What to expect on a safari in Kibale forest national park

What to expect on a safari in Kibale forest national park: Kibale forest national park is a tropical rainforest that is found in western Uganda. It harbors the highest number of primates that are over 13 in number. The national park was gazetted in 1993 by the government of Uganda to protect different wildlife species as well as the tropical rainforest. Kibale has 13 primate species, 372 bird species, and 60 species of mammals living in a forest that covers 776sq.km.

Kibale forest national park is located 322 km away from Kampala and therefore there is also you will see on your road trip to the park. The national park covers a total area of 776sq. km meaning you have a lot of wildlife to see inside the park and a lot of physical features surrounding the park. You have a lot of communities, people’s houses, schools, plantations of tea and maize you will pass through while on your way to the park for your safari.

Kibale forest national park is well known for its largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda so chances of seeing them are more than anywhere else in the country. Chimpanzees top the list of reasons as to why you have a safari in Kibale forest national park. There is a lot more to expect on a safari to Kibale forest national park and they include the following.

Expect to see the green natural vegetation

Areas surrounding Kibale and then Kibale itself is green with thick green natural vegetation covers. Kibale forest national park has got over 226 tree species and there are thousands of other plants. This green natural vegetation cover is home to different mammals, primates, and bird species. When you get so close to Kibale forest national park, you will go through this vegetation seeing different wildlife and the nature will be so different from what you have been seeing

Expect to see different crater lakes

Kibale crater lakes are found in the western rift valley region in a region called Ndali Kasenda. On your to and from Kibale forest national park whether you come from Kasese or fort portal side you will see a number of crater lakes. The crater lakes you will see on your safari in Kibale forest national park include Lake Nyabikere, Lake Nkuruba, Lake Nyamirima, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Ntambi, Lake Mubiro, Lake Nyanswiga, and Lake Nyamasagani among others.

Expect a change in the weather

Kibale forest national park is a forest area that can receive rainfall at any time of the day. The dry season receives little rainfall but during the rainy season it’s always plenty. Travelers that want sunny and warm temperature days must visit the park from June to September and December to February. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November and it attracts a few travelers most of whom like budget things.

lodges in Kibale forest

On your safari to Kibale forest national park, you will pass by a few lodges and even see some from a distance. These lodges are of mod ranger, budget, and luxury options, and they are used mostly by tourists that are visiting Kibale forest national park. Lodges that are seen in Kibale include Chimpundu Lodge, Primate Lodge, Rweetera Safari Park, Kibale Forest Lodge, Ndali Lodge, and Crater Safari Lodge to mention but a few.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

This is the main reason as to why tourists visit Kibale forest national park. On your safari there you have over 90% chance of seeing chimpanzees most easily when you join the morning shift for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. Kibale is home to over 1500 chimpanzee species of which 6 families are wild, 5 are for research, 1 is for habituation and another 1 is for Chimp trekking in Kibale.

Tourists that will participate in the chimpanzee trekking process will automatically meet these chimpanzees in the jungle carrying out their daily activities. Those will a trekking permit will be allowed to stay around them for 1 hour while those that have habituation permits can stay with them for the whole day and make them get used to the human presence around them.

Wildlife in Kibale forest

A safari in Kibale forest national park will you an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife. Kibale forest national park is home to 13 primates, 60 mammals, and 372 bird species. Some of these will be seen during your safari in Kibale and you are likely to see them on nature walks.

While in Kibale, you will see mammals such as duikers, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, sitatungas, and bush babies. You will see primates such as chimpanzees, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, patas monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and l’hoest’s monkeys among others.

Good birders on a safari to Kibale forest national park will spot bird species such as African pitta, African pied wagtail, Abyssinian ground thrush, afed pigeon, black bee-eater, brown illadopsis, grey parrot, blue headed bee-eater, crowned eagle, black-capped apalis, dusky crimsonwing, western nicator, red-chested owlet, masked apalis, and red-faced woodland warbler among others.