Kibale National Park is a famous home to the most sought thirteen species and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered but the stars of this twice-daily show are chimpanzees. More so, the park is the best safari destination to go for a chimpanzee trekking experience and the chimpanzee is the most popular activity in Kibale which is known as the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. The Kanyanchu chimps have been tracked ever since 1993 and the chances of locating them are perfect. Guided walks in the park start at 8 am and 2 pm and can take about 3 hours depending on various factors.
The fact that primate walks in Kibale Forest National Park provides a chance to watch chimpanzees in their natural habitat. More to that, Kanyanchu groups are normal to human presence because some have been watched for over 25 years and the chance of seeing them is over 90%. The trekking safari experience starts at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08:00,11:00 and 14 and can take between 2 to 5 hours. The primate walk starts early to allow for registration and briefing and the time allowed to spend with chimpanzees is limited to one hour. Chimpanzee trekking is done in a group size which is limited to six visitors and participants must be aged 16 years and above. So, we recommend visitors planning to do a chimpanzee trekking safari book their permits in advance.
Kibale forest is also home to over 120 mammal species, including several primate species like baboons and chimpanzees, forest elephants, and antelopes among others. The park is a haven for around 370 bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemics such as Brown-chested alethe, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, Abyssinian ground thrush, Purple-breasted sunbird, Little greenbul, Great blue turaco, Pin-tailed whydah slender-billed weaver, African pied wagtail among others.
The most prominent species among Kibale’s primates are the unique chimpanzee population which ranges about 1,500 individuals which are divided into at least a dozen different communities, four of which are habituated to humans.
Activities to do in Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Chimpanzee habituation experience is one of the most done safari activities in Kibale Forest National Park where trackers are allowed to meet up with fully habituated chimpanzees in their natural habitat, however, chimpanzees are said to share 99% of DNA with humans. This activity is a full-day chimpanzee experience where you are allowed 4 hours to stay on watch of these great apes, the activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules of trekking chimps, and after it involves joining the habituation research team as they carry out their daily assignment of making a community of chimpanzee accustomed to human visits. Chimpanzee habituation is a great experience for researchers and photographers who would love to spend with them for a good time. All participants in Chimpanzee activity need to secure chimpanzee habituation permits which must be done in advance.
Note; Chimpanzee habituation experience is done in a group size of four people accompanied by researchers and a park ranger guide.
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular safari activity in the park which starts early in the morning with a briefing about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking. Then after, meet up with the park rangers to position you in the assigned group a group of six people. You will be led by the park ranger into the forest trails to look for them and once you find them an hour is given to the trackers to observe them as they feed, play, groom themselves, hunt, behavior as well as take photographs.
Birding
The park harbors over 375 bird species including one of Uganda’s most sought birds ‘’the Green-breasted pitta. Birding in Kibale happens throughout the year and in Kibale, tourists are accompanied by expert ranger guides in the forest trials with a gainful view. Some of the birds to see includes the little greenbul, Masked Apalis, Green-breasted pitta, Brown-chested alethe, grey parrot, Crowned eagle, Blue-headed bee-eater, Blue-headed sunbird, Black-eared ground thrush, African pitta, Brown illadopsis, Cassin’s spine tail, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, White-napped pigeon, Ruwenzori Apalis, Red-chested owlet, Nahan’s francolin, Purple-breasted sunbird, Little greenbul, grey parrot many more
Nature walks
Apart from doing chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, some tourists can also pick interest in the park’s nature walks to discover the missed-out residents while on chimpanzee tracking, including mammals like the forest hogs, duikers, butterflies, and the rich vegetation and other various amphibian and reptile species. Many African forest elephants can be seen while on a nature walk experience, although you are required to be guided by a ranger guide for safety. You can choose to do night nature walks which offer chances to see some of the nocturnal animals like bush babies, tree hyraxes, and civets.
Community Visit
Kibale National Park lies in one of the most culturally beautiful areas in Uganda that attract tourists to visit the park to engage in a chimpanzee tracking safari with a visit to the Bigodi community, community walks through one of the tree plantations, a coffee tour, visit to the mysterious caves at Amabeere Ga Nyinamwiru as well as visiting the cultural sites like the king’s own palace.
The best time to visit Kibale National Park
The best time to visit Kibale National Park for primate viewing and other activity is throughout the year but the best time to visit is the dry season from June to September and December to February.
Where to stay in Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park has a lot of perfect tourist accommodations that range from Luxury, Mid-Range, and Budget including Primate Lodge, Kibale forest camp Ndali Kasenda, and Rwenzori guest house among others.
Lastly, Kibale Forest National Park ranks with a high population of chimpanzees of over 1500 individuals meaning the best place to go for a tracking chimpanzee safari in the entire world. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale starts at 8 am with a short briefing at the visitor’s center in Kanyanchu. Get started now!
