Activities to do in Kibale Forest Park
Activities to do in Kibale Forest Park: Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Kibale Forest National Park, a remarkable primate destination with a variety of activities. Chimpanzee habituation, birding, cultural interactions, nature walks, and community visits are some other activities to engage in. Both nature lovers and ape enthusiasts can have an amazing adventure with these activities.
Activities to do in Kibale Forest Park
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is an experience that involves hiking into the forest to search for the habituated chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Once these chimpanzees are located, trekkers spend a maximum of 1 hour to see the habituated chimpanzees as they study their behaviours and social structure, since they share 98.8% DNA with humans.
Kibale is home to 12 different smaller primates in addition to chimpanzees. The park’s abundance and diversity of primates have earned it the name “primate capital of the world”. You can’t have everything, unfortunately. Mountain gorillas are absent from Kibale. It would rank among Africa’s most visited national parks if it were the case. You will also come across baboons, bush babies, pottos, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and black and white colobus while tracking the chimps.
Chimpanzee Habituation
This is the process of training chimpanzees in their natural habitat to get used to human presence. This experience differs from chimpanzee trekking because its duration is longer than that of chimpanzee trekking, and it offers visitors a deeper understanding of their behaviors, such as feeding habits, body movement, communication, and nurturing of their babies.
Birdwatching
Kibale Forest is one of the best sites to go birdwatching in Uganda, making it a birder’s heaven. Uganda is blessed with an amazing variety of bird species. More than 375 species can be found in the park, including the Green-breasted Pitta, Masked Apalis, African Grey Parrot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Double-toothed Barbet, Great Blue Turaco, Green Crombec, Little Greenbul, Lizard Buzzard, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Pygmy Kingfisher, Western Green Tinkerbird, Winding Cisticola, Toro-olive Greenbul, Woodland Kingfisher, and Zitting Cisticola, among others.
Nature Walks
The purpose of Kibale National Park’s nature walks is to provide visitors with the chance to get up close and personal with forest species such as primates, insects, birds, butterflies, and plants. There are three sessions for the nature walks: two in the morning and one in the afternoon. It can take up to three hours to complete, and it begins at the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre. During the stroll, you will come across several small primates and birds. You may even be fortunate enough to spot the chimpanzees on one of the designated pathways. The park hosts evening hikes to observe nocturnal primates, such as pottos and bush babies. The hours for nighttime nature walks are 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Visiting Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
One of Uganda’s greatest locations for bird watching is the Bigodi Wetlands, which are near Kibale Forest. Primates and butterflies can be seen there as well. Under the supervision of an experienced guide, participants will traverse a 4.5-kilometre track in search of over 139 different kinds of birds. The community-based Kibale Association for Rural Development (KAFRED) is in charge of overseeing the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The Magombe marsh is also maintained by the group. KAFRED uses boardwalks and well-established routes to plan walks around the marshes. Rich flora, particularly papyrus, which serves as hatching sites for innumerable birds, may be found in the marsh.
Crater Lakes Exploration
Many crater lakes are left behind when the Great African Rift Valley traverses a large portion of western Uganda. The lakes are separated into four groups: the Bunyaruguru Group, the Fort Portal Group, the Kasende Group, and the Katwe Group. Kibale’s western region is home to the Kasende cluster. However, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the Katwe cluster near Mweya Lodge. In Kibale National Park, the Kasende cluster contains several lakes serving as havens for endangered indigenous birds. Amazing scenery and the chance to explore the great outdoors are two benefits of visiting these lakes.
Accommodation during chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
Crater Safari Lodge:
The park is seven kilometres from this award-winning eco-lodge. This is possibly one of the greatest spots to stay the night if you are going on a chimpanzee tour. A genuine wilderness experience is provided by Crater Safari Lodge. Every one of the 21 rooms has a balcony with breathtaking views of a crater lake. The resort features a restaurant, lounge, bar, pool, and bonfire in the evenings where guests may reminisce about their experiences in Uganda.
Primate Lodge
In the center of Kibale Forest National Park stands this lodge. This is the place to go if you want to experience the authentic African environment, and the area boasts amazing landscapes. For those interested in chimpanzee trekking and the habituation experience, this is the ideal location. The lodge’s rooms are powered by solar energy and were constructed using local resources. The 16 rooms at Primate Lodge are divided between standard and luxury cottages. Each cottage is self-contained and features a veranda, free WiFi, and room service. Residents have access to a small library and laundry services, among other amenities. Additionally, residents can visit the bar for refreshments or go for a campfire in the evening. The resort gives back to the local community by giving them jobs and buying their home produce.
Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
This is among the most well-liked mid-range and inexpensive lodges that guests in Kibale National Park stay at. The guesthouse is situated near the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s visitor centre. The expansive tea plantations and woodland are breathtakingly visible from the Chimpanzee Guest House. Self-contained accommodations with a lovely pool for rest and refreshment are available.
Kyaninga Lodge
This luxurious lodge was constructed with a view of Lake Kyaninga, one of Uganda’s deepest crater lakes. The lodge features nine roomy individual cottages that are self-contained and intended to provide genuine peace and a sense of being in the African wilderness. Comfortable mattresses with plush cushions and a balcony overlooking the Rwenzori Mountain range are features of the cottages. Both hot and cold showers are available in marble bathrooms. The lodge’s main restaurant and room service serve both local and foreign cuisine. You can visit the bar for Ugandan beer or soft beverages during the hot season, or you can swim in the pool.
