Kibale National park is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. You will find one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa – about 1500 individuals have been recorded.
This forest park is surrounded by tea plantations and crater lakes, with a dramatic Rwenzori backdrop. Kibale Forest enjoys a particularly scenic setting. Special lists also impress with 15 primates, including chimpanzee and red colobus. About 325 bird species have been recorded around this forest, including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine Rift region. They include; the Black capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.
Signature Experiences to do in Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee Tracking & Habituation & Experience
With around a 90% chance of finding chimpanzees on any particular day, Kibale National Park is undoubtedly the most popular place to track them in Uganda.
During tracking, upon sighting chimps, viewing chimps is limited to one hour. There’s a morning (8am) and afternoon (2pm) departure, and while there are plenty of hills along the trails, the walking isn’t difficult if you’re in shape. Children aged 12 and under aren’t permitted.
During chimp habituation, rangers and researchers explain detailed chimps’ behaviours and lifestyle for up to 4-hours including dramatic action shots of chimps in the wild known as the primate capital of the world.
Primate Walking Experiences in Kibale
There are 15 species of primates in Kibale National Park. The park protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae), the Ugandan red colobus (Procolobus tephrosceles) and the L’Hoest’s monkey.
Other primates found in the park include the guereza colobus monkey and the blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis), Uganda Red colobus, Redtailed monkey, The park’s population of elephants is commonly sighted along forest trails. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and buffalo. The carnivores that are present include leopards, african golden cats, servals, different mongooses and two species of otter.
Birding in Kibale Forest
Bird life in the park is so prolific, boasting over 375 sited species of birds, including the western green tinker bird, olive long-tailed cuckoo, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted) and the African grey parrot, Imperative to note that the ground thrush (Turdus kibalensis) is endemic to Kibale National Park.
Banana Beer/Gin making experience.
Uganda, the original Banana Republic produces more banana varieties than any other country except Brazil and India. Unpeeled bananas kept in a pit for some days to ripen. One then takes the meat from the skin, after which it is, juiced, filtered, and diluted. Yeast is added in the form of sorghum or millet. Sample the local beer and Gin made from Bananas right away.
Basket weaving
Learn how to do local basket weaving yourself. Learn how this knowledge has been passed on to generations. Ugandan women are very hardworking, they use a combination of dried millet straws, banana fibres, papyrus, raffia straws, and different beautiful dyes colors extracted from natural flowers. A chance to buy some as souvenirs for yourself or friends back home.
