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Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park Uganda is a magnificent forest park dubbed the “Primate Capital of the World”  and it is found in western Uganda. The park is famous for protecting the highest number of Chimpanzees, which is about 1500 out of the over 5000 chimpanzees in Uganda.

Experience the heart of Uganda by visiting the breathtaking Kibale Forest National Park to explore other attractions like the Crater Lakes, birds, nature, butterflies, local communities, and the Bigodi Swamp Area.

Kibale National Park has an area of 321 square kilometers and sits at an altitude of between 1,160 meters and 2,607 meters above sea level.

Reaching Kibale Forest by road will take about 6 hours from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

Allow your professional tour planner at Orinoco Expeditions to handle your most amazing African tours to Kibale Forest National Park by booking with us your trip today!

Tourist Attractions at Kibale Forest National Park 

Kibale National Park attractions make the park one of the greatest places to experience Uganda’s irresistible tourist attractions and some of the gems are,

a. Animals, especially the primates

b. Bird species

c.  Crater lakes

d. Bigodi Swamp

e.  Local Communities

1. Animals in Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest National Park protects approximately 120 mammals according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Among these are a total of 13 primate species including the

a. Chimpanzees

b. Olive Baboons

c.  Red-tailed monkeys

d. L’Hoest’s Monkeys

e.  Black and White Colobus Monkeys

f.   Blue Monkeys

g. Vervet Monkeys

h. Pottos

i.   Uganda Mangabey

J.   JPatas Monkeys

k. Demidoff Galago

l.   Uganda Red Colobus Monkeys

m.  Grey Cheeked Mangabeys

Other Kibale National Park animals include Leopards, African forest Elephants, African Golden Cats, Bush Buck, several cats, African Civets, Bush Pigs, and Giant Forest Hogs, among others.

You can explore these animals through forest walks or primate tracking.

2. Birds in Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is home to over 375 bird species including 23 Albertine Rift Endemics.

You can watch the forest birds in the forest, water birds near the crater lakes, and some birds during the Bigodi Swamp Walk.

Common  Albertine Rift Endemics to see at the Bigodi Swamp include Cassin’s Spinetail, Nhan’s Francolin, Blue-Headed Bee Eater, and the Lowland Masked Apalis.

Other Common birds at Kibale National Park are the Grey Parrot, Crowned Eagle, Black Eared Ground Thrush, Blue Headed Bee Eater, Dusky Crimson Wing, Red Chested Owlet, etc.

3. Crater Lakes at Kibale Park 

The western Uganda crater lakes are near Kibale Forest National Park and they offer exquisite views of their natural beauty, a great scenery favorable for photoshoots.

These lakes are believed to have been formed about 8000 to 10,000 years ago due to violent volcanic eruptions.

The common craters are in the Ndali Kasenda Crater Region which has about 60 crater lakes and some of them are Lake Nyabikere Lake Nkuruba, Lake Kifuruka, and Lake Nyinambuga, among others.

4. The Bigodi Swamp near Kibale Forest National Park 

The Bigodi Swamp is an amazing destination adjacent to the Kibale Forest National Park. It is also known as the Magombe Swamp with a total number of 200 bird species with the common Great Blue Turaco.

You can also explore different other birds in the park for example the Grey Crowned Crane, Blue Throated Roller, and Double-toothed Barbet, among others

Other than the birds, Bigodi Swamp is a sanctuary to about 13 primate species including Chimpanzees, Olive Baboons, and different Monkey species.

5. Local Communities at Kibale Forest National Park 

The cultural village walks around Kibale Park are common at the Bigodi Village which is a rich place to experience the Indigenous groups of the Batooro and the Bakiga.

This will allow you to experience the different cultures and their common ways of life, for example, cooking, dancing, singing, and storytelling.

Kibale National Park Activities

Being among Uganda’s top national parks, Kibale Forest will grant you various unforgettable safari activities with the common one being, Uganda chimpanzee trekking.

Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest National Park begins at the center attraction which is the Kanyanchu Visitor Center.

The Chimpanzee tracking experience will take about 1 hour to 3 hours depending on the movements of the primates and where you find them. You will therefore be able to come up close and personal with these primates in their natural habitat.

Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest National Park begins at around 8:00 am with a short briefing at the park headquarters about the rules and regulations that govern the Chimp trekking.

When you meet the chimpanzees at Kibale Forest National Park, you will spend an unforgettable one hour with them as you take photos, and watch their thrilling human-like behaviors like feeding, grooming, taking care of young ones, and playing.

Discover the thrill of enjoying other safari activities at Kibale National Park, for example,

a. Guided Walks at Bigodi Swamp Area

b. Birding

c.  Guided walks at Bigodi Swamp

d. Birding

e.  Community Visits

f.   Scenery walks

Kibale National Park Entrance Fees 

The Kibale National Park entrance fee for adults is $40 for foreign nonresidents, $30 for foreign residents, and 20,000 UGX for East African Citizens.

For children, the park entrance fee is $20 for a foreign nonresident, $10 for a foreign resident, and $5000 for an East African Citizen.

Kibale National Park Lodges 

Kibale National Park’s accommodation facilities are exquisite, ranging from luxury to midrange, and budget. Below, let us look at the accommodation at Kibale National Park.

1. Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, among others.

2. Midrange: Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, and Mountains of the Moon Hotels, among others.

3. Budget: Ruwenzori View Guest House, Lake Nyamirima Cottages, Kitojo Guest Cottages, among others.

Conclusion

Kibale Forest National Park is among the top safari destinations in Uganda, Africa known for thrilling Chimpanzee trekking experiences. Visit this unforgettable destination to experience the remarkable creatures of the park.

Inquire and book your trip with an Africa expert at Orinoco Expeditions today!

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is Unique about Kibale National Park?

Kibale Forest Park is a unique place to trek Chimpanzees in Africa.

2. How Many Chimpanzees Are in Kibale National Park?

Kibale National Park protects about 1500 Chimpanzees out of the estimated 5000 remaining in Uganda, making it the destination with the highest number of Chimpanzees in the country.

The park is also known for protecting a large ecosystem of ancient forests, Albertine rift endemic birds, and butterflies.

3. How Much is Gorilla Trekking at Kibale Forest National Park 

Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest National Park costs $250 for Foreign nonresidents, $200 for foreign residents, and 180,000 UGX for East African citizens.

4. How Much Does it Cost to Go to Kibale Forest National Park? 

The cost of travel to Kibale Forest NP is a combination of various factors and these are the

1. The length of time spent on the safari: The more the number of days included on an itinerary, the more the cost of travel in the park as one would have to pay more for their experiences.

2. The number of safari activities done: Other than Chimpanzee trekking, Kibale also offers other incredible safari activities like Bigodi swamp walk, and birding, among others. Less activities will mean lesser costs and more activities will mean more costs.

3. Type of safari and accommodation booked: Safaris to Kibale Park range from luxury, to midrange and budget. A luxury trip will cost more than the midrange which is also more costly than a budget trip.

5. What is the Best Time to Visit Kibale Forest National Park? 

As the major activity in the park is chimpanzee trekking, the best time to visit Kibale is in the dry season when the tracks are dry and easier to pass through. Kibale’s dry season runs between December through February and from June to around September.

However, the rainy season which is from around March to May and September to November is also good, especially for budget travelers who can take advantage of discounts during the low season.

6. What are the Important Clothes to Carry or Wear for Adventures at Kibale National Park?

Below is a list of the clothes to wear or carry when going for your safari expeditions at Kibale Park.

1. Longed sleeved shirts and trousers

2. Rain Jacket or Poncho

3. Hiking boots

4. Hat/Cap

5. Scarf

6. Garden gloves

7. Pair of socks

7. What are the Important Things to Pack for your Kibale National Park Safaris? 

Let us look below at the amazing things to pack for a comfortable trip as you explore Kibale NP.

1. A camera

2. Pair of binoculars

3. Insect repellent

4. Sunscreen

5. Backpack

6. Notebook

7. Snack

8. A bottle of water