What Makes Kibale National Park A Unique Destination For Primate Safaris in Africa

Here iswhat makes Kibale National Park a Unique Destination for primate safaris in Africa, Kibale National park is a habitat for the biggest number of chimpanzees in Uganda and in Africa the habitat for habituated chimpanzees is in this park too.  This is one reason for being a prominent destination for chimpanzee trekking in Africa.

This tropical rain forest has other primates living with the chimpanzees including blue monkeys, bush babies, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, L’Hoests’ to mention but a few. The favorable habitats in the forest give chance for a number of primates to thrive. So far 13 primate species are noted to be living in this Kibale forest National Park of which 9 are diurnal.

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In terms of area, Kibale National Park occupies 795 sq km of land.  The southern part of Kibale adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park creating a protected migration corridor occupying an area of about 180 km.

Kibale forest doesn’t boast of primates only but over 325 bird species have a whole day of constructing nests, searching for food, taking care of there chicks in the forest. During the primate walks, keen birders may have a chance of identifying a number of birds.

When you visit the Bigodi Swamp you may get to spot a number of primates but plenty of birds too. Some of which include the shoe bill, Collared Apalis, red faced woodland, the scarce Grey-Headed Olive back Green-backed Twin Spot, yellow spotted nicator, purple-breasted sunbird, Black and White Mannikin, blue-breasted kingfisher the list is endless.

Highlights

• Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park
• Other Primate Walks in Kibale National Park
• Chimpanzee habituation in Kabale National Park
• Forest Hike in Kibale National Park after chimpanzee trekking
• Birding in Kibale National park during Chimpanzee trekking
• Children’s Activities during chimpanzee trekking
• Proximity of Kibale National Park To other Parks

Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is the topmost priority activity of Kibale National park. To be part of the chimpanzees trekking adventure, you need to a chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale which currently costs $200 per person per trek.

The age limit for chimpanzee trekking is 12 years and above because of time uncertainty of when to locate the chimpanzees. Unlike there counterparts the bulk mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are more mobile even if they have been habituated to be in the presence of humans.

When you report at the ranger station for briefing, the ranger guides take you through the rules of chimpanzee trekking like no feeding the chimpanzees because they are wild animals, volunteer to stay behind if you have a contagious infection, keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them and so much more.

You have just one hour with the chimpanzees to watch them interact with each other, feed and groom the infants and so much more. Retreat back to your lodge to rest. Kibale National park is definitely a pure wild chimpanzee trekking destination. In Africa, Kibale is believed to have the biggest number of habituated chimpanzees over 1600 chimpanzees.

Other Primate Walks in Kibale National Park

Kibale forest is more than just chimpanzees which makes it the East African primate haven. The park hosts over 13 primate species including some of the endangered primates like L’Hoest and has the largest population of red colobus monkeys in East Africa. In Africa Kibale National Park has the largest primate population.

You can identify other primates like Black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, bush babies, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons to mention but a few. In case you do not locate these primates in the forest, the Bigodi swamp is sometimes there hangout point.

This huge number of primates is awed to the abundant forest vegetation that supports the survival of these majorly vegetarian population of apes.

Chimpanzee Habituation

Kibale National Park fames in its Chimpanzee habituation experience. This adventure involves following semi habituated chimpanzees of Kibale National park with researchers and habituators. When a chimpanzee community is under habituation, its being exposed to human presence without altering there natural behavior.

This seasonal activity is set for the low seasons that is March to May and November. Get prepared for an earlier rise to catch up with de-nesting time for chimpanzees which may start from about 0530 to 0630 hours. Together with researchers, you follow the chimpanzees noting down there behavior, numbers, feeding time and others as instructed the entire day until renesting.

Forest Hike In Kibale National park

After chimpanzee trekking in Kabale National Park, you may opt for forest walk for approximately 12km. This trek begins from Kanyanchu Visitor center at 0800hours. Its scheduled for the dry season June to September and mid-November to January. You go through the forest rich habitats where you may identify a wide range of primate species inclusive of blue monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, L‘hoest’s to mention but a few.

The ranger guide leads you through forest, riverine forest, swamp and grassland until the elephant wallow. Earlier preparations are important so as to reserve a ranger in Advance especially the peak seasons.

Keen birders have a variety of birds to spot out during this walk including scaly Francolin, Grey-headed Olive-back, Black-crowned Waxbills, sun birds, Green-backed Twin Spot, shoe bill, Abyssinian horn bill , black and white Mannikin and others.

Birding In Kibale National Park During Chimpanzee trekking

As you search for the chimpanzees, Kibale has more to offer for the birders. Over 325 bird species including 6 Albertine endemics have been recorded to be living in this tropical forest. When you driving along on the main road from Kanyanchu Visitor Center to the bridge you have chance to spot birds like crowned Eagel, African Pitta, Francolin, Green-backed Abyssinian ground thrush ,yellow spotted nictor, blue breasted Kingfisher, black bee eater, yellow rumped tinker bird, little greenbul blue-headed sunbird and others.

The Bigodi Sanctuary in Magombe swamp lies outside the park harboring more than 138 birds. By taking a guided walk here, you get to stand at the visitor platform or board walk and watch a number of birds cover to enjoy its environs avian chances of spotting the shoebill are high here.  

Children Activities During Chimpanzee trekking

You do not need to worry about what children below 12 years are going to do when you depart for chimpanzees trekking in Kibale National Park. there is an educational forest walk with a children trained ranger guide. He or she takes children into understanding ecotourism. Together with the professional children’s guide , they go through activities like short walks, pong dipping, cyanotype, batik making and others.

Proximity of Kibale National Park To other Parks

From or After chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park, you can connect to Queen Elizabeth National park for game drives. You may have the chance to see animals like lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, topis, bush bucks, water bucks, and others

Bwindi Forest national park the home of gorilla trekking is about 6 hour’s drive from Kibale National park. You can do a primate and game safari in the same boundary and without driving long distances. You need a profession tour Operator like Encounter Africa safaris to tailor the right itinerary for you.

 Mabere Ga Nyinamwiru and Tooro Kingdom

In case you want to experience the cultural depth of the Batooro indigenous, you can pay a visit first to Mabere Ga Nyinamwiru. These are some of the famous stalactites and stalagmite cave in Uganda. You can do this before or after chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park. this place is very much accessible.

When you listen to the mythical story surrounding this area you immerse into the ancient behavior of the former Kings in Africa. The Word Amebere ganyina Mwiru locally means breasts of Nyinamwiru.

Pay a visit to Tooro Kingdom Palace beautifully elevated on top of the hill and overlooks Fort Portal town. The local title for the Tooro king is Omukama and the current King is Omukama Oyo Rukidi Kabamba Iguru.

How To get To Kibale National park

Of the two routes, you can reach Kibale National Park from Kampala to Mubende to Fort portal route at a distance of 300 km

Alternatively take Kampala to Mbarara to Kamwenge to Fort Portal then proceed for another 36 km to Kibale National Park.

To Sebitori Forest Camp expect to drive for about 16 km from Fort Portal. This center is located close to the Fort Portal Kampala road.

You can choose to do a circuit to or from Kibale National Park. Enjoy superb views along the way and you enjoy the experience of the country side of western Uganda. For a wonderful safari experience, you can decide to take Kampala-Mubende- Fort portal at the beginning and depart with Kibale-Fort Portal-Mbarara-Kampala.

By Air Flights

Domestic daily flights depart Kajjansi Air strip or Entebbe Airport in the morning and afternoon to Kasese air strip. Hire a transfer vehicle to Kibale National park prior to connect you to your final destination. There no ready Airstrip Cabs ready for you.

Charter flight services are available upon request a flights from Kajjansi Air Strip or Entebbe Air strip.

How To Book Chimpanzee Trekking Permits For Kibale National Park

When you enquire about your chimpanzee trekking safari, our safari consultant has to check availability of the permits. Two sessions that is morning and afternoon are conducted for chimpanzee trekking.

You are requested to pay for your chimpanzee trekking permit to secure it. Each Kibale National Park chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 per person as of today.