Do you love primates? Why not take a primate safari in Uganda and see some of the wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat. There is no the best place where tourists can see these great apes than the Uganda’s Kibale National Park. Kibale is one of the most magnificent of Uganda’s tropical rain forest and one of the most rewarding areas to explore while on a safari in Uganda.
Kibale forest is the primate capital of world best known for its primate populations, with 1450 chimpanzee and 13 other primate species, Kibale has the most chimpanzees in Uganda and Africa as a whole. But man’s closest relatives is not all that the park has to offer- you can also see the uncommon L’Hoest’s monkey and east Africa’s largest population of the threatened Red Colobus monkey, blue monkey, grey- cheeked mangabey (Uganda Mangabey), Red- tailed monkey, Bush baby and Potto.
Kibale is situated ideally in the heart of the Toro kingdom in western Uganda, near fort portal, the park lies close to the tranquil Ndali Kasenda crater area and is within a half days’ drive od queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori mountains and Semuliki national parks. The park becomes a government forest Reserve in the early 1940s.
Accessibility of the park
By Road
The 795 sq. km park can be accessed from Kampala, along a newly surfaced road via Kasese near Queen Elizabeth national park. The park can also be reached from Kampala via Mubende and fort portal or through Mbarara and Kamwenge. There is daily public transport between Kampala and fort portal.
Air travel
Kibale National Park has access to two Airstrip; Nyakisharara Airstrip in Mbarara about 98km through kamwenge from Kanyanchu and Kasese airstrip, 75km from fort portal town. It can also be reached from the airstrip in Toro/ Semuliki wildlife reserve, only 86km from Kanyanchu.
Safari Activities to do in Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park offers Chimpanzee Experience that includes Chimpanzee Habituation and Chimpanzee trekking.Chimpanzees are our closest relatives sharing about 98% of their DNA composition with humans. They are sociable, intelligent as well as communicative and among their very fascinating traits is the ability to utilize tools.
Chimpanzee Tracking and Habituation in Kibale
Kibale’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be sought, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this trail are the chimpanzees. Kanyanchu chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8am and 2pm and last an average of three hours, depending on various factors.
Tracking the chimpanzee is a very interesting experience. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones, is just phenomenal. There are three chimpanzee groups in Kibale Forest National Park which are habituated and only six people per group in the morning and evening session. Kibale has over 1450 chimpanzees which represents Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate.
The full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) works with a chimp community which is undergoing habituation. Early visitors can watch chimps leaving their overnight nests between 6:00 – 6:30am before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying until it is time to build new nests around 7pm.
Visitors need to note that human illnesses are easily communicable to the Chimpanzees and for this reason they cannot be approached closer than 8 meters. If a visitor is ill with flu or diarrhea they will not be permitted entry into the park. No Children may go on the tour and no flash photography is allowed.
Bird watching and night nature walk
Kibale National Park boasts of 372 bird species of which 60 percent are recorded Uganda’s forest birds. Bird watchers can spot various species of these birds as they enjoy the various activities in the park. Also there is night walk which allows visitors to track the unique species of birds, animals and insects such as bat, owl, Pottos, bush babies, civets, genet cats and eastern needle nailed that are most active at night.
Day hikes/ Nature walks
This is an exploration of the park’s diverse habitats providing very close contact with nature. The walks begin at 08:00am, 10:00am and 2:00pm from Kanyanchu Tourist centre and about 2-3 hours. Remind your guide to show you the naked Adam and Eve tree, one of Kibale’s unique wonders.
Children’s activities
Only children above 12 years are allowed to go into the forest to view the chimps. Kibale has a variety of activities for children less than 12 years including education forest walks of 1-2 hours followed by creative activities like pond dipping, cyanotype photography and batik- making. Through these educational forest walks, the children can learn about the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Parents can enjoy their forest walk with the knowledge that their children are occupied in worthwhile activity with trained ranger guides.
Cultural heritage and nature trail
Follow a 2-6 days culture heritage and nature trail through the tropical forest and meet local people and gain insights into their cultures. The full walk can start or end at either Kanyanchu or Sebitoli. Explore the forest during the day, end for a rest at the community run campsites near the villages of Kinoni, Nyaibanda and Nyakalongo. Porters can be hired to vary equipment. The walks are most exciting in groups of up to 6 people. Pre-booking is essential
What to carry along
- Wear shoes that have a good grip, suitable for climbing steep moist muddy slopes
- A number of people actually feel more at ease when wearing clothes that are long sleeved as this will protect them from the pricking thickets as they move through the verdant jungle
- Do not forget a rain gear, since the weather here is highly unpredictable
- Bring enough drinking water plus snacks to bite on
- Carry a pair of binoculars
- Camera flashes are strictly not permitted. Better to have a fast film (of 400 – 800 ASA) or even utilize the settings on your camera.