Things to do/activities in Kibale forest national park

Things to do/ activities in Kibale forest national park are those things tourists come to do in the park. Kibale forest national park in Uganda is one of the most famous private safari destinations in Africa. The national park is the best place to meet several primate species within the country. Kibale forest has gotten over 1500 chimpanzee species roaming in a forest area of 776sq.km.

Kibale forest national park is home to 13 primate species, 60 mammals, and 372 bird species. With a lot of attractions within Kibale, tourists are able to engage in a number of activities while in the park. The activities done in Kibale forest national park are very many and it’s the tourists that choose which one to engage in for a great experience.

Chimpanzee trekking: This is the most done and famous activity in Kibale forest national park. The national park is home to over 1500 chimpanzees some of which have been habituated and are used to human presence around them. Only one chimpanzee family has been habituated in this park and a maximum of 72 people can trek this families.

Chimpanzee trekking is an activity done in the morning and evening hours but the experience is always the same. The armed ranger guides teach the rules and regulations of the activity and later take you in the jungle where you start searching for the chimpanzees. When found, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around them learning about their habits, taking photos, and watching them do daily activities like nesting, hunting, feeding, coupling, etc.

Chimpanzee habituation: This is the second most done activity in Kibale forest national park and it’s done by tourists that want to spend more time with the chimpanzee. In Kibale forest national park, chimpanzee trekking is a full day activity where tourists stay with chimpanzees making them get used to human presence around them.

With Kibale forest chimpanzee habituation, you will need a permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority to be part of the group to habituate chimpanzees. Kibale forest himpanzee habituation starts in the morning and armed ranger guides lead trekkers in the jungle to search where the apes could be. When trekkers meet the semi-habituated chimpanzees they be around them for a whole day and help them in getting used to human beings around them.

Bird watching: Bird watching in Kibale forest national park is one of the most prominent activities at the park after chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation. The park harbors up to 372 bird species which can be seen on nature walks. The search for birds is led by armed ranger guides who takes you up to Bigodi wetland sanctuary next to the park.

Bird species of Kibale forest national park include African pitta, collared sunbird, red-faced barbet, superb sunbird, yellow-fronted tinkerbird, hairy-breasted barbet, water thick-knee, greater honeyguide, water thick-knee, little bee-eater, black coucal, dwarf honeyguide, woodland kingfisher, chestnut wattle eye, African paradise flycatcher, black bishop, ash-throated flycatcher, and piping hornbill among others.

Community tours: Areas around Kibale forest national park are home to different tribes such as Batoro and Bakiga. Tourists that are visiting Kibale and would love to explore the African culture can always organize and visit the communities around. The community tours are led by the locals who know well about their community. They take you to different homesteads where you meet and interact with local people.

During community tours, tourists will be able to visit schools, hospitals, healthy facilities, and women groups. Tourists can support the community by doing donations, they can also support by buying items made by the locals such as baskets, bags, mats, and much more. Visiting the communities around Kibale will give you an opportunity to feel the African culture which includes traditional food, traditional dances, and traditional sings among others.

Nature walks: Nature walks are an excellent way to discover Kibale forest national park in a way that would not be possible while on chimpanzee trekking or bird watching activities. The nature walks in Kibale forest national park are guided by armed ranger guides who take you through different tracks. Visiting different areas of Kibale gives tourists an opportunity to spot primates, mammals, birds, and plants.

Best time to visit Kibale forest national park

As many travelers ask themselves about the best time to visit Kibale forest, we got you answered. The park is open for tourism at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry season from June to September and December to February are the best time to visit Kibale forest because there is little or no rainfall. The trekking trails are dry and passable, vegetation is short and thin with good views of wildlife, and roads leading to the park are impassable.

Tourists can still visit Kibale forest national park in the rainy season because the park is always open. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November and it’s characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of wildlife, and roads leading to the park are impassable.

Where to stay on your safari to Kibale forest national park?

Tourists have a lot of places to stay on their safari to Kibale forest national park because there are so many lodges inside and outside the park. Accommodation facilities are of different prices as they range

 from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Kibale lodges include Isunga Lodge, Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Crater Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Crater Safari Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, and Chimpanzee Forest Guest House among others.

Accessing Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park can be accessed in a single day from Kampala/Entebbe using road transport and air transport.

Accessing Kibale forest national park road: from Kampala/Entebbe will go through Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Kasese to the park. Others can use Kampala/Entebbe via Mityana, Mubende, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal raod to the park in 5-6 hours.

Accessing Kibale forest national park by chattered flights. These chattered flights are organized by Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda every day. The flights to Kibale forest national park start from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip.