.
Where to stay in Kibale National Park.
Kibale national park has got various accommodation facilities suitable for the travelers who come to visit the park that are categorized inform of budget, midrange and luxury accommodations like Chimpanzee forest lodge, Nyankuruba nature reserve and community campsite, Turaco treetops, Chimpundu lodge, Primate safari lodge, Isunga lodge and among others.
How to get to Kibale forest national park.
Kibale national park can be accessed by different means from the capital city Kampala up to the park that is both by road and air transport.
By Road means.
Kibale forest national park can be reached by road transport means where you can drive from Kampala through Mubende, Fort portal or Mbarara, Kamwenge then from then you reach the park headquarters this takes you 6 to 7hours to the park.
By Air transport.
Kibale forest national park can be accessed through using air means of transport that’s is where a traveler can book either the charter and the scheduled flights from Entebbe International air, or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese or Semuliki airstrip and from their you get to the park while using the road.