Kibale Forest National Park.

Popularly known for Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and the primate capital of the World due of its counts of primate congregations, Kibale Forest National Park is situated in the western part of the country in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains aligned by series of explosion craters, including the famous Ndali Kasenda and marked by a mature tropical rain forest which makes it a wonder never to miss by travellers on Uganda safaris and tours especially those interested in Chimpanzee trekking and Habituation.

The travel takes six to seven hours from Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Kibale Forest is 358km distant. Between the two districts of Kabarole and Kamwenge, the National Park is surrounded by local Botooro people as well as Bakiga migrants from the Kigezi area in southwest Uganda.

These villages rely on the forest for wood fuel, papyrus for crafts, medicinal plants and the National Park provide 20% income from the Park admission collection. With a total area of 795 km2, the national Park is among Africa’s big tropical rain forests with high bio diversity.

Kibale National Park is the excellent site to visit those interested in Chimpanzee trekking or habituation. Usually starting at 8:00 am in the morning and at 2:00 pm in the afternoon, chimps are monitored daily. For those who want to undergo the habituation experience start at 6:30 am in the morning to get them sleeping in their nests and see them wake up and then follow them over the full day. See our near cousins the chimps by walking into the forest; the likelihood of spotting them is always 99%.

Originally created in 1932, Kibale Forest National Park was subsequently elevated to National Park status in 1993 in an effort to further safeguard its biodiversity. The 180 km corridor of this National Park runs southeast from wards to Queen Elizabeth National Park, allowing the Elephants—especially—to migrate between the two tourist spots more easily.

With a variety of primate species including the common Chimpanzees, Bush babies, Potos, Grey cheeked mangabey, Olive baboon, Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, Red tailed monkey, the vulnerable L’Host monkey, Black and white colobus monkey and the threatened Red colobus monkey, Kibale Forest National Park boasts the largest primate congregation in Africa.

Other animal species like buffaloes, Elephants, Bush pigs, Warthogs, Red and Blue duikers, and carnivorous species including Leopards and Otters call the National Park home.

With over 50m high some of which are said to be 200 years and more and 60 kinds of animals, the National Park has 351 types of trees. With its unusual species like the Nahan’s Francolin, Blue headed bee-eater, Cassin’s Spine tail and Masked Apalis, Green breasted pitta and the Prigogine’s ground thrush, Kibale Forest is among the top birding sites.