All about Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda

Kibale National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the Ugandan rainforest, with a total area of ​​795 km2. It is known as the home of forest wildlife, especially its 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee. It prevails in the north and central part of the park, on the elevated flat terrain of Fort Portal. Kibale is 1590m above sea level; and is the tallest on the north slope of the park. Its north is humid, with an average annual rainfall of 1,700 mm, usually in March-May and September-November. The weather is usually pleasant and the annual temperature is 14-270c. Although temperatures are high, rainfall decreases in the south. In that region, droplets of earth descend to the hot f100r of the rift valley. It should be noted that the jungle offers an open pampa.

As in the South, the park meets the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Both maintain a long migration passage of about 180 km of wildlife, from Ishaka to Sebitoli. The first is the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the second is the forest in northern Kibale.

The Kibale-Fort portal is a good area to explore and enjoy in Uganda. The park is close to the serene Ndalikasenda Crater, the Rwenzori and Semuliki Mountains, as well as the Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.

Geographic environment.

Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, 26 km southeast of the city of Fort Portal. You can reach Kanyanchu river camp, a good and main center for tourist activities. You can pass from Kampala through Mubende and Fort Portal, or go south through Mbarara and Kamwenge. The north board is shorter and faster, on a 300km paved road to Fort Portal, followed by 36km from Muram to Kanyanchu.

The second tourist center is Sebitoli and it is more accessible than the first. It is located directly on the Kampala highway, 16 km before the Fort gate. Public transport between the two is brisk, as is transport between the portal and Kamwenge via Kanyanchu.

Accommodation

You don’t have to worry about eating, drinking or sleeping! Kibale Primate Lodge has solved the problem. It allows you to choose between tent cabins, tree houses, and tent camps. Simple cabins are also found in Sebitoli. There and in Kanyanchu, you are provided with camps and canteens, with indispensable food!

Fair accommodation is available in the neighboring towns of Bigodi and Nkingo, with a free alternative to go to the Ndali crater area. You also have direct access to Chimpanzee Guest House and Lake Nkuruba.

Flora and fauna

The inconsistency of altitude in Kibale allows the existence of different types of dwellings, from tropical humid forests, evergreen forests on the Fort Portal plateau, through humid semi-deciduous, to forests and savannahs on the floor of the Rift Valley.

In the central part of the park, the forest knows a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. In the latter, the evergreen variety is dominant. Trees grow to 55 m or more, and show evidence of semi-closed sunshade of stratified tree crowns. The bush is not dense with shade grasses, bushes, a variety of ferns, and bread-leaved forest grasses. 351 tree species have been outnumbered in the park.

The density and diversity of primates in Kibale is impressive in Africa. It is famous for its 13 types of chimpanzees, said closest relative of man. The 1,450 Kibale chimpanzees are the representative primates of Uganda. The park also covers Hoest monkeys and the East African red colubus monkey. To these species of monkeys, black and white colubus can be added; Grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, baby bus, poto, and olive baboon.

As for mammals, you can see elephants, buffalo, leopards, wild boars and ducks. A good observer can also find reptiles and amphibians. Butterflies, the colorful ones, are also present.

Kibale National Park has 325 species of birds and six of them are prevalent in the Albettine Rift region.

Primate walk (chimpanzee tracking)

Visitors like to look for chimpanzees and look out for the black and white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkey. You will also discover suimangas, pitas and other species. The guides are there to explain to you the use of some forest plants. The hike is neither strenuous nor boring. It usually lasts two or three hours and is handled in groups of six people. During peak seasons, it would be better to book in advance. Forest Hike Mid-November-February and June-September is a 12km restricted seasonal hike. Explore tropical jungle, riverine jungle, swamps and pampas. Arriving there, you will be allowed to open your eyes and see birds and primates, dulker and bushbuck. It’s a nice walk that starts at 8:00 from Kanyanchu and ends at the Elephant Wallow around 14:00 > No thirst or hunger! Booking in advance is recommended!

Children activities

Are your children willing to accompany you? Do not worry about it. Although children 12 and under are not allowed to see the chimpanzees or enter the forest, they do have their special entertainment! They enjoy educational walks through the forest for one to two hours, followed by other entertaining but creative activities. Parents enjoy their walks in the forest with the happy mind that their children are safe and trained by experienced guides.

Lessons about the ecosystem and its inhabitants are given through short but interesting walks. They are relieved by some games among which we can mention the elaboration of batik, photography, cyanotype and bathing in a pond.

What a sanctuary! Outside the park, in Magombe’s Swamp, there is a quiet place, which is Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. It is famous for its wildlife that includes chimpanzees, red and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and many other animals such as sitatunga, mongoose, bushbuck, and otter. The Sanctuary aims to keep the biodiversity and the environment of the swamp safe.

How to get to the chimpanzee house

Nine rules must be taken into account:

1. Do not enter the forest without a park guide

2. Do not scare or try to provoke chimpanzees

3. Flash photography is totally prohibited

4. Follow the instructions of your guide

5. Keep a distance of 8 m between you and the chimpanzees

6. If you are sick or feel sick, do not enter the forest because chimpanzees can get the disease 7. It is forbidden to defecate in a hole less than 30 cm. Use toilet paper.

8. Do not eat near chimpanzees

9. Children 12 and under are not allowed to see the chimpanzees for safety reasons.

Is Kibale a zoo?

It is important to note that Kibale is not a zoo but a natural rainforest. The walk of chimpanzees and other primates depends on many factors, namely: the time of day, the availability of fruits, the weather and the life of the group.

Dressing room

During the high rainy season, the mornings and evenings are very cold and wet. Therefore, it is recommended to wear warm clothing and rain gear. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a camera, binoculars, wildlife guides, a hat, and bug spray.