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 park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee.
It also contains over 375 species of birds. Kibale adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park.
The Kibale-Fort Portal area is one of Uganda’s most rewarding destinations to explore. The park lies close to the tranquil Ndali-Kasenda crater area and within half a day’s drive of the Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks, as well as the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
Kibale National park stretches over an expanse of approximately 795 kilometers and its known to hold one of most stunning tropical forests in the whole of Uganda. the Forest is most prominent due to its resident chimpanzees which live here together with a variety of other forest wildlife including several primates.
The Kibale forest covers the northern and the central section of Kibale National park. The northern section of the Kibale National park is elevated with a peak of approximately 1590 meters above sea level. This northern section in addition is the wettest area receiving an annual rainfall of close to 1700mm.The months that receive most rain are from March to May and then September to November. Temperatures here range from 14 to 27°c, whereas the south receives higher temperatures since its terrain drops onto the floor of the Great Rift Valley.
Other Wildlife living in Kibale Forest include over 325 species of birds among which are the African-grey parrot, African pitta, noisy hornbills, black-bee eater, yellow-spotted nectar, crowned eagle, yellow-romped tinker bird and the little greenbul.
In addition, Kibale Forest National Park is habitat to the largest population of forest elephants in the whole of Uganda. These bashful, smaller yet more hairy compared to their savannah equals, live deep within the verdant forest together with buffaloes plus the huge forest hogs and for that reason, these are hardly seen although they leave evident traces behind to expose their presence within the forest. The most commonly sighted at mammals are the bushbucks, large forest squirrels and the duikers.
Quick Facts About the Park
Size: 795km2
Kibale is highest at the park’s northern tip, which stands 1,590m above sea level. The lowest point is 1,100m on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south.
351 tree species have been recorded in the park, some rise to over 55m and are over 200 years old.
Kibale’s varied altitude supports different types of habitat, ranging from wet tropical forest on the Fort Portal plateau to woodland and savanna on the rift valley floor.
Kibale is one of Africa’s foremost research sites. While many researchers focus on the chimpanzees and other primates found in the park, others are investigating Kibale’s ecosystems, wild pigs and fish species, among other topics.
If you are interested in meeting up-close with forest mammal and bird species, then visit Kibale Forest National Park and engage in the a nature walk that will reward you with the best hiking experience. Kibale Forest National Park is located in Western Uganda, Outside Fortportal and spans at 795 square Kilometers/79500 hectares. This Tropical rain forest gained the status of a forest Reserve in 1932 and was gazetted into a National Park in 1993 mainly to conserve its biological diversity comprising of mainly tree species, birds, mammals and butterfly species. Kibale Forest National Park is a haven to more than 70 mammal species especially known for over 13 primate species (making it a Primates Capital of the World), over 350 bird species, 351 tree species and more than 200 species of Butterflies. The best way to explore most of these interesting attractions within this Park is through a nature walk.
The forest contains 13 primates including a remarkable 9 diurnal species, namely chimpanzee, Grey- cheeked Mangabey, Red colobus, Red-tailed, Vervet and Blue Monkey. Present but rarely seen during the day are elephant and buffalo because of the dense forest. They are sometimes seen or heard at night from elevated treehouses overlooking the swamp in the Kanyanchu River Valley.
Kibale’s main attraction is undoubtedly chimpanzee tracking from the Kanyanchu River Camp. Habituated groups have been tracked since 1993.
Birdlife is equally rich with a 335 list of rare and endemic species. Although in the closed canopy forest it’s difficult to see the wood peckers because of the tree density. However, along the board walk trail in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary just outside the park, birding is easier and very rewarding with sightings of the papyrus gonoleks and other rarities.
Things to See in Kibale Forest
Primate species
Kibale National Park boasts of its huge concentration of primates which make it a true primate capital of the world. 13 primate species all exist in Kibale Forest and they include the endangered chimpanzees which total up to 1500, red colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, pottos, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.
Other wildlife
Kibale Forest also supports a range of other wildlife including the African golden cats, mongooses, otters, elephants, warthogs, giant forest hogs, blue and red duikers, sitatungas, servals, buffaloes, bush bucks, bush pigs and more.
Birds
Kibale National Park supports a total of over 375 bird species including the resident and endemic species. The birds of interest in Kibale Forest include the white napped pigeon, African green breasted pitta, Nathan francolins, African grey parrot, olive long tailed cuckoo, brown crested alethe, red faced woodland warblers, yellow rumped tinker bird, collared apalis, dusky crimson wing, black eyed ground thrush, crowned eagles, Abyssinian ground thrush, little green bul, red chested owlet, western tinker birds to mention but a few.
It is endowed with diverse ecosystem and also includes the 14 snake species, 27 frog species, 20 reptiles, 200 butterfly species and many more.
Things to Do in Kibale Forest
Hiking/Nature Walks within Kibale Forest National Park involve;
Nocturnal Forest walk
Kibale Forest is a popular destination for primate safaris in Africa. While the Chimpanzees within Kibale Forest National Park and other diurnal resident wildlife species rest up at dusk, a nighttime shift is exceptionally experienced when other creatures become active. Night nature walks through the dense Jungles of Kibale Forest utilizes powerful torches to look for the nocturnal wildlife species including the Bush babies, the Pottos, Crickets, the tree hyrax and occasionally Serval Cats among others. The Common Bird species Sighted during the nocturnal Forest walk include the Verreaux’s eagle Owl and Nightjars. This short 2 hour walk start at 7:30pm from Kanyanchu Visitor Camp.
The Forest walk
This is a 12 kilometer Trail conducted for over 6 hours and perfectly done in the dry season (from June to September and December to February when there are less rain and the trails are less slippery). This hike involves transversing through different terrains and vegetation zones such as the Tropical rainforest, Riverine Forests, Swampland and the Open Savannah and rewards tourists with the views of numerous birds, primate species, other mammals like the Blue and Black Duikers and Giant Forest Hogs and butterflies among others.
Chimpanzee trekking
Tourists who visit Kibale Forest National Park can participate in Chimpanzee tracking-one of the most interesting nature walks which leads then through the jungles to meet the Primates that share over 98.7% of their DNA with humans. After the Chimpanzees are sighted, tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with these creatures and a Chimpanzee tracking permit within Kibale Forest National Park costs $150 per person. Another more exciting trek-the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience where tourists spend up to 4 hours with the Chimpanzees also exists within this Park at only $220 per person.
Where to stay in and around Kibale
Different accommodation facilities exist in and around Kibale National Park including budget, luxury and midrange. They include Crater Valley Kibale Lakeside Resort, Kibale Forest Camp, Sebitoli Camping Ground, Primate Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kanyanchu River Camp, Chimp’s Nest, Chimpanzee Guesthouse, etc.