All About Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale National Park is found south of Uganda famous for chimpanzee tracking adventures . The park covers 766 square kilometers (296 sq mi) stationed between 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) to 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) high. Apart from surrounding moist evergreen forest, the park has several patterns of landscapes with both lowland and montane forests.
It was created in 1932 and officially established in 1993. Kibale forest together with Queen Elizabeth National Park create a uniformly varying forest forming a corridor of wildlife covering 180 kilometers (110 mi) suitable for ecotourism and safaris. This is where you find Makerere University Biological Field Station. The park is home for 70 mammal species, 13 species of primate together with the chimpanzee, and at least 375 bird species.
Tristar Africa Skimmer Safaris organizes primate tracking tours to Bwindi forest and Kibale forest for adventure seekers, nature lovers and primate enthusiasts across the globe. You can check out the 3 days Kibale forest tour and get back to us to inquire or book online.
Wildlife and Birding
Primates
This is the park with the most overwhelming number of primates in Africa, the chimpanzee being one of the most celebrated among the 13 primate species; and Kibale having 1,450 chimpanzees making them Uganda’s largest population of threatened primates. About 70 mammal species exist in this park with ground-dwelling animals difficult to see in the dense forest. At least 500 elephants are available, buffalos, leopards, warthogs, bush pigs, golden cats and duikers, and a beautiful variety of 250 butterfly species.
Birds
The park hosts at least 375 bird species with Kibale’s special ones which include African Pitta, afep pigeon, Western Nicator, Green-breasted Pitta, Yellow-rumped tinker bird among others.
Activities
Chimpanzee tracking and habituation
Kibale’s commonest activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. 13 species can be spotted, and several varieties of diurnal monkeys differently encountered. The major primates of this track are the chimpanzees tracked from 1993. The 12 hour chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) works with a chimp community undergoing habituation. Early guests can watch chimps getting out of their overnight nests around 6:00 – 6:30am.
Birding in Kibale forest
Bird watching tours start at 7am at Kanyanchu with bookings made in advance. Rare species include the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, White-collared Oliveback and Papyrus Canary.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary harbors 138 birds seen during guided walks along the boardwalk trail and viewing platforms. These could include the White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Western Nicator, Grey-winged Robin-chat, White-tailed Ant-thrush among others.
Hiking/Nature Walks
Chimpanzees together with different wildlife especially those nocturnal like nightjar, cricket and the hyrax, bush baby, and civet of serval cat that appear once in a while come up in the evening. Tracking them require bright torches.
Cultural Encounters
Kibale Association for Rural Environment Development (KAFRED)
Batooro life, culture and tradition can be discovered during the village walks passing through the village’s primary school, church, and traditional healer. During the traditional ceremonies, the history of Bigodi are told. The story is about the “Village of Two Tribes”, depicting when the local Batooro people were joined by migrating Bakiga southwest of Uganda during the 1950s.
Areas of Interest
Kanyanchu River Camp
It is in central Kibale with the main trailhead for the park’s celebrated forest walks especially the daily Primate Walk where you find 13 species of primate including habituated chimpanzees. Bird watching, nature walks for kids, adults as well as guided night treks are available here.
Sebitoli Forest Camp
It is a second tourism Centre of Kibale north of the forest with activities like guided forest walks and an opportunity to spot or meet primates like red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys and vervet monkeys.
Areas of Interest outside the Park
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
It is full of biodiversity and beautiful scenery regarded as the birder’s paradise with about 138 bird species in Magombe Swamp hosting 8 primate species plus the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, l’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, together with the olive baboons. It was established for the preservation of the exclusive environmental features together with the wetland under management of the local community.
Kihingami Wetland
It exists next to Sebitoli in the north providing excellent bird watching and visits to the local tea estates and factory with impressive nature walks carrying you nearer to primates like the black-and-white colobus, red colobus and red-tailed monkeys. otters, mongooses and bushbucks exist in the wetlands.
Planning to visit Uganda for primate tracking adventure and find the gorilla trekking safari quite expensive, you can opt for a the chimpanzee tracking tour in Kibale forest . You can send an emailto booking@tristarafricaskimmersafaris.com to request fro a quote.
