Animals in Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park Mammals, primates, birds, and reptiles are among the animals that can be seen on park grounds. With a variety of animal, bird, and insect species, Kibale National Park is a unique eco-community. Kibale National Park serves as a link between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park by extending from it by roughly 180 kilometers. The presence of buffaloes and lions in Kibale forest should not come as a surprise because the Kibale wildlife corridor facilitates the animals’ unrestricted movement between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park. Kibale National Park serves as an ecozone that connects the southern parks to northern Ugandan parks, such as Murchison Falls National Park.
Western Uganda is home to Kibale National Park, which includes the districts of Kabarole and Fort Portal. The stunning Rwenzori highlands are located 24 kilometers east of Kibale National Park, which is only a few kilometers from Fort Portal Town and roughly 20 kilometers away. The total size of Kibale National Park is around 795 square kilometers. The extensive Kibale conservation region, which includes Semliki National Park, Semliki-Tooro Wildlife Reserve, and Katonga Wildlife Reserve, includes Kibale National Park. This is sufficient proof of Kibale National Park’s significance as a habitat for species and the natural world.
The highest point of Kibale National Park is around 1590 meters above sea level, while the lowest position is 1100 meters above sea level. That’s on the floor of the western rift valley. The various elevations found within Kibale National Park’s grounds are home to a variety of ecosystems, including swamps, woodlands, savannah, and shrubs, among others, that support a diverse array of animal species.
Animals
With more than 13 different kinds of monkeys, Kibale National Park is primarily recognized as a large primate empire. Chimpanzee trekking and habituation draw large numbers of visitors to Kibale National Park. More than 1500 chimpanzees can be found at Kibale National Park, some of which are accustomed to humans and are prepared for interaction. In addition to chimpanzees, Kibale National Park is home to twelve other species of primates, some of which are endemic and critically endangered. The greatest primate community in East Africa, and possibly all of Africa, can be found in Kibale National Park.
Congo would have been the choice because it has the biggest woods, but the population of primates was severely diminished by political instability and unchecked poaching. Uganda, on the other hand, is a reasonably tranquil nation. As a result, the number of primates in Kibale National Park has increased. Primates are most prevalent in Kibale, both in terms of species and population.
The greatest population of L’hoest’s monkeys in East Africa can be found in Kibale National Park. There is an 85% likelihood that you will see L’hoest’s monkeys when hiking in Kibale National Park. You have a great opportunity to see night primates, also known as nocturnal monkeys, in Kibale National Park. Among other night critters that make Kibale forest come to life when the sun sets are the pottos, Demidov’s dwarf galago, and eastern needle-clawed bush baby.
During your nature hikes through the forest, you will be surprised to see the many more mammal species that Kibale is naturally home to. The animals have little trouble moving between the two national parks because Kibale National Park is a part of the Kibale-Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Corridor. As you continue your nature walk or hike in Kibale National Park, you may come across several elephants and buffaloes wandering about the bush.
Other creatures found in Kibale National Park include bushbucks, the blue and red duiker, the peter duiker, forest hogs, warthogs, bush pigs, and the uncommon sitatunga antelopes, which are found in the park’s swampy regions. In Kibale National Park, leopards and occasionally lions can also be seen. Because of this, it’s best to avoid going alone in the forest and to stick to a group.
The most popular activity in Kibale National Park is chimpanzee trekking. It entails following a certain trekking track through the bush until one comes across a chimp settlement. After that, you get an hour to spend with and observe the chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Spending an hour with these primates is a worthwhile experience that makes up for any lengthy walk you may have taken to see the chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.
With a wide variety of chimpanzee communities to discover, Kibale National Park is the only location where you may experience your chimpanzee habituation. In contrast to chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, chimpanzee habituation is more personal. The chimpanzees must become accustomed to human interactions as part of the habituation process. Getting to know the chimpanzees and learning about their habits and style takes a full day. The unusual season, often known as the low tourist season, when there aren’t many visitors to the national park—possibly the wet season—is when chimp habituation is most common.
When is best to go to Kibale National Park?
Kibale is open year-round for anything from camping and nighttime strolls to chimpanzee trekking. Nonetheless, the dry season is the ideal time of year to visit Kibale National Park and other Ugandan national parks in order to see the wildlife. The best time to go chimpanzee trekking is during the dry season, which runs from July to September and January to February. Kibale National Park sees a lot of visitors during the dry season, which is also Uganda’s busiest travel time.
Kibale National Park is equally fantastic during the wet season, even if the dry season is more exciting. The ideal time to arrange a low-cost trip to Kibale National Park is during the rainy season. The majority of the lodges in Kibale National Park and the surrounding area are constantly on sale during the rainy season. As a result, you can have a free and inexpensive time at Kibale National Park. Chimpanzee habituation is also completed during the rainy season, therefore you may be able to get a cheap gorilla habituation permit in Kibale National Park.
