Drive from Kigali to Kisoro and Fly to Kibale Forest National Park

Drive from Kigali to Kisoro and Fly to Kibale Forest National Park involves traveling from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to Kisoro in Uganda by road, and then flying from Kisoro to Kibale National Park. Here’s a step-by-step guide if you are planning to Drive from Kigali to Kisoro and Fly to Kibale Forest National Park:

1. Drive from Kigali to Kisoro:

• Start in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Head northwest towards the border with Uganda.
• The distance from Kigali to Kisoro is approximately 165-180 kilometers (about 100-110 miles) depending on the specific route you take.
• The journey will take around 4-5 hours, accounting for border crossing and road conditions.
• Make sure you have the necessary travel documents for crossing the border between Rwanda and Uganda.

2. Crossing the Border:

• Cross the border between Rwanda and Uganda. The border crossing is Cyanika or Gatuna, depending on the route you choose.
• Be prepared with your passport, visa (if required), and any other relevant documents.
• It’s advisable to check the latest border crossing procedures and requirements before your trip, as these might change over time.

3. Arrive in Kisoro:

• Once you’ve crossed the border, you’ll be in Kisoro, Uganda.
• Kisoro is a small town located near the border and is known for its proximity to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

4. Fly from Kisoro to Kibale National Park:

• Kisoro doesn’t have a major airport, it has Kisoro Airstrip and you can get a flight through Aerolink connecting you to Kasese Airstrip from where you will be transferred to Kibale National Park.
• One option is to travel to the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Entebbe, Uganda. This is the main international airport in Uganda.
• Once you reach Entebbe, you can catch a domestic flight to an airport near Kibale National Park, such as the Kasese Airport (KSE).

5. Arrive at Kibale National Park:

• After arriving at the nearest airport to Kibale National Park (likely Kasese Airport), you’ll need to arrange ground transportation to the park itself.
• Kibale National Park is known for its diverse range of primates, including chimpanzees, and is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Kibale Forest National Park is best known for its number and variety of resident primates with 13 species of primates including the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda estimated at over 1500 chimpanzees, Other primates found in Kibale Forest include the nocturnal busbaby and potto, Monkeys, baboons among others. Kibale Forest National Park is also a popular destination for birders with over 335 bird species recorded. Chimpanzee trekking is done in two sessions in the morning and afternoon this will be determined by the chimpanzee permit you purchase and your itinerary to trek in a given session accordingly.

How to book Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

For you to book Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, you will need to have your Chimpanzee trekking permit secured in advance to confirm that you are booked for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at Eco Adventure Safaris so that we check for the availability of Chimpanzee permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm chimpanzee permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your chimpanzee trekking permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. It is advised to book your chimpanzee trek in Uganda in advance at least 2-3 months prior your visit given the fact chimpanzee permits like gorilla permits also are limited and sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.

How much is Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

A Chimpanzee permit costs USD200 for the Foreign nonresident, USD150 for the Foreign resident and USD30 (100,000 Uganda Shilling) for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this chimpanzee permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.  On top of the chimpanzee permit you will also pay other services for a successful Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park which include transport, accommodation and guiding. Our 3 Day Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park all inclusive costs USD1050 per person sharing in a group of 2, USD1400 for a solo traveler, USD1060 for 3 people per person sharing and USD1050 for 4 people per person sharing.

What is the best time for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park?

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Uganda with mild rainfall making it easy for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for viewing the chimpanzees offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetation grow high making the sightings unclear However during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact chimpanzees don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.

Where to stay during Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

There are many accommodation options in Kibale Forest National Park where you can stay during your Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park these range from budget, mid-range to luxury let us now we will book for you accordingly.

Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park, Budget options include Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Isunga Lodge, Mountains of the Moon, Rwenzori view Guest House, Kibale Home Stay among others these cost USD90-100 per person per night, mid-range include Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops Lodge and Prime Lodge Kibale among others these cost USD150-200 per person per night, Luxury options include Ndali Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge and Kyaninga Lodge these cost USD250-700 per person per night.

Why Book Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park through Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris and its team bring you closer than ever to the wonders Uganda and Rwanda have to offer. From Gorilla trekking to the chimpanzee habitation in Kibale, cultural tour across Rwanda and city tours, we have everything you need to make your first or occurring experience in the region a memorable one. Click here for a complete list of our entire packages, and in case you have any questions, please click here to get in touch with if you plan to Drive from Kigali to Kisoro and Fly to Kibale Forest National Park.