Kibale forest National Park
Kibale forest National Park is found in Western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rainforest and covers 766square kilometres, located between 3600-5200ft in elevation. Kibale national park contain a diverse array of landscapes that have both lowland and montane forests. In East Africa it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest.
The park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve. It also forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park and this adjoining of the Parks creates a 180km wildlife corridor.
Kibale national park is important for ecotourism and safari destinations, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. It is also the location of the Makerere University Biological Field Station.
There are two major tribes who inhabit the area around the park, the Batooro and Bakiga; they use this park for food, fuel and other resources with the help of the UWA but also over the last century, the population around the park has increased because the park directly brings in revenue for those living around it and creates jobs for them.
The soils are fertile for growing crops year in and year out and therefore, this increase in population has caused a problem of high demand for firewood; hence, people encroach on the parks’ wildlife habitat. This has brought organizations like the New Nature Foundation aimed at restoring people – Park relationship by empowering local citizens to meet their needs in a sustainable way.
Kibale Biodiversity
Kibale national park is home to a large number of endangered chimpanzees as well as the Red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey; it has the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa.
There are 13 species of primates in this park, and the park protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzees and several species of central African monkeys, like the Uganda mangabey, the Uganda red colobus and the L’Hoest’s monkey. The 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 queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale national park. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale national park are red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bush pigs, common warthogs, African Buffalo and Giant forest hogs.
The carnivores include leopards, servals, African Golden cats and different mongooses, plus otters and the lions that visit the park occasionally.
Bird life is also prolific since the park has 325 species of birds, including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, the western tinkerbird, the two species of pittas, and the grey parrot. While the ground thrush is endemic to Kabale national park.
There are about 229 species of trees found within the moist tropical forest of the park. Some endangered timber species of trees include cordia millenii, entandrophragma angolense and lovoa swynnertonnii, though the forest is dominated by shade-tolerant shrubs and herbs, the likes of palisota schweinfurthii and pollia condensate, in addition to broadleaf grasses.
Activities in Kibale National Park
Chimpanzee trekking and habituation
At present, Kibale National Park has 1450 chimpanzees that are seen whenever tourists visit the park. The tourists are assigned a chimp community that is undergoing habituation; chimpanzee tracking sets off at 8:00am and 2:00pm and takes 2 to 3 hrs. but there is also a chance of those people who wake up early in the morning to see Chimpanzees breastfeeding their young ones, feeding, hunting, patrolling copulating and resting.
Birding
There are many species of birds that tourists enjoy in a Uganda Birding safaris. Bird tour starts at 7:00 am at Kanyanchu and goes up to the Bigodi wetland Sanctuary just outside the park. The sanctuary has 138 species that may be explored in a Guided walk. The birds include the olive long-tailed cuckoo, the western tinkerbird, and the two species of pittas, plus the grey parrot.
Night Nature walks and hiking in Kibale national Park
Night nature walks give tourists a chance to see some nocturnal species after many of the primates and other day residents have left to hide after a long day. This starts at 7:30pm and takes 2 hours; you must be armed with torches and an Armed Guard and you see creatures like the potto, nightjar, cricket and tree-chilling hyrax.
Cultural encounter in Kibale National Park
Here the tourists make excursions to the local people who surround Kibale National Park and tourists can expect to be served the traditional arts of these people like traditional healing, local African crafts, music and dance. This is where you find an organized group called the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), which has benefited directly and indirectly the people in the group.
accommodation in Kibale National Park
Kibale Safari Lodge
It’s located on the way to Bigodi in Kanyanchu. The cottages have private toilets and showers with both cold and warm water and meals plus drinks are served in the on-site restaurant. The meals here include breakfast, lunch and Dinner plus juice, Tea and coffee as possible.
Chimps’ Nest
This lodge got its name due to the many chimpanzee visitors that flock to it. It is located in the Nyabubale village, just a 15-minute drive from Kanyanchu. All the self-contained cottages and budget rooms are powered by solar energy in respect to the fragility of the area in which the lodge is situated.
Kibale Forest camp
It is south of Kibale National Park; the accommodation unit borders the Magombe swamp, which forms part of the Bigodi Wetland sanctuary, and is also 10 minutes from the Kanyanchu visitor center. This accommodation is affordable and gives tourists a taste of basic African architecture and ten safari tents. Meals are served here in a comfortable restaurant, which is also built in African style.
Montana Tented Camp
Montana lodging is offered in seven tents, which are well furnished with features like 2 bedrooms, en-suite washrooms including showers and flush toilets, a dressing area, ample space and a private verandah where guests can stand and gaze beyond the Horizon. There are different drinks and African meals.
Safari Hotel Bigodi
This offers many budget options for guests and hence is frequented by campers and other tourists. It is located along the Bigodi–Kamwenge road in beautiful vegetation. Single and double rooms, four bandas, a secure camping ground and an area for campfires. Drinks and delicious foods are served on orders.
Kanyanchu River Camp
This is located in the central part of Kibale National Park; it also has the main trailhead of the park’s famous forest walks, the most popular of which is the daily primate walk like habituated Chimpanzees, bird watching and night treks.
Sebitoli Forest Camp
Kibale’s secondary tourism center is located in the North of the Forest that always offers tourists encounters with the primates. It is a guided forest walk, and visitors spot a variety of aquatic, savannahand forest birds.
