Things to Do and see in Kibale Forest National Park Uganda
Kibale National Forest has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa. It is home to a large number of endangered chimpanzees, as well as the red colobus monkey whose status is also marked as: Endangered and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey whose status is marked as: Vulnerable – make it a point to Visit Kibale Forest and See these primates while they are still existent.
Kibale forest National park Is well popular for Chimpanzee tracking or trekking – whatever you choose to call it. However thats Not all that this forest has got to offer travellers.
Kibale Forest forms a continuos forest to Savannah connection with the popular Queen Elzabeth National Park making for the most unique eco-system. Because of this continuos adjoing effect, there has been and is still upto 70 Mammals that wonder between this 180 km – wildlife corridor of Kibale and Queen Elizabeth. Among the mammal sighting is; the Ugandan red colobus and the L’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey. The park’s population of elephants travels between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivores that are present include African leopards, African golden cats, servals, different mongooses and two species of otter. In addition, lions visit the park on occasion.
Kibale Forest birding is also very prolific with upto 325 sited species of birds, including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted) and the African grey parrot. The ground thrush is endemic to Kibale National Park.
For the Keen eye, Kibale forest offers the unique butterfly watching experience through this luchs forest. Upto 250 have been recorded in the past.
The above mentioned does make Kibale forest an Unique must visit park in Uganda – Not every one that visits Kibale does it for the Chimps but there is alot more to this park than you probably knew prior to reading this article.
Things to Do and See in kibale Forest National Park Uganda.
Chimpanzee Trekking – The Most Valueable chimp hour you may ever know.
Chimps are the main attraction while on a visit to Kibale Forest. spending time with these gorgeous cousins of ours – wondering why i just called them our cousins!, humans and Chimps share upto 98.7% DNA similarities.
Most travellers visiting Kibale Forest usually indulge in the traditional 01 hour Chimp trekking safari experiencece that starts at 8:00am and or 2:00pm. The hightlight of this walk is the lush flora and fauna of the forest let alone a great sighting of the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee Habituation – Full Day with the Chimps in Kibale Forest.
Gorilla Habituation starts as early as 6:00am so that you can find the chimps de-nesting (leaving the Nest where they spent the night) and you will follow them all day observing their behaviour till they nest again in the evening.
Since this is a full day affair, we like to remind you to ask/carry a packed lunch. Travellers booked with Realm Africa Safaris enjoy the previlledge of being given daily safari updates by their full time safari guide.
Hiking and Nature Walks – Explore the “York” of Kibale Forest.
Kibale Forest activities are mostly built around walking and hiking. the forest offers anumber of walking and hiking safari experiences that range from the atraditional guided walks inside the forest to the more sophiticated seasonal forest walk of upto 12 kilometers. This 12 Km journey is restricted to only the dry season months of mid-November to February and June to September. It highlights the diverse habitats of the park including tropical rainforest, riverine forest, swamp and grassland. Visitors will have the chance to see a variety of birds and monkeys and sometimes duikers and bush pigs. The walk begins at 8:00 am and ends at the elephant wallow around 2:00 pm. picinic Lunch whiel on this 12 Km walk is a must have – just don’t forget to ask for one if traveling on a self organised tour other if booked with us, our guide will give you adaily update on events.
Bigodi Swamp – Home to upto 8 resident primates.
Bigodi Swamp is home to upto 8 primates – Red Colobus, black and white colobus, red colobus, mangabey, red tail, vervet, and L’Hoest. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee.
Special Note: The bigodi Swamp Walk is a Community Project and emplyoees Local guides and other project personal from the Bigodi Community – this is just one of the main reasons we like to add this to our itineraries.
Ambere Caves in Fort Portal – Pre Historic “Cave” – not really a Cave.
Located in Fort portal, the Ambere Cave experience is a pre historic day tour that usually lasts between 2 – 3 hours.
What to expect: The Ambere Cave is actually not a Cave, it is high hanging but the history behind this “Cave” is what you should focus on, close the caves is a water fall falling into a small pool which is beautiful. Inaddition to the Ambere Cave visit, take on the walk to the craters – very scenic.
Special Note: Only Add a Mabere “Caves” to your itinerary as a day a ctivity Don’t have it as a Stand – Alone Activity. We also recomment that you Visit it enroute to or from Kibale just don’t drive from Kibale to Fortportal and back just to visit the Amabere “Caves”
Crater Lakes – Kasenda Crater Lakes – Very Scenic – you can also swim in some.
Depending on Where in Kibale your Lodge is, the Kasenda Crater Area offers a collection of Crater Lakes (Some have Lodges built around them). Among the so many walks, we recommend the “Top of the world” walk. This walk as the name suggests will lead you to the highest point where you can almost have a 360° scenic view across upto 3 crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains. This walk usually lasts between 3 – 5hours under the guideance of a Local guide to explain the culture and lifestyle of the communities you will encounter while on this walk.
Hope this list of things to do and See In Kibale froest has been helpful in guiding you for your next safari with us – Contact us if you would like any of the above activities added to your Uganda Itinerary.
