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Kibale Forest National Park – Uganda’s Primate Paradise

Kibale Forest National Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Uganda. The park covers an area of 795 square kilometers, consisting of tropical forests with different tree species, and stands at an elevation of 1,590 meters above sea level at its highest point and 1,100 meters at its lowest, in the Albertine Rift Valley floor.

Kibale Forest National Park was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1932 and later established as a national park in 1993. The park boasts 351 species of trees, some rising over 55 meters tall and more than 200 years old, and it adjoins the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park in a 180-kilometer wildlife corridor.

Kibale Forest is one of Africa’s premier research sites. It is home to 70 species of mammals, 13 species of primates including chimpanzees, 250 butterfly species, and 375 bird species.

The park is characterized by tropical rainforests, woodlands, swamps, and Savannah grasslands on the Fort Portal plateau.

It is also surrounded by over 30 craters that visitors can explore and fish in.

Top Things to Do & See in Kibale National Park

Top Things to Do & See in Kibale National Park

Below are some of the top things to do and see in Kibale National Park.

  • Chimpanzee Trekking: Chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives, sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans. The best place to meet these great apes in Uganda is none other than Kibale Forest National Park, which has the highest concentration of primates in Africa. It is said that the park harbors about 1,450 chimpanzees. Tourists who have infections will not be allowed to trek chimpanzees to prevent disease transmission. Trekking chimpanzees is easier than gorilla trekking since chimpanzees are more easily found. Tourists are allowed to spend strictly one hour with the chimpanzees after locating them during the trek.
  • Chimpanzee Habituation: Chimpanzee habituation is the process of acclimatizing chimpanzees to human presence. This involves joining researchers and rangers as they accompany chimpanzees in their daily activities to make them comfortable around humans, allowing tourists to visit them regularly. Habituation takes longer and is more costly than trekking.
  • Birding: Kibale Forest National Park is home to over 375 bird species. Some birds that can be spotted in the park include the grey-headed olive back, white-bellied crested flycatcher, red-chested flufftail, grey-throated flycatcher, Abyssinian ground thrush, blue turaco, orange-tufted sunbird, red-winged francolin, joyful greenbul, African pitta, black-capped apalis, green-breasted pitta, crowned eagle, blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow-spotted nectar, black-eared ground thrush, Uganda woodland warbler, grey-winged robin, masked-capped apalis, and white-naped pigeon.
  • Cultural Encounters: The native Batooro people and immigrant Bakiga tribes live around Kibale Forest National Park. The Batooro have a fascinating history of their kingdom. Visitors can learn about their culture, traditions, and history while enjoying local traditional dances and songs.
  • Nature-Guided Walks: There are several established trails for nature walks and hikes in Kibale Forest, ranging from 2-6 days. These guided walks offer opportunities to observe wildlife, birds, butterflies, and different tree species.
  • Other Wildlife: While chimpanzee trekking is the main activity in the park, other animals can also be seen, such as bush pigs, buffalos, bushbucks, duikers, forest elephants, genets, galagos, and civets. Lucky visitors may encounter elephants. Other primates include L’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, patas monkeys, bush babies, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys.
  • Craters: Kibale Forest National Park is surrounded by many crater lakes. The most popular activity is the “Top of the World” hike, which takes visitors on a journey covering three crater lakes, tea plantations, and local villages. This hike takes about 3-4 hours.
  • Nakayima Witch’s Tree: The Nakayima Witch’s Tree is a cultural highlight near Kibale Forest National Park. This traditional tree serves as a worship site for the spirits of Nakayima, the first wife of Kabaka Ndahura of the Bachwezi Kingdom. Locals visit the tree to pay homage, offering coins, animals, and other items. Nakayima was believed to be a medium through whom the king communicated with the community. She blessed barren women with children and was said to possess mystic powers, curing diseases such as chickenpox.
  • Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves: The name “Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru” means “Breasts of Nyina Mwiru” in the local language. The caves were named after a prophecy that the daughter of King Bukuku of the Tooro Kingdom would bear a son who would overthrow him. In anger, the king cut off his daughter’s breasts and threw them into the caves. A visit to the caves can be combined with a hike to three nearby crater lakes and a picnic lunch on top of the hill.
  • Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary and Sebitoli Forest Camp: For tourists traveling with children, activities such as batik making, pond dipping, and photography are available. Child-friendly rangers guide these activities, ensuring children learn and have fun while adults trek chimpanzees.

Where to Sleep

Where to Sleep

Accommodation at Kibale Forest National Park ranges from luxury to mid-range and budget options, depending on the visitor’s choice.

Some accommodations include Isunga Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, Kibale Guest Cottages, Primate Lodge, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Ndali Lodge, Crater Lake Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, and Kyaninga Lodge.

How to Get There

Kibale Forest National Park can be reached from Kampala via Fort Portal Road or Mubende Road.

The drive takes about four hours from Kampala, the capital of Uganda.



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