Reasons to visit Kibale National Park
Reasons to visit Kibale National Park
Kibale national park is the best chimpanzee trekking habitat in Uganda. Therefore, it would be best if you were allowed to visit Kibale national park.
Kibale national park covers an area of 795 square kilometers, with the northern part as the wettest and the southern park adjoining Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Per the recent chimpanzee census in Kibale national park, has about 1500 chimpanzees. The park has the largest population of habituated chimpanzees in East Africa.
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Several other primates live in Kibale national park, with currently 13 primates species counted. Some of these primates in Kibale national park include black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, ghosts, pottos, olive baboons, and others.
Kibale National Park has a special package for children when the parents go chimpanzee trekking. The children go pond dipping, cyanotype, photographing, and batik making.
What Safari Activities To Do In Kibale National Park
Chimpanzee trekking
Two chimpanzee trekking sessions are conducted daily in Kibale National Park. You can purchase the chimpanzee permits for the morning session, which starts at 0800 hours, or the evening session at 1500 hours.
Six chimpanzee trekking permits per troop are sold each day per session. Therefore, packing safari gear that can withstand conditions in the wilderness is best for you during the chimpanzee trekking.
You must attend a briefing from the Kanyanchu visitor center to get more details about how to behave during chimpanzee trekking. Request for a porter to carry some of your belongings, like the chimpanzee trekking gear, before starting the trek in case you cannot carry them. A porter is a person who assists you in carrying your chimpanzee trekking gear at a friendly fee.
Only persons over 12 years are allowed to do chimpanzee trekking. This is because of the rules and nature of the forest where chimpanzees live.
Birding In Kibale National Park
Kibale national park is one of the favorable habitats for birding in Uganda. More than 325 bird species find home in Kibale national park, including Albertine rift endemics. In addition, the forest protects large blocks of rainforest birds. As a result, ornithologists have a variety of bird species to identify during a Uganda birding holiday to Kibale National Park.
When you take a walk to Bigodi sanctuary and stand at the observation tower that traversers papyrus reeds, you may get to see green-backed twin spot, grey-headed olive back, green–backed twin spot, blue–headed sunbird, little greenbul, black-breasted king fishers to mention but a few.
Chimpanzee Habituation
Chimpanzee habituation is the process of getting wild chimpanzees used to the presence of humans without altering their natural traits. Tourists are allowed to book chimpanzee habituation experiences where they meet semi-habituated chimpanzees. Then, you follow a group of trackers and habituators into the forest to spend 4 hours in the company of the chimpanzees.
Every person on a chimpanzee habituation safari is required to have a permit. Only tourists above 12 years of age are allowed to do chimpanzee habituation.
Expect to see chimpanzees de-nesting at about 0530 to 0630 hours or re-nesting at 1900 hours during this adventure, so you have a long time in the wilderness.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the chimpanzee habituation permit-selling body.
Forest walks in Kibale National Park.
During this nature walk in Kibale national park, you get to explore the park’s diverse habitats like a tropical rain forest, riverine forest, swamp, and grassland. You get to discover more primates species that you may have missed during chimpanzee trekking, like black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons,
Before starting this trek up to the elephant’s wallow, you have to attend a briefing at the Kanyanchu visitors center.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
You can walk to Bigodi wetland sanctuary on the outskirts of the magombe swamp. You can see several primates you may have missed in Kibale National Park. These primates include red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, and others.
This is a community-run initiative to promote biodiversity and the environmental value of the primates and their habitat.
Kihingani wetland walk allows you to enjoy an array of birds and primates just outside Kibale National Park, close to Sebitoli.
Cultural Heritage and nature trail
This adventure lasts 2 to 6 days in Kibale National Park and its surrounding. You gather at Kanyanchu or Sebitoli, spend the day in the forest, and emerge in the evening to overnight in the community campsite close to Kinoni, Nyakalongo, and Nyaibanda.
You get a chance to interact with the locals and learn more about there day to day life. The occupants of this area are mainly Bakiga and Batooro. You can hire a porter to carry your safari belongings for a small cost.
Children’s Activities
Only persons aged above 12 years are allowed to go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park but no worries about the children. The Forest management has children’s rangers trained to care for and lead activities involving children to include them in learning the ecosystems practically.
The children participate in creative activities like pond dipping, cyanotype, photography, and batik making. The parents take the forest walks, knowing that their children are in safe hands.
What is the cost of a chimpanzee trekking Permit for Kibale National Park?
The Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $150 for foreign residents, and 150,000shs for East African residents.
The chimpanzee trekking permit cost for Kibale national park includes
Park fees for the day of trekking, ranger guide fee, security, one hour with the chimpanzee, community support fee, and chimpanzee conservation support
This cost excludes transport to the destination, drinks, energy bites, porters, and any other items of personal nature.
Can I purchase the Kibale Chimpanzee trekking permit in installments?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts purchasing the chimpanzee trekking permit in installments of 30% and 70% of the total cost.
You must remember to top up 90 days to the day of trekking or stand to lose another paid portion of the gorilla permit.
Is a refund for Kibale chimpanzee trekking permits possible?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has a refund policy for chimpanzee permits, which you must follow to qualify. However, you need to be patient because of the procedure your refund must go through before it is issued.
Can I Reschedule The Chimpanzee Trekking Permit?
Yes, rescheduling chimpanzee trekking permits is possible if you top up your permit for those that purchase them in installments.
You write to Uganda Wildlife Authority stating why you wish to reschedule your chimpanzee permit. Attach evidence that acts as a backup for your chimpanzee permit rescheduling request.
Your chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park will be rescheduled when your request is approved.
Where can I Buy a chimpanzee trekking permit?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the selling and regulating body for chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale National Park. Using a tour operator like Encounter Africa, Safaris saves you the burden of hassling to check the availability of chimpanzee trekking permits and other supporting amenities. We put together the chimpanzee trekking safari package by booking accommodation, vehicle, and driver hire and give free advice on the requirement you need to do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.
What Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Habituation Adventure?
The chimpanzee habituation permit for Kibale National Park costs $250 per person per trek and 150000shs for East African residents.
The chimpanzee habituation permit cost includes park fees, 4 hours with the chimpanzee, security, ranger guide fees, local community support, and chimpanzee conservation support.
This excludes accommodation to use during chimpanzee habituation, transport, tipping, and any other items of personal nature.
How long is chimpanzee habituation In Kibale National Park?
The time of locating the chimpanzees is still being determined, depending on where they may have spent the night and the prevailing conditions in the forest. Since you have to start chimpanzee habituation early morning, you may find the chimpanzee shortly after de-nesting. On the other hand, they may move slowly, so you follow the trail to where they were seen the previous day.
When you locate the chimpanzees, follow the instructions given by habituation and rangers seriously because they know the unique traits of the chimpanzee community under habituation. Only 4 hours are allowed in the company of the chimpanzee troop under habituation.
A maximum of 4 persons can do chimpanzee habituation with the trackers and rangers per session to minimize disturbance.
What is the cost of a safari to Kibale National Park?
Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity for Kibale National Park; you need to buy a permit. Whether you do a luxury, mid-range, or budget chimpanzee trekking package, you need access.
Some of the following are considered to create a safari package for Kibale National Park.
The Number OF People On Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
The more people join the chimpanzee trekking safari, the less the costs per person.
Timing For Kibale National Park Safari
When you book a safari to Kibale National Park in the peak season, which is June to September and December to January, the cost is high because of demand.
Additional Activities to Do In Kibale National Park
If you have many activities to do in Kibale National Park, like birding, primates walking, gorilla habituation, and others. The safari cost is high because each activity in Kibale National Park is charged individually.
The Number Of Days In Kibale National Park
When you book more days on safari in Kibale National Park, the higher the safari cost. Most service providers charge per-day costs.
What Are The Donts Of Kibale National Park?
- Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them. They are highly susceptible to human infections because they have about 96% human infections.
- When sick, volunteer to stay behind so as not to pass an infection that can cause massive death of the chimpanzees.
- If you wish to eat or smoke, do it away from the chimpanzees so that you do not feed them. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
- Persons above 12 years are the only ones allowed to do chimpanzee trekking as the forest conditions may not be comfortable for children.
- Only enter the forest with a ranger guide, as the forest has other occupants that are not habituated.
- If you need to defecate, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole at least 30 centimeters deep and cover it well beyond recognition.
- Try not to provoke the chimpanzees because you may agitate them and cause them to retreat into the deeper ends of the forest.
- When taking photos, do use flash photography. However, this may scare the chimpanzees, which are very kin to intruders in the environment.
- Chimpanzee trekking takes 1 hour when you meet them, and chimpanzees’ habituation lasts 4 hours in front of the chimpanzees.
What To Pack For Safari in Kibale National Park?
- Safari boots that you can comfortably walk with while trekking in Kibale National Park
- Safari clothes in colors that are wilderness friendly, like tan or khaki.
- Warm wear because this area receives cold weather conditions early morning or late evening.
- Garden gloves in case you touch stinging nettles that may cause skin irritation.
- Toiletries that favor your skin and won’t cause eczema.
- Energy bites because you take breakfast early, giving you more energy to move.
- Insect repellant protects you from stinging insects in the jungle.
- Rainproof gear like a poncho or raincoat to protect you from rain that falls in the tropical forest.
- Foldable water bottle to carry with water to quench thirst.
- Safari hat to protect your hair from buzzing insects in the jungle.
- Flip flops to change into during leisure time.
- Backpack to carry with your safari gear and make it comfortable for a porter.
- A pair of binoculars to use and get a clearer view of exciting features in the wilderness.
Contact us for more information about Kibale National Park, and check out our trip advisor.
