Things to do in Kibale Forest National Park

Are you looking for a primate adventure for your safari in Uganda? Are you interested in trekking to see the chimpanzees in their natural habitat and interacting with them, your dream will come true when you visit Kibale Forest National Park? Attractions and Things to do in Kibale Forest National Park

About Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa where you will have natural experiences.  The Park is located in western Uganda covering the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjonjo, Kamwenge, and Kyegegwa. Kibale forest national park is a tropical forest and is a habitat of a number of forest wildlife, about 1500 chimpanzees, bird species, Tree species, reptiles, monkeys, butterflies, Mammals, and other wildlife. The road trip from Kampala/Entebbe is about 4-5hours drive. Visiting Kibale forest national park is the biggest advantage to enjoy thrilling experiences such as chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation as the most sought activities. Chimpanzees are among the endangered species in the world, Kibale National park is referred to as the Primate capital having about 20 primate species which is the highest density in all of Africa. Chimpanzees are the second famous primates after the Mountain Gorillas, and they also have 95% human DNA.

Top Activities to do and Attractions to see in Kibale forest National Park?

Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee trekking is the main adventurous thing to do in Kibale Forest National Park on your safari. The activity allow you to see the chimpanzees in their natural Environment and they are very interesting to watch. Kibale National Park is referred to as the Primate capital and it has the highest population of Chimpanzees in Uganda. The chimpanzee Trekking permit is issued to those interested to see the chimpanzees that are already used to people and only allows one hour of viewing and staying with the chimpanzee once you find them. This permit costs USD 200 per person Non-Foreign Residents, USD150 Per person Foreign Residents and Uganda shillings 150,000 per person for East African Citizens. There are three sessions for chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale forest national park Namely; Morning session that starts at 8:00am, Mid-morning session that starts at Mid-day and the afternoon session that starts at 2pm through put the year. You will enjoy this experience with your loved one in the jungle of Kibale National Park.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Chimpanzee Habituation experience is one of the things to do on your safari in Kibale forest National Park. During this activity, you will well spend four amazing hours with the chimpanzees in Kibale forest National Park. Here, you will visit the chimpanzee community that is under the process of habituation with researchers, guides and rangers as they make effort for the chimpanzees to get used to humans. The chimps can seem wild, hide and run away for the visitors, but once you meet them you will observe the way they feed, move, and live in communities and their interaction.

According to the UWA-Tariff for 2021-2022, The chimpanzee habituation permit for Kibale forest national park costs USD250 per person Non-Foreign Residents, USD250 Per person Foreign Residents and Uganda shillings 200,000 for East African Citizens, This chimpanzee habituation permit allows you to view and stay with the chimpanzees for four hours as you move with them, observe the way they feed, live and communicate. It is an experience conducted by the Researchers and Forest guides.

Bigodi Wetland Walk and Cultural encounter

Bigodi wetland walk takes place at the Bigodi wetland sanctuary located in Magombe swamp, the swamp is a wide array of attractions with prime attractions being the primates and birds, primate species include the red colobus monkey, baboon, black & white colobus monkey, blue monkey grey cheeked, mangabey, vervet monkey, red tailed monkey and the L’Hoest monkey. Additional Mammals such as chimpanzees, Sitatunga, mongooses, bush pigs, otters plus bush bucks. Bird species so we will expect to encounter specialties that includes; Green-breasted Pitta, Red-chested Owlet, Scally-breasted, Pale-breasted and Brown Illadopsis, Red-caped and Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Fire-crested and Brown-chested Alethe, Forest Robin, Buff-spotted, Brown-eared and Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-winged Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, White-naped and Afep Pigeon, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Rufous Flycatcher

During the walk you will as well have a chance to visit the local communities where you will have cultural encounters including local dances, local way of life, local juices and foods among others. The walk gives a luxury experience as it is very Authentic.

Birding in Kibale

Birding is another activity to do in Kibale Forest National Park on your honeymoon adventure, it is among Uganda’s best birding spots with over 350 bird species which include; Albertine rift endemic birds which include Green-breasted pitta, African pitta, Abyssinian ground thrush, Crowned eagle, Dusky crimsonwing, Black-capped apalis, Collared apalis, Purple-breasted sunbird, Black bee-eater, Yellow spotted nicator, Little greenbul, Black-eared ground thrush, Brown-chested alethe, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, Blue-breasted kingfisher among others.

Crater Lakes Tour

This involves a walk to the top of the hill called Nyamirima where you will see 5 beautiful crater lakes surrounding Kibale Forest National Park, you will have a chance for sightseeing, taking pictures and meeting up with the local community who will share with you their day to day life. You can as well access some of the lakes for canoeing.

How to get to Kibale forest National Park?

Kibale forest national park can be accessed by road as it only 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe. The road trip takes you through the beautiful scenery of western Uganda, the plantations and the hospitable Uganda people. Our road trips start early morning at 8:00am to beat off traffic and arrive in the afternoon at your booked hotel/camp/lodge.

You can as well fly to Kasese Airstrip and then access Kibale forest national park with in 2hours and less tiring than a road trip. There are daily domestic flights to Kasese Airstrips, Aerolink Uganda operates Morning and afternoon flights to Kasese Airstrip from Entebbe international Airport, considering your itinerary you can opt for chattered or scheduled flights for your honeymoon vacation in Kibale forest National Park.

Where to stay on your holiday in Kibale forest National Park?

Kibale forest national park has a number of choices for you to select where to stay, there is a number of options ranging from budget to luxury lodges, most hotels and lodges have something special for newlyweds from complimentary cocktails to room upgrades. The lodges are found in the outskirts of the forest which cottages have views to the forest or crater lakes and you will have to drive a few minutes to the park headquarters. You can stay at Ndali lodge, Crater safari lodge, Kyaninga lodge and Papaya as luxury options, then Primate Lodge and Turaco treetops for midrange option, you can stay at Chimpanzee forest guest house, Isunga lodge for those on a tight budget.  There is also an option of staying in hotel is Fort portal town which is the closest town to Kibale forest.

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale forest National Park    

Eco Adventure Safaris is experienced in organizing amazing primate safari experiences to Uganda and Rwanda but has now expanded to offer safaris to Tanzania, Kenya, and D R Congo. We have over time assembled a team mixed with young and energetic staff guided by well-experienced mature managers and directors who are Ugandans and passionate about what they do. If contacted here, one of our staff will assist in providing accurate and timely information that you can rely on within the Five Minutes.