Kibale Forest National Park encompasses a lush, dense tropical semi-deciduous rainforest with savannah and wetland ecosystems such as Bigodi and Kihingami swamps that support rich biodiversity of 14 primate species, including over 1,400 chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, velvet monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and grey-chewed mangabeys. With such a high concentration of primates, Kibale is known as the primate capital of the world. Chimpanzees are the main attractions for visitors to Kibale, and there the park offers chimpanzee tracking and habituation activities, allowing visitors to get up-close with man’s closest relative.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale is done in two sessions, which include the morning at 7 a.m. and afternoon at 2 p.m., all starting at Kanyanchu visitor center. The morning trek allows visitors to encounter chimpanzees in their active mode, moving both on ground and in tree canopies. During the afternoon trek, there are high chances of encountering them on the ground. Chimp trekking offers one hour to spend with the primates.
Chimpanzee habituation, on the other hand, allows visitors to follow chimpanzees from morning when they’re still in their nests up to afternoon when they rest. Visitors are able to learn about the social structures, foraging habits, and other behaviors such as grooming and playing among chimp community members.
Sights around Kibale National Park
Spotting other primate species within Kibale forest can be challenging due to the nature of the terrain. Those intending to see as many primates as possible can go for a swamp walk in the nearby Bigodi community wetland, where 8 primates are found, such as grey-chipped mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys. Bigodi Swamp also boasts 200 of the 375 species recorded in Kibale National Park, including the great blue turaco.
However, particular species, such as the green-breasted pitta, a near-threatened species according to the IUCN Red List of endangered species, can only be spotted along the trails within Kibale Forest National Park. One of the trails is the Kibale night forest walk, which is a fantastic way to search for nocturnal animals that live in Kibale, such as Demidoff’s bushbaby, tree hyrax, and galasos. The walk starts at 7 pm at the Kanyanchu visitor centre and lasts up to 10 pm. Another community trail is found at Kihingami wetlands, located 14 km from Fort Portal tourism city.
Kihingami wetland covers 13 sq. km. and is also home to 200 species of birds, including the white-spotted fluff tail.
For those intending to see butterflies and birds, visit the Sunbird Hill conservation village located on the edge of Kibale Forest. The community livelihood project offers a botanical garden, a bird’s club library, and an elephant deterrent beekeeping project. There are good local guides trained by Nature Uganda and an ex-poacher who worked as a ranger with UWA who share their knowledge and experience of living in harmony with nature and helping the community.
Cultural encounters around Kibale National Park
Kibale is located in the heart of Toro Kingdom, famous for its rich intangible cultural heritage tradition of Empaako, which is a name given to children as a positive affirmation of social ties. The best ways to experience the culture of the Batooro people include visiting the Toro kingdom palace in Fort Portal city. Visitors can also go for a village walk in the Bigodi community and interact with a traditional healer for his stunning metaphysics, and visit a local brewery to see how local beer and gin are made from plantains. There are also women workshops where one can learn about the ancient techniques of basket weaving and also support them by purchasing their handicrafts.