KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Kibale Forest boasts the greatest variety and concentration of primates in East Africa.

It is 766 km2 of Uganda’s most accessible rainforest, interspersed with grasslands and swamp.

Chimpanzee tracking, primate viewing and incredible bird watching put Kibale at the top of Uganda’s safari destinations.

Kibale-forest-park

WILDLIFE AND BIRDING

Kibale is home to over 60 mammal species including 13 primates, 355 bird species and over 200 butterflies.

The nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary protects the Magombe swamp and is a haven for birds and butterflies. Four species found here are seen no where else in Uganda; Cassin’s spinetail, masked apalis, Nahan’s francolin and blue-headed bee-eater.

Kibale’s large mammal population is impressive but notably difficult to see due to the density of the forest. It is home to elephant, lion, leopard, sitatunga, buffalo and several species of duiker. Worth mentioning is the forest elephant (a small and hairy species) that moves seasonally into the park.

Kibale Forest Primates

  • Kibale Forest is the home of chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and one of the best places in the world to follow these marvellous creatures.
  • There are however 13 species of primate in the forest and a guided walk will typically reveal half of these.
  • Keep a look out for L’Hoest’s monkey, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus, red colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and olive baboons.
  • Such diverse and easy viewing make Kibale Forest unbeatable for primate viewing safari tours.

Activities at the Park

Chimpanzee tracking is the main draw for many visitors. Guided walks also offer excellent birding and general primate viewing. A tour of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is highly recommended.

When to visit

It is possible to visit Kibale Forest all year round. But remember that it is a rainforest and conditions become more difficult in the wettest months (March – May).

UGANDA NATIONAL PARKS