Cultural activities around Kibale National Park

Find cultural experiences around Kibale National Park here. Kibale Forest National Park is located in western Uganda covering the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjonjo, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa. Kibale forest national park is a tropical forest and is a habitat of number of forest wildlife, about 1500 chimpanzees, bird species, Tree species, reptiles, Monkeys, butterflies, Mammals and other wildlife. The road trip from Kampala/Entebbe is about 4-5hours drive. The park is under the management of Uganda wildlife Authority. Contact Encounter Africa safaris to tailor your cultural trip into a memorable experience around Kibale forest national park. 

What are the cultural activities to do around Kibale National park?

Bigodi Wetland Walk

The Bigodi wetland is  found in the environs of Kibale National Park, it is rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is a must visit. This wonderful place shelters over 200 species of birds including Hornbills, Turacos, Parrots, Cranes, Kingfishers and many more swamp endemics. Furthermore, the sanctuary is the home of 8 species of primates, including the Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, L’hoest Monkey, Vervet Monkey and the Blue Monkey.

The swamp is also a haven for other mammals such as sitatungas, bushbucks and otters. Local and knowledgeable guides will take you on an interpretive tour as they escort you through the lush vegetation. This is the perfect opportunity to view the wildlife from the forest pathways, boardwalks and atop a tree house tucked high in the canopy.

Bigodi cultural Walk

The Bigodi cultural walk is one of the cultural activities to do around Kibale National Park, You will explore the atmospheric village of Bigodi accompanied by one of our professional English-speaking field-guides. The walk will take up to 3 to 4 hours depending on the pace of the group. According to your interests, you will first visit a traditional healer who will happily share his knowledge about spirits, herbs, plants and local medicines. Secondly, the visitors will visit the homes of elderly men and women who tell interesting stories about birth, marriage, ceremonies, clans and their traditional life. Learn more about the history and issues that they face as a developing community of rural Uganda. Along the way, you will also be given the chance to experience the Ugandan school system, visit a local church and Bigodi’s trading center, a hub of rural life and activity

Visiting the Crater Lakes around Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is also occupies the Kabarole district which has more than 100 crater lakes , and many of them are found in the outskirts of the forest. The crater lakes are a great attraction to visitors who come to fort portal and Kibale National Park, some of these Lakes are Kigere Crater Lake, Bikere Crater Lake, Kyaninga crater, Ndali crater, Lake saka crate, and many others. These crater lakes have a rich history locally which can interest you, there is canoeing, swimming, fishing in some of the crater lakes. It is one of the most interesting activities to do around Kibale Forest National Park.

Tooro Kingdom and Palace Visit

Fort portal Town is the head quarter of Tooro Kingdom and it neighbors the Kibale forest National Park, the natives of the town are called the Batooro who have a king that resides in the city center Palace. The Palace is the leading cultural attraction in the town, there is also the Toro Kingdom Parliament, the karambi tombs where the royals are buried, the Nyakasura caves with great history. You can as well explore the culture, traditions, food, dances and lifestyle of the batooro.

Visiting the Nyakasura Caves

The amabeere Ga Nyina Wiru caves are found in Nyakasura, 7 kilometers from Fort Portal Town on Fort portal-Bundibudgyo road in Kabarole District. The caves are just about 40 minutes away from Kibale Forest National Park. The caves are very historical and its where the leader of the Chwezi dynasty lived, you will film about the kings and the royals, The place is amazing, you will walk to the caves with guides stopping on different spots until you reach the rocky caves with the waterfall. The Nyakasura caves stands between a couple of streams, waterfalls, volcanoes and is close to the Rwenzori Mountains which give it the best scenery. Nyakasura caves is one the cultural activities to do around Kibale National park.

Visiting Tea Plantations and Farms

Tooro region where Kibale National Park is found has lots of Tea Plantations and is one of the greatest distributors for the Tea Industry in the Uganda. Most of the plantations occupy the surrounding areas of Kibale National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park and the on the foot of Mountain Rwenzori. The Native people also have banana plantations and animal farms that can interest you when you spend time around the Park.

How can one access Kibale forest National Park?

Kibale forest national park can be accessed by road as it only 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe. The road trip takes you through the beautiful scenery of western Uganda, the plantations and the hospitable Uganda people. Our road trips start early morning at 8:00am to beat off traffic and arrive in the afternoon at your booked hotel/camp/lodge.

You can as well fly to Kasese Airstrip and then access Kibale forest national park with in 2hours and less tiring than a road trip. There are daily domestic flights to Kasese Airstrips in Queen Elizabeth national park, Aerolink Uganda operates Morning and afternoon flights to Kasese Airstrip from Entebbe international Airport, considering your itinerary you can opt for chattered or scheduled flights to do cultural activities around Kibale forest National Park.

Where to stay around Kibale National Park?

Kibale forest national park has a number of choices for you to select where to stay, there are number of options ranging from budget to Luxury lodges, all with a service worth your money paid. Most of the lodges are found in the out skirts of the forest which cottages having views to the forest or crater lakes and you will have to drive a few minutes to the park headquarters. You can stay at Ndali lodge, Crater safari lodge, Kyaninga lodge and Papaya as luxury options, then Primate Lodge and Turaco tree tops for midrange option, you can stay chimpanzee forest guest house, Isunga lodge for budget clients.  There is also an option of staying in hotel is Fort portal town which is the most close town to Kibale forest.

Why book with Encounter Africa safaris Cultural activities around Kibale National Park?                              

Encounter Africa safaris started is experienced in organizing amazing experiences to Uganda and Rwanda but have now expended to offer safaris to Tanzania, Kenya and D R Congo. For the last ten years, we have overtime assembled a team mixed with young and energetic staff guided by well experienced mature managers and directors who are Ugandans and passionate about what they do. If contacted, one of our staff will assist in providing accurate and timely information that you can rely on within the Five Minutes. Encounter Africa Safaris is highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor and safari bookings, Visit our Website www.gorilla-tracking-uganda.com for a tailored cultural trip to Kibale Forest National Park.