Chimpanzee tracking safaris in Kibale National Park: Kibale Forest National Park covers an area of approximately 766 square kilometers (296 sq mi). It is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest. The national park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve. Kibale National Park is located in the heart of the Toor Kingdom in western Uganda, near Fort Portal, the tourism city. The park lies close to the tranquil Ndali-Kasenda crater areas.
Chimpanzee trekking is the main highlight of any safari in Kibale National Park and is the main activity offered to visitors to ensure that tourists have an amazing time during their Uganda safari in the park. The captivating national park is home to over 1000 chimpanzees, and surprisingly, four chimpanzee families are habituated to ensure that you participate in chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in the park involves visitors walking through the different trails in the park to search for habituated chimpanzee families in Kibale National Park. Like other parks, chimpanzee trekking here also starts in the morning with a briefing about the dos and don’ts. Then, guided by one of the park rangers, you will start your walk into the forest to search for the chimpanzees, and once you meet them, you will spend an hour with them. During the chimpanzee trekking safari in the park, you will be fascinated by a variety of rewarding scenery and attractions, including several monkey species like red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, the mona monkey, and the vervet monkey, among other monkey species; mammal species such as forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs; and colorful birds such as the African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green Pigeon, and olive long-tailed cuckoo. Wester tinkerbird, grey parrot, and ground thrush. Upon encountering these fascinating primates in their natural environment, you will be allowed an hour of interaction with these captivating primates while observing their behavior in the park, such as their diet, their eating intervals, and how they co-exist with one another, swinging and carrying their young ones, among other things.
Kibale Forest National Park is home to a great number of primates, including the fascinating chimpanzees, and different species of monks, including L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and baboons. Blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, demidoff galago, vervet monkeys, Uganda red colobus, pottos, patas monkeys, and Uganda mangabey, among others, make it a true primate paradise.
The park is also home to a variety of mammal species such as forest elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, warthogs, African golden cats, mongoose’s duiker, otters, bush pigs, and snakes. Kibale boasts over 375 bird species, including the African Pitta, the Green-breasted Pitta, and the Abyssinian Ground- Thrush.
Kibale Forest National Park is home to approximately 229 species of trees. Some of the endangered timber species of trees include Cordia millenii, Entandrophragma angolense, and Lovoa swynnertonnii. The forest understory is dominated by shade-tolerant shrubs and herbs, which include Palisota schweinfurthii and Pollia condensata.
other exciting activities to do while on the Uganda chimpanzee in Kibale National Park
Birding
Kibale National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. Kibale National Park is home to over 375 bird species, of which 60% are recorded as Uganda’s forest birds. While on an Uganda bird watching safari in Kibale National Park, you will have an opportunity to sight spot some of the nice-looking bird species such as such Green-breasted pitta, Nahan’s francolin, Blue-headed bee-eater, Lowland masked apalis, Cassin’s spinetail, Giant Kingfisher, Little Greenbul, Pied Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground, Thrush, Great Blu Turaco, Masked Apalis, Ruwenzori Apalis, White throated Bee-eater, Grey crowned crane and Papyrus Gonolek among others.
Primate tracking
Primate tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is one of the main activities offered to visitors on Ugandan trekking tours in Kibale Forest National Park, besides the fascinating chimpanzee trek. While on the Uganda primate tracking in the park, visitors will have ample chance to spot a variety of primates such as blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, demidoff galago, vervet monkeys, Uganda red colobus, pottos, patas monkeys, and Uganda mangabey, among others. Primate trekking in Kibale National Park is like any other park in Uganda. Primate trekking here also starts in the morning with a briefing about the dos and don’ts, and then, guided by one of the park rangers, you will start your walk into the forest to search for the primates. During your walk, you will also have the opportunity to see other mammals, including duikers and birds.
Guided nature walks and hikes
Kibale Forest National Park has well-established trails connecting to various interesting spots in the park, allowing visitors to penetrate the rainforest and get more insight into the hidden gems. While on your walking safari here, you will have the opportunity to encounter the natural beauty of the forest up close with its creatures like butterflies, insects, birds, and primates. Over 229 species of trees can be sighted here, including buttree trees, brown mahoganies, and fruit-laden figs, which you will have the opportunity to see as well.
The best time of the day to see chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park can be visited throughout the year to trek chimpanzees; however, the best recommended time for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is during the dry seasons, which generally occur from December to February and from June to September. During these months, the weather is relatively dry, and the forest trails are more accessible.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information and inquiries about Uganda chimpanzee tracking safaris in Kibale National Park and book with our tours and travel companies, such as Achieve Global Safaris, who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Uganda.