Placed in southwestern part of Uganda, standing 1590 m above the sea level, covering 795 sq.km stands one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda, Kibale National Park, home of primates. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau.
Kibale National Park is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking and is being known as the primate capital of the world boosting with over 1450 chimpanzees.
It’s the park that you have 98% chances of sighting the chimpanzee with high possibilities of having ground and tree sightings during the tracking. You have opportunities to sight both male and females alongside the juvenile chimpanzees.
During the chimpanzee tracking, you can be lucky to sight other 12 primates as you take a walk in forest.
The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee.
It also contains over 375 species of birds. Kibale adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park.
The Green breasted Peter, is one of the rare species only sighted here, at Kibale National Park
The Kibale-Fort Portal area is one of Uganda’s most rewarding destinations to explore, there is a lot to see besides visiting the park, you can explore the crater lakes near the park, Amabeere Caves, Botanical garden, and Bigodi bird sanctuary hosting over 260 bird species and number of primates as well. Number of monkeys can be spotted in this wetland.
The park lies close to the tranquil Ndali – Kasenda crater area and within half a day’s drive of the Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks, as well as the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
Other than chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation, the park has numerous activities such as bird watching, nature walks, butterfly watching, tea estate tours and much more that will keep you smiley on your visit to Kibale the home of chimps.
Kibale National Park can easily be accessed by good roads that are well maintained, which makes it easier for you to get here.
Those intending to have an overnight, there are number of accommodations which do exist from camping, to budget lodges up to upscale market of luxury type.