The popular things to do in Kibale Forest National Park are referred to as tourist activities. A safari to western Uganda would not be complete without a visit to the home of the chimpanzees. The forest is located close to Fort Portal Town, one of Uganda’s green tourism towns, and protects an evergreen growing forest that occupies most of the land area of Kabarole district. It is approximately 795 square kilometres and is surrounded by beautiful crater lakes to the north of the park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is in charge of the park.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Since they are thought to share up to 98% of human DNA and live in groups of up to 100 people under the leadership of a male alpha, chimpanzees are among the most gregarious of primates. Their loud charter sound, which can be heard from a distance, makes them extremely messy eaters. The main activity of the Kibale Forest National Park is tracking chimpanzees. A Uganda wildlife game ranger will lead your group of six people on chimpanzee tracking excursions into the jungle. The tracking process starts at the Kanyanchu visitor centre.
The activity takes two to three hours, and during that time, you can spend an hour interacting and blending in with the closest relatives of humans. The young stars are busy hopping from tree to tree and are very playful in nature. While on the walk, you can also meet other animal species, such as forest elephants, though they are extremely shy and uncommon to see.
Chimpanzee Habituation
The chimpanzee habituation process, which involves an all-day interaction with the primates during which they are trained to be free in the presence of humans, is an incredible activity to undertake while visiting the Kibale Forest National Park. For visitors who would like to spend more time with the primates, I highly recommend it. Researchers, trackers, and guides work together to conduct this activity, which is ideal for students and photographers seeking amazing photo opportunities. Tracking starts a little earlier than usual in order to catch the early risers, and throughout the process, you can see the primates feeding, hunting, and building nests.
Bigodi Swamp Walks
The Bigodi Swamp Area is teeming with life, with an abundance of birds. Located approximately 6km from the community-run park centre, the area is a great ecosystem supporting the park’s wildlife, which includes numerous butterflies, birds such as the great blue turaco, apalis, weavers, and pelicans, as well as primates like the black and white colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys.
Bird Watching
Over 300 different kinds of birds have been identified to far, and the protected conservation area is listed as one of Uganda’s premier birdwatching destinations. Several of these species are unique to the vast Albertine region. To name a few, examples of these bird species are crowned eagles, great blue turacos, long-tailed cuckoos, African grey parrots, sunbirds, and pelicans. It is essential to bring binoculars, rain gear, and a good camera for an enjoyable birding safari in the park. The greatest ways to experience these are on guided nature walks along the national park’s well-maintained pathways.
Guided Nature Walks
A Uganda wildlife ranger will lead you through the park; if you see him or her carrying a machete, don’t be alarmed or startled; it’s just a way for them to clear the path for you to walk on. These rangers are skilled and knowledgeable about the conservation area, including the many animals and tree species. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a chimpanzee. You can also look through the trees to see views of other primates, such as the grey-checked mangabey.
Depending on your interests and purpose for visiting, Kibale Forest National Park is open year-round. However, the best time to go is during the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to early September, when temperatures are milder and the trails are less slick.