Facts About Kibale Forest National Park : Kibale Forest National Park is the best place to go for Chimpanzee habituation safari in East African countries, all because it harbors the highest concentration of chimpanzee individuals with more than 1,500 individuals out of the Uganda’s total 5,000 chimpanzees. Kibale is famously known as home to over 13 primate species including; chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, pottos, mammals such as forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers and around 375 bird species. More so, the park is located in western region of Uganda in Kabarole district, covering a total area of about 795 square kilometers.
Activities in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park renown as a capital of primates with over 1,500 chimpanzees thus making it the best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda and not only in Uganda but also in entire East Africa.
Chimpanzee trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about chimpanzee’s rules and regulations at Kanyanchu Visitor’s Center. After the briefing a park ranger guide will accompanies you in the forest trail heads in search of the habituated chimpanzees. Trekking of chimpanzees takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are found because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. While trekking, you will be able to view different wildlife species and primates such as red tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys as well as various bird species among others.
Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat with a chance to learn about their lifestyle, habits, behaviors, watch them feed, hunt, breastfeed, fight, play, rest, groom their young ones as well as taking photography and capturing videos.
Chimpanzee habituation experience
It is one of a great fact in Kibale Forest National Park where chimpanzees first undergo a training process to get use to human presence for trekking. The activity takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and it involves a team of researchers, scientists, park guides and trackers.
Chimpanzee habituation starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the visitor’s center. After the briefing you will join a group of researchers and start trekking in the forest the whole day depending on where the chimps allocated. During trekking, you be surprised to see other primates, mammals, bird species many more.
Once the chimpanzees allocated, you will be given four hours to spend with them in their habitat- get to learn about their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily actions like breastfeeding, resting, playing, patrolling, copulating, hunting, groom young ones, watch them building new nests, take photos.
Birding
Kibale Forest National Park is a truly birding paradise that harbors with over 375 bird species recorded including; Albertine rift endemics, forest birds and migratory birds. Birding is best done either morning or in the evening when the weather is favorable for them.
Some of bird check list in Kibale National Park includes; Red faced woodland warbler, White napped pigeon, Brown chested alethe, Abyssinian ground thrush, Blue breasted king fisher, Black bee –eater, Black eared ground thrush, Dusky crimson wing, Blue headed sunbird, Cassin’s spine tail, Grey parrot, Little greenbul, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, Western nicator, Scaly-breasted illadopsis, Ruwenzori apalis, Red-faced woodland warbler, Red-chested owlet, Nahan’s francolin mentioned but few.
Nature walks
Nature walk in Kibale National Park is quite rewarding which gives visitors a high opportunity to explore the green forest on foot in accompany of an experienced park ranger guide to protect you from any danger. During the experience, you will enjoy great views of the scenic scenery, view different animals, primates like L’hoest monkey, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys as you listen to beautiful melodies of bird species, view beautiful butterflies, view variety of bird species as well as taking pictures as many as possible.
You can opt to do night nature walks in the park which starts at around 7:30pm and allows you spot nocturnal animals like serval cats, nightjar, tree hyrax, pottos, bush baby, cricket, enjoy the forest night sounds and others.
Bush craft children activities
Kibale Forest National Park offers activities for children below the age of 15 years. During the bush craft activities – children will engage in plenty of kid friendly activities guided by child friendly guides for example exploring the forest where they will be able to view different wildlife species, plants, trees, birds, visiting the surrounding communities many more others thus facts about Kibale Forest National Park.
Best time to visit Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale National Park can be visited all year round but the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season, there is less rainfall in the park thus hiking and chimpanzee trekking trails will be dry.
Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale National Park has got bucket perfect accommodation facilities ranging from budget, Mid-range and Luxury –safari lodge includes; Primate Lodge, Rwenzori Guest house, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimps Nest, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Ndali Kasenda Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Turaco Treetop, Kyaninga Lodge, Lake Nyamirima Cottages.
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park lies in western part of Uganda can be accessed by road transport –from Kampala to the park via Fort Portal takes about 5 to 6hours drive.
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