Top Activities To Do In Kibale Forest National Park : Kibale forest national park is one of the most visited national park in Uganda located in western region in Kabarole district. Kibale forest national park is also known as the primate capital due to the fact that is a home of 13 primate species including over 1,500 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys among others. Kibale forest national park is also a home of different mammals like forest elephants, buffaloes and over 375 bird species. Kibale forest national park offers a number of interesting activities that tourists can engage in during the safari including.
Top activities to do in Kibale forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the top activities in Kibale forest national park that attracts tourists and trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 2 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, hunt, rest, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Chimpanzee habituation experience
Chimpanzee habituation is another interesting activity in Kibale forest national park that attracts many tourists. Chimpanzee habituation experience starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle with a team of researchers, park guides and park rangers which takes a whole day. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, birds among others and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn and monitor their behaviours, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, patrolling, hunting, copulating, resting, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos, engage in the naming process among others.
Bird watching
Kibale forest national park is a home of over 375 recorded bird species including Albertine rift endemics, forest birds and migratory birds which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. During bird watching in Kibale forest national park, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including Dusky Crimsonwing, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Collared Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Black-capped Apalis, Abyssinian Ground Thrust, Blue Breasted Kingfisher, Little Green Bull, African Grey Parrot, Purple Breasted Sunbird, White Naped Pigeon, Red Chested Owlet, Yellow Spotted Nicator, Black Bee-eater among others.
Nature walks/hiking
Nature walk is an interesting activity in Kibale forest national park where tourists will be able to explore the park on foot with an experienced park guide and armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. During the guided nature walk which starts with a briefing at Kanyachu visitors centre, you will be able to follow different trails where you will be able to get up-close and personal with different animals, primates, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, enjoy the cool breeze and quiet environment, take beautiful pictures among others.
Night forest walks
Kibale forest national park also offers night/ nocturnal forest walks where tourists will be able to explore the park at night with spotlight torches and an armed ranger guide. During the night forest walk, you will be able to view nocturnal animals like bush babies, serval cats, African civet, pottos, tree hyrax among others.
Community tours
Community tour is another exciting activity in Kibale forest national park where tourists will be able to interact with the local people in the neighboring communities, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, visit their farmlands, homesteads, taste their local meals, enjoy their traditional performances among others.
Best time to visit Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park can be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this time there is less or little rainfall in the park therefore chimpanzee trekking and nature walk trails will be dry and passable which makes chimpanzee trekking easy.
Kibale forest national park can also be visited in the rainy season during the months of march to May and October to November because that’s the best time for bird watching where bird lovers will be able to view migratory bird species.
Where to stay during your safari in Kibale forest national park
There are various accommodation facilities in Kibale forest national park where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and budget including Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Mountain of the Moon Hotel, Chimpundu Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Rwetera Safari Park, Chimpanzee Capital Safari Lodge, Guereza Canopy Lodge, Rubalika Safari Lodge and Farm, Fort Motel among others.
How to get to Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via Mubende Fort Portal and then to the park headquarters which takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive.
Kibale forest national park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flight with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe international airport to Kasese or Semuliki airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road which takes about 2 hours’ drive.
You can as well access Kibale forest national park from Lake Mburo national park which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive.
For breath-taking and unforgettable memories on the safari, activities in Kibale forest national park can be combined with game viewing, boat cruise, cycling, horseback riding, sport fishing among others in Lake Mburo national park. For more information about the top activities to do in Kibale forest national park, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for combined safari packages.
