Kibale Forest National Park is located in western Uganda, covering 795 square kilometers. The park is the best place for tracking chimpanzees in Uganda and is also known as the primate capital of the world because of its rich forest wildlife, with over 13 species of primates.
Kibale hosts several habitats such as evergreen moist tropical forest, dry tropical forest, Fort Portal plateau, Savannah, and woodland grasslands. The park is also home to 351 species of trees, some more than 50 meters tall and over 200 years old.
Kibale was first gazetted in 1932 as a game reserve to protect a logged forest. In 1993, it was established as a national park. It adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park, forming a 180 km corridor for wildlife.
Kibale Forest National Park is located 26 km from Fort Portal town in western Uganda. It can be reached via Kasese near Queen Elizabeth National Park or via Mubende and Fort Portal. The distance from Kampala is about 308 km.
Kibale is open year-round. The best time to visit is during the dry months of June to mid-September and December to February when trekking trails are easier to use. During the rainy season, food is plenty, and chimps do not go far into the forest, but the trails can be muddy and slippery.
This guide highlights recommended Kibale Forest National Park tour operators, park entry fees, history, location, best time to visit, accommodation, wildlife, chimpanzee trekking and habituation, bird watching, guided nature walks, and cultural encounters.
Recommended Kibale Tour Operators
Looking for genuine Kibale Forest National Park tour operators? We have a list of trusted travel agents and safari companies that can plan for you a memorable Uganda safari holiday to this primate capital
See recommended list of Kibale tour operators here.
We recommend all these tour operators and guarantee they will organize a good trip for you. Avoid bargaining too much as it may affect service delivery. Let them tailor a package that fits your budget.
Chimpanzee Trekking & Habituation in Kibale
Chimpanzee tracking is the main tourist activity in Kibale Forest National Park. The park has the highest population of chimpanzees in Uganda, with about 1,450 individuals out of the 4,950 found in the country. Trekking starts early in the morning after a briefing at the park headquarters. It may take several hours depending on the movement of the chimps. Once found, tourists are allowed one hour to observe and take photos.
For those who want more time, Kibale also offers chimpanzee habituation. This is the process of making chimps get used to human presence. It usually takes 2–3 years and includes a final mock test before the chimps are opened for normal trekking. Visitors can join researchers and rangers in this process.
Habituation allows only four people per group and gives you four hours with the chimps, compared to the one hour during normal trekking.
See chimpanzee trekking companies here.
Park Entry Fees
- Adult foreign non-residents: USD 40
- Adult foreign residents: USD 30
- East African citizens: 20,000 UGX
- Foreign non-resident children: USD 20
- Foreign resident children: USD 10
- East African children: 5,000 UGX
- Ugandan pupils: 3,000 UGX
- Students: 5,000 UGX
- Wildlife clubs: 2,000 UGX
Annual passes:
- Foreign resident individual: USD 350
- Couple: USD 500
- Family (max 4): USD 700
- Corporate: USD 1,500
- East African individual: 150,000 UGX
- Couple: 200,000 UGX
- Family (max 4): 300,000 UGX
- Corporate: 2,500,000 UGX
Other fees:
- Safari guides: 100,000 UGX
- Tour company drivers: Free
- Birding: USD 30 (foreigners), 10,000 UGX (East Africans)
- Day guided walks: USD 15 (foreigners), 10,000 UGX (East Africans)
- Night walks: USD 40 (foreign non-residents), USD 20 (foreign residents), 10,000 UGX (East Africans)
Vehicle entry fees vary depending on type, from 10,000 UGX for Ugandan motorcycles to USD 150 for foreign buses and lorries.
Animals of Kibale
Kibale Forest National Park is home to more than 13 species of primates and many other mammals. Some of the animals you can find include buffaloes, leopards, bush pigs, elephants, duikers, chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, and patas monkeys among others.
Birding in Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park has over 325 species of birds, 6 of which are endemic to the Albertine region. Some of the birds include blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow-spotted nicator, Abyssinian ground thrush, collared apalis, blue-headed sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler, black-capped apalis, dusky crimson wing, purple-breasted sunbird, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, brown-chested alethes, little greenbul, and black-eared ground thrush among others.
See recommended list of bird watching tour operators here.
Guided Nature Walks in Kibale
Kibale Forest National Park offers guided nature walks and hiking. You can choose community walks or forest walks where you may see different species of birds, primates, and other wildlife. Walks can take from 30 minutes to 2 days, depending on your preference. The park also offers both day and night nature walks.
Cultural Encounters in Kibale
The park is surrounded by the Batoro and Bakiga tribes. The Batoro are the original inhabitants, while the Bakiga migrated into the area. Each tribe has its own way of life, which you can learn about during your visit.
You can join the locals in activities such as basket weaving, brewing local beer, cooking traditional meals, or buying handmade crafts as souvenirs or gifts. Visitors are also entertained with traditional songs and dances under the night sky.
Accommodation in Kibale
Accommodation is important after a long trek. Kibale has options ranging from budget to luxury, depending on your budget. Some of the lodges and camps include:
- Primate Lodge
- Chimpanzee Forest Camp
- Kibale Forest Camp
- Isunga Lodge
- Kibale Guest Cottages
- Ndali Crater Lodge
- Crater Safari Lodge
- Mountains of the Moon Hotel
- Papaya Lake Lodge
- Kyaninga Lodge
- Rwenzori View Guest House
Conclusion
Kibale Forest National Park is considered the best place in the world for chimpanzee trekking. To make your trip enjoyable, it is important to choose a reliable tour company.
Searching online can sometimes be confusing and risky. I have personally traveled with several tour companies, and I recommend booking your Kibale safari through them for the best services.
See recommended list of Kibale tour operators here.
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