Kibale National Park Uganda

Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. The most accessible of Uganda’s major rain forests, Kibale is home to a remarkable 13 primate species including the much-localized red colobus monkey, L’Hoest monkey, Olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey, Uganda Mangabey, vervet monkey, Thomas galago, Demidoff galago, Potto and the Eastern needle clawed galago. Kibale’s major attraction, however, is the opportunity to track the habituated chimpanzees. A network of shady forest trails provides much to the delight of botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic green-breasted pitta.

Size of Kibale National Park

The 766km squared Kibale Forest National Park extends southwards from the Fort portal to form a contiguous block with the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Location of Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is a national park in Western Uganda.

Things to do in Kibale National Park

The most popular activity in the national park is the guided chimp-tracking excursion out of Kanyanchu. Almost as popular is the guided walking trail through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is probably better for general monkey viewing and one of the finest birding trails in the country.

Chimpanzee trekking

Kibale’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be sought, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this trail are the chimpanzees. Kanyanchu chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent.

Chimpanzee habituation

The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) enables visitors to accompany researchers and habituation into the forest. The chimpanzee groups involved are less accustomed to human presence than those visited on the Primate Walk and following and viewing them is both exciting and challenging.

Guided walks

With developed wood walkways in the forest, clients can take a guided forest walk with a ranger in search of birds, monkeys, and antelopes like the duiker that are often shy but can be seen.

Night walks

Night walks are available for booking at the national park office, this will help clients trek for nocturnal primates such as bushbabies, photos, and Galagos which you can see or hard at night

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

This small sanctuary which protects the Magombe Swamp adjacent to the Bigodi trading centre just outside the national park boundary is excellent for monkey trekking

Sebitoli and the Kihingami Wetlands

Sebitoli lies inside the northern part of Kibale Forest National Park Perfect for forest walks for day-trippers from the Fort portal.

When to visit Kibale National Park

The best time to visit Kibale is during the dry season from June to September and December to February. The wet/rainy season on the other hand kick starts from March to May and from October to November. The rainy or wet season is usually characterized by heavy rainfall but is incredible for bird watching.