Safaris in Kibale National Park
Safaris in Kibale National Park are known to be related to primates. Nevertheless, there are other additional activities that may be added to your safari in Kibale National Park, including as hiking, cycling, and the Crater Lakes Tour. Kibale National Park has established itself as one of Uganda’s most sought-after travel destinations. It is referred to as the world’s primate capital. The vast number of chimpanzees it houses—more than 1500—is what gives it its famous name. Twelve other species of primates, including mangabeys, golden monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys, can be found in Kibale National Park in addition to chimpanzees.
Kibale National Park is situated near Fort Portal, a well-known tourist destination in western Uganda. Compared to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park is smaller. It is one of Uganda’s smallest national parks, spanning roughly 760 square kilometers. The semi-deciduous rainforest trees predominate in Kibale National Park.
Before the British began using it for hardwood timber in 1959 to build the Kilembe copper mines near Kasese, it was a natural forest. The forest was returned to the Ugandan government following colonial administration, and it was established in 1993 before opening in 1995. As a result, the forest has been allowed to repopulate and return to its natural state. Over the years, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has continued to play a part in forest conservation, removing some of the eucalyptus trees that were taking up space so that the natural wood trees could grow.
The steep terrain of Kibale National Park contributed to the park’s fluctuating elevation. The vast variety of flora types in Kibale National Park, ranging from dry savannah areas and woods to evergreen rain forests, may be due to the park’s elevation. Numerous forest animal species, including monkeys, birds, insects, reptiles, and other mammals—there are roughly 60 mammal species in Kibale National Park—use the various plants as habitat.
The nearby habitats are partly responsible for Kibale National Park’s richness. Queen Elizabeth National Park borders Kibale National Park, and the two parks are joined to create a 180-kilometer passage known as a wildlife corridor. Leopards and other cats are rarely spotted during nighttime nature walks in Kibale National Park because of the Kibale-Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Corridor, which allows species like lions, leopards, warthogs, and others to enter the park.
Safaris at Kibale National Park are typically the most authentic African safaris of a lifetime. The greatest place in Africa to go chimpanzee trekking is Kibale National Park. Half of the more than 1500 chimpanzees in Kibale National Park are acclimated and prepared for human interaction. Kibale National Park is known around the world as the “primate capital” since it is home to the greatest number of primates in Africa, both in terms of species and overall population.
In addition to monkeys, Kibale National Park is home to more than 350 different kinds of birds. The fact that certain species are native to Kibale National Park may be the cause of the park’s reputation among tourists as a birder’s paradise and pride. You have a good possibility of seeing a variety of birds on your safari at Kibale National Park, including the African pitta, the black-eared ground thrush, the black bee eater, the little greenbul, small sunbirds, crowned eagles, the yellow-spotted nicator, and the wood warbler.
The highlight of any safari in Kibale National Park is chimpanzee trekking. It is mostly carried out inside the forest, along one of the many hiking paths there. Four to six people trek with chimpanzees under the guidance of a tour guide who is knowledgeable about the forest’s wildlife and has good tracking abilities. In Kibale National Park, chimpanzee trekking takes roughly two to three hours, although the encounter with the primates only lasts an hour. Even while spending an hour with the primates is a really fulfilling experience, you also get to take pictures and observe how the chimpanzees behave.
To enjoy your monkey safari, you must abide by a few basic regulations when chimpanzee trekking. Because they could infect the defenseless chimpanzees, unwell humans are not permitted to hike with chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Since chimpanzee trekking takes place in a bus-heavy woodland, it would be wise for you to wear pants. There are some places where the ground is so slick that you need a pair of rubber boots to enjoy yourself.
Like many national parks in Uganda or even Africa, Kibale National Park is best visited during the dry season. In Uganda, late November through December, January, and early February is considered the dry season. Because there are no breaks in rainfall and the paths are still usable, Kibale National Park benefits from the dry season.
The wet season is a low tourist season in practically all of Uganda’s national parks, even though you might want to visit Kibale National Park during this time. However, now is the perfect time to experience a free area in Kibale National Park for your chimpanzee habituation. Additionally, safaris in Uganda are inexpensive during the wet season; in an effort to draw tourists, the Uganda Wildlife Authority often lowers national park admission rates during this time.
Activities
- The tracking of Kibale chimpanzees begins at Kanyanchu Point.
- It takes roughly two to four hours to stroll with primates along the Kanyanchu River in Kibale Forest.
- The 12-kilometer forest trip takes almost four hours to complete.
- walks that educate children under the age of twelve.
- Magembe Swamp Walk and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
- tour of the Crater Lakes.
- walks throughout the community.
- Habituations of chimpanzees and other fascinating behaviors.
- Arriving there
From Fort Portal Town, Kibale National Park is accessible by road. Fort Portal Town is situated south of Kibale National Park. The distance between Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and Kibale National Park is roughly 320 kilometers. The biggest town closest to Kibale National Park is Fort Portal, which offers all the amenities you need for a hassle-free safari, including banks, eateries, car rental agencies, and lodging. A plane to Kasese Airport and a one-hour drive to Kibale National Park are other ways to get there.
Your reliable tour operator can make reservations for safaris in Kibale National Park. However, employing local tour companies to schedule safaris is always the best option. The transportation from the airport to Kibale National Park is the responsibility of the local tour operator that booked your trip. However, having the most recent travel maps to guide you on your route is beneficial if you are driving yourself to Kibale National Park.