Kibale Forest National Park is one of the few remaining tracts of tropical rain forests in Uganda, it is situated in the western part of the country popular for the Chimpanzee, and the area contains the largest forest cover between Kamwenge and Kabarole District in the western part of Uganda, trees elevating up to 55m high form some of the canopies. Kibale Forest National Park was gazette in 1993 stretching to approximately 795 square kilometers in size and is elevated between 1160m-2607m above sea level. The surrounding areas of the park surrounded by the elevating plateau decorated with many crater lakes.
The vegetation of the national park consists of many plans, trees, swampy vegetation which act as home to many plant and tree species, these act bas homes to wildlife species, the lovely forest 13 types of primate species including the Black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, red colobus monkey, chimpanzee, white-cheeked Monkey, pattas, bush baby, dents Mona monkey, vervet monkey, and the Olive baboons. And 350 species of birds have been recorded in the conservation area, the forest has got the African elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, these are present within the conservation although they rarely seen.
Popular activity of the national park is the chimpanzee tracking, it begins at the park visitor center Kanyanchu the Uganda Wildlife Authority team will brief you on how to conduct yourself when with the primates, observing the rules and regulations of seeing primates, Chimpanzee scientifically is the closest relative to mankind, they are said to share up to 98 % of the human DNA, social and intelligent species, they have the ability to use tools like sticks to collect termites, they are so loud in that you will hear their charter sound even at a distance, meeting the primates is so magical, the activity is done in two sessions, morning time and afternoon , the sound of the forest is so magnificent, birds echo through the leaves of the swinging trees together with the other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys. Tracking is s between 2-3 hours on walk and upon meeting them you will be allowed an hour to interact and take pictures. Besides tracking chimpanzee, one can indulge into the habituation process, it is a process where you will spend most of the day doing the tracking, it is a day by day process to make the primates to get used to having humans around them, and a group of researchers will lead you through the process.
Tracking chimpanzees requires you to have a chimpanzee permit acquired from the Uganda wildlife authority through your tour operator, permits for Chimpanzee tracking are priced at 200 USD for foreign Nonresidents, 150 USD for foreign residents, and 150,000 shillings for East African citizens. The habituation process is priced quite differently from the tracking, 250 USD for foreign nonresidents, 200 USD for foreign residents, and 200,000 Shillings for East African citizens.
The Bigodi swamp is one of the best places to visit while in the national park, take a walk through the forest for more primates that you might have missed during the tracking, witnessing beautiful butterfly species, birds of the national park. Visit the community around the park, the women locals will showcase their art craft materials made baskets, mats, among others. Birding in the forest can be done any time of the year, is best visited during the wet season for birds, and the dry season for chimpanzee tracking as the trail is much drier and easier to track.
Kibale Forest National Park can be accessed by road through the villages of Kagadi taking approximately 5 hour drive to arrive at the destination, air transfer is possible t be arranged in Kampala Kajjansi or Entebbe. There is available accommodation ranging from the best budget to luxury.