Is the Visit to Kibale National Park worth it? Kibale National Park in Uganda is located in Kabarole district in the western region of the country. It is one of best destinations recommended for chimpanzee trekking and habituation activities in the country and it is among the often-visited parks. This National Park is situated above the sea level at an altitude between 1,100 meters to 1,600 meters. More so, it is the highest park that stands at 1590meters above the sea level and the lowest level of the park stands at 1,100meters on the Albertine Rift Valley leading to the southern part of the park. This park has its main attractions that attracts many tourists, which is the endangered species of chimpanzees.
Kibale National Park was gazette as a forest reserve in 1993 and later established as a national park in 1932. It is most likely seen as a large, tropical rain forest, woodland and savanna wetlands on the rift valley floor. This park harbours around 70 mammal species, 375 bird species, and 13 primate species not forgetting chimpanzees, which this park is famous of.
Activities done in Kibale National Park.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience.
Kibale National Park is famous because of the chimpanzee habituation experience and this activity takes about good 6 hours while tourists are busy tracking chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking/ habituation all happen to begin from Kanyanchu visitor’s centre where the activity commences at 6am and ends at 7pm in the evening when the chimpanzees are returning in their nests. Tourists can choose to either do a half day or full day of the chimpanzee habituation/ tracking.
A chimpanzee habituation permits costs USD 150 dollars for International tourists and foreigners who are non-residents while foreigners who are residents pay USD 100 dollars as nationalities of the country pay 100,000 Ugandan shillings.
Hiking and Nature Walks.
Either tourists can do night or day nature walks where a Day nature walks cost US$30 dollars per person and US$ 40 dollars per person. This park is known as a good spot for hiking activities where visitors explore the beauty of the park and the species of wildlife within in the park and they are able to see the nocturnal animals such as; crickets, the nightjars, tree hyrax and the bush babies.
Bird Watching.
Kibale National park is a home to 375 bird species and these bird species include; White-winged Warbler, White-Collared Oliveback, the yellow- spotted Barbet and the Black-crowned Waxbill and among others. The birding activities in the park begin at 7am in Kanyanchu vision centre where this activity costs USD 30 dollars per person, Is the Visit to Kibale National Park worth it?.
Cultural Encounters.
In Kibale National park, there are two ethnic tribes and these are the Batooro tribe and the Bakiiga tribe. Visitors in this park, tend to do community visits where they are to learn more about these tribes by watching their cultural dances, listening to their music, listening to the history of these tribes, listening to their music. Tourists also get a chance to visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where they see the KAFRED, which is a community based organization that promotes eco-tourism in the Bigodi Swamp area as well as a the tea plantations nearby the park.
Attractions within and outside the National Park.
Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru.
This is the most popular site that not every tourist in Kibale national park can never miss out to visit. It consists of rocks and caves, which are attached to the local folk tales. A Visit to Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru blesses tourists with dazzling and stunning beautiful views of waterfalls, caves and tea plantations.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
This Sanctuary is well managed by KAFRED [Kibale Association for Rural and Environment Development] an NGO which started operating in the area in 1992. This Sanctuary is located in Kibale National Park and is a good place to carryout birding activities such as; the rare shoebill stock.
Crater lakes.
Kibale National Park has over 15 crater lakes that tourists always air out special visits. These crater lakes always offer tourists with beautiful views and it highlights a hiking activity in the national park.
Wildlife.
Kibale national park is a home of big numbers of wildlife animals such as; buffaloes, Sitatunga, bush backs, forest elephants, and primate species such as; olive baboons, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys and many others.
Kihingami Wetland.
Kihangami wetlands are located near Sebitoli in the northern part of the national park. It is here where visitors can embark on birding expeditions in its swamps and see the tea plantations, bushbucks, number of monkey species, like red colobus monkeys, the black and white colobus monkeys, and the red-tailed monkeys among others.
Accommodation Facilities in Kibale National Park.
Kibale national park offers its visitors with different accommodation facilities which range from; Budget accommodations, Mid-range accommodations, and Luxury accommodations. In addition, these lodging facilities include; Kibale forest lodge, Crater safari lodge, Kanyanchu river camp, Sebitoli camping ground, Chimps Nest, Kibale forest camp and Mantana Tented camp and many others.
Best time to visit Kibale National Park.
The best time for tourists to visit kibale national park is in the dry seasons from June to September and December to February though this national park is always open for game viewing all year round.
With the information given above, one is free to contact us for any inquires and bookings for chimpanzee trekking safaris in kibale National Park.
