First-Time Visit in Kibale Forest – What to Consider

First-Time Visit in Kibale Forest National Park? Are you overwhelmed with all the choices and decisions you have to make? If yes, then you are not alone because many travelers undoubtedly get perplexed by all the decisions that ought to be made but lucky for you, it will be a lot simpler than you imagine, especially when you know what to expect.  Here is our comprehensive guide for your visit to Kibale Forest, which provides everything you need to know when it comes to planning your first-time visit to Kibale Forest known to be the “Primate Capital of the World” with over 13 species of primates that include chimpanzees.

About Kibale Forest National Park

Situated in the western part of Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is easily one of the country’s greatest National Parks. It is popular for its rich primate diversity, chimpanzee trekking adventures, chimpanzee research, and safeguarding a plethora of birds including those confined to forest habitats. This Park has developed tremendously since it was officially gazetted in 1993, although its history extends far before that. There are over 70 mammal species here, of which 13 are primates and if you are an avid birder, then this Protected Area will excite you with its 350 species.

Things to do in Kibale Forest

Several activities can be enjoyed by a first-time visitor to Kibale Forest National Park and they include;

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is undeniably the main reason why Kibale Forest is one of the top National Parks in Uganda, offering the opportunity to meet face-to-face with mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom. Here, over 1500 of the country’s 5000 chimpanzees are sheltered hence making it the best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. Any traveler aged 12 years and above has the opportunity to track and spend a maximum of one-hour viewing and photographing them. Chimp treks last between half an hour and 4 hours, depending on the location of the chimpanzee community.

Similarly, visitors can book the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience which involves spending almost the whole day viewing/observing and photographing chimpanzees that are still undergoing habituation/training to make them used to human presence. This activity is more detailed and provides visitors the opportunity to spend time with these Great Apes from the time they leave their nests in the morning until when they make their nests for the night.

Birding

With more than 350 species of birds, Kibale Forest is another incredible birding Area in Uganda with lots of forest-inhabiting species. Expect to see Tropical Boubou, Great blue Turaco, African Pitta, Little Greenbul, African pied wagtail, Dusky Crimsonwing, Superb sunbirds, Slender-billed weavers, Black-billed Turaco, and many others.

Guided forest walks

There is no better way to explore the birds, mammals, reptiles, Amphibians, trees, and butterflies of Kibale Forest than undertaking a guided forest walk. You can choose a day or night walk to get up close and personal with the richness and diversity of this spectacular National Park.

When to go to Kibale Forest

Planning early is the perfect strategy for optimizing your time in Kibale Forest National Park, so whether you intend to do a chimpanzee trek, primate walk, or birding, thinking ahead and being prepared is crucial. Different seasons bring about different experiences at Kibale Forest as birds and animals have different seasons for breeding or movement patterns. For instance, the wet months (March, April, May, October, and November) are popular for bird breeding and also mark the arrival of several migratory bird species. The dry months of January, February, June, July, August, September, and December are a popular period for chimpanzee treks, and forest walks as forest trails tend to be less muddy and slippery.

How to pack for your visit to Kibale Forest

It’s a no-brainer that there are a few general universal guidelines for safari packing, which isn’t different for your first-time visit to Kibale Forest. For clothing, make sure to pack long-sleeved shirts, safari pants, a rain jacket, and a warm sweater. The general rule here is to opt for the neutral and earth-tone options as bright-colored clothes don’t go well to discreetly observing wildlife in their natural habitats. Also pack comfortable hiking boots, a pair of binoculars, a good camera with enough batteries and memory space, sunscreen, insect repellant, a backpack, gardening gloves, a reusable water bottle, and a first aid kit among others.

Where to stay

For your visit to Kibale Forest, you can stay at the newly established Volcanoes Kibale Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Safari Lodge, Chimpundu Safari Lodge, Chimpanzee Guesthouse.