Kibale Forest National Park
Ultimate guide to Kibale Forest national park
Kibale forest national park has an exceptional safari experience in Africa that includes chimpanzee tracking. Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda is an excellent choice. This national park covers an area of 795 km2 and boasts a stunning and diverse tropical forest, making it one of Uganda’s top attractions.
This is the place for several forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primates coupled with chimpanzees.
For instance, the forest covering predominates in the central and northern parts of the park on the raised Fort Portal plateau. At the park’s northern tip, Kibale Forest National Park is the highest and stands 1590m above sea level.
Secondly, Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking.
It’s a 12km hike usually done in the dry seasons. The months are mid-November-February, June and September. Therefore, hiking helps discover the park’s habitats, such as riverline forests and swamps.
Bigodi wetland sanctuary
Visit Bigodi, a top birder’s spot. It’s famous for wildlife such as chimpanzees, red colobus, black and white colobus, and red-tailed monkeys. It has about 138 bird species seen on nature walks within.
The Kibale Forest National Park nature walk begins from Kanyanchu or Sebitoli. And it takes about 2-6 days. The route will help you discover the forest and, later, the community. That is close to the villages of Kikoni, Nyakalongo and Nyaibanda.
Additionally, the wettest area is Northern Kibale, receiving an average annual rainfall of equal to 1700mm. Mainly during March-May and September-November. The climate is usually pleasant, with an average annual temperature range of 14 to 27oC.
Temperatures in Kibale Forest National Park are at maximum (& rainfall is lower). In the south, the terrain drops onto the blistering rift valley floor.
Borders of the forest
The southern border is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which maintains a 180-kilometre-long migration corridor. From the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in “Ishasha”.
To the north of Kibale Forest National Park in “Sebitoli”. The Kibale-Fort Portal region is one of Uganda’s most pleasing places to explore. The park is located close to the calm Ndali Kasenda crater area.
Which takes a half day’s drive to Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks. Along with the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
Access
Take the road from Fort Portal to Kamwenge, which commences near the bridge over the Mpanga River in Fort Portal and is well-signposted. Turn left at the junction 12 km from Fort Portal and follow the signpost for 24 km to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre.
Flora and fauna in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park’s varied altitude holds up different varieties of habitats. They range from the moist evergreen forest (wet tropical forest) along the Fort Portal plateau. Then through the dry tropical forest and then to the woodland & savanna along the rift valley floor.
In the central part of the park, the forest consists of a mixture of evergreen trees. And deciduous, with the evergreen species being dominant. Vegetation rises to over 55m and establishes a semi-closed canopy of massive stratified tree crowns.
With shade-tolerant herbs, a variety of ferns, shrubs and broad-leaved forest grasses. The undergrowth is sparse. Three hundred fifty-one tree species have been registered in the park.
The density and diversity of primates in Kibale Forest National Park are the highest in Africa. The most well-known of its 13 species are the chimpanzees, our closest relative.
Kibale’s 1450 chimpanzees indicate Uganda’s biggest population of this threatened primate.
An Uganda safari can enable you to see all these primates. Additionally, Kibale is home to the uncommon I’Hoest’s monkey as well. Also, East Africa’s biggest population of the endangered red colobus monkey.
The black & white colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey, bush baby and potto are among the other primates.
Other mammals are also present, though they are hardly seen. These include buffalo, leopard, bush pig, elephant, and duiker. A neat viewer could also see amphibians and reptiles and a colourful variety of butterflies.
The Kibale Forest National Park is home to 325 variety of bird species. That includes 6 that are native to the Albertine Rift destination. That is to say, dusky Crimsonwing, black-capped Apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared Apalis, red-faced woodland warbler and purple-breasted sunbird.
Other Kibale specials are the green-breasted pitta, African pitta, black bee-eater, Abyssinian ground thrush, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brown chested leather, yellow-rumped tinker bird, blue-breasted kingfisher, along with the crowned eagle.
Accommodation Kibale Forest National Park
The best place to spend the night is in Primate Lodge Kibale. Within a short period, different types of accommodation will be available, including modern bandas, luxury tents and a comfortable Sky Tree House. The lodge is in the forest, exactly where you start the chimp tracking.
Montana Luxury Tented Camp is located in the middle of the forest. Bush-type accommodation and quite comfortable.
Ndali Lodge is a luxury accommodation with thatched cottages overlooking a crater lake.
The Rwenzori View Guesthouse in Fort Portal is approximately 30 km from the forest. Comfortable, middle-class rooms with or without private bathrooms are available.
The park offers very affordable chimp tracking. Groups ( limited to 6 people ) leave daily at 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; the walks last about 3 hours. The highly recommended night walks depart from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 7:30 p.m. (book in advance). Bring your torch!
Facilities at Bigodi include; an observation tower and a boardwalk that traverses the papyrus beds. The path and boardwalk may be flooded and muddy after heavy rain, and gumboots are recommended. They can be hired at the visitor centre.
The walk is about 4 km long, taking 3-4 hours at a birding pace. With all proceeds from eco-tourism going back into the community, this is a conservation project well worth supporting.
People
The people who live around Kibale Forest National Park are Batoro and Bakiga. The Batoro are native to the region, while the Bakiga are just immigrants from the southwestern part of the country.
The Batoro carry pride in the ethnic heritage of the Kingdom of Toro, a scion of the ancient kingdoms of the Great Lakes region in Africa. The king (Omukama) and the kingdom personify the traditional cultural values of the Batoro.
The immigrants (Bakiga) still hold their culture and tradition as expressed in their dance, folklore, and language.
Forest regulations
1. Please note that this is not a Zoo, so it is a tropical rainforest, and sightings depend on many factors.
2. The maximum number of people in a group is four visitors per walk
3. The maximum time with the chimps is one hour. However, this time is short, so the animals do not remain under stress.
4. When trekking, please keep in a tight group and follow the guide’s directions at all times.
5. Please remain at a distance of 8 meters from the chimps or the distance that your guide recommends.
6. Under no circumstance shall you chase while they descend or to or walk on higher ground.
7. Do not enter the forest if sick, as this can put the animals at serious risk.
8. Do not eat near chimps and other primates.
9. Please do not shout in the forest.
10. Please wear long boots that cover your toes and long trousers as there are red ants and slippery trails; also, Carry along waterproof clothing in the rainy season.
11. Children under 15 years do not view the chimps for safety reasons.
12. If you need to urinate in Kibale Forest National Park, please do so off the trail system.
13. If you need to defecate, please do so off the trail system and bury all waste in a hole.
Also, check out the Lakes and Rivers in Uganda.
