KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Kibale is one of the most beautiful national parks in Uganda with tropical rainforest, and a diversity of animals. Kibale harbors the largest number of chimpanzees and over 1,450 are protected within the park. At Kanyanchu, a community chimpanzee has been habituated for 16 years. This gives tourists a chance to see the great apes in their natural environment.
 Threatened red colobus monkeys and the rare I’hoesti monkey are found in the park. At the same time the forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa totaling 13 species including the black and white colobus, blue and grey-cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey, bush babies and pottos. The park also has over 325 species of birds.
Kibale national park also has a number of mammals including forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers and bats. Visitors may also see some of the reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. The park also has over 250 tree species.

Tourists’ activities

There are a number of activities performed by the visitors while at kibale national park

• Chimpanzee habituation experience

  This activity entails following up of chimpanzees so that they get used to humanity without them being wild.
  Most visitors carry out this activity to know more about the chimpanzees’ behavior like how the can spend their day. The activity starts at around 5:30 am at Kanyancchu river camp, as the chimpanzees de-nest up to around 7:30 pm when they are nesting.
  



• Primate walk

  is yet another tourist activity carried out in kibale. This walk exposes tourists to different species of plants and animals in the park. This walk is restricted to 4 groups of 4 people in the morning at 8:00 am and the same number of people in the afternoon at 3:00 pm.



• Forest hike

  is a seasonal 12 kms hike that is practiced strictly in the dry season that is mid-November to February and June to September. This activity introduces tourists to a diversity of forest habitats including the tropical rainforest, river line forest, swamp, and grassland. Visitors will have the chance to view a variety of monkeys, birds, duikers, and bush pigs. This walk starts at 8:00 am and ends at the elephant wallow at around 2:00 pm therefore parked lunch is essential.



• Long distance walk

  There are adventurous visitors who want to enjoy more in the forest. Such visitors are advised to take a 64 km guided which starts from kanyancu and ends at sebitoli and it can be vice versa. Visitors are able to pass through different habitants and local communities over a period of 2-3 days, camping at the community camp grounds. There are different campsites at kinoni, nyaibanda and nyakalongo which offer local dishes, traditional dances and walks to community shambas.



• Children’s activities

  are also offered during educational walks that last 1-2 hours followed by creative activities. This is for the children especially below the age of 12 years as they are not allowed to view the chimps. This helps the visitors to enjoy their chimpanzee experience, forest walks and many other activities peacefully as they will be assured of happiness of their children, who will be educated and entertained by experienced ranger guides.  These ranger guides were trained by the Jane good all institute to handle local, national, and international children. The children access the forest and learn about the ecosystem and its inhabitants.



• Bird Watching

  Bird watching is another tourist activity carried out in kibale national park. This activity is mainly at sebitoli forest centre on kampala-fortportal road 12 kms from fort portal. This tourist site is new in the park. This site also offers primate viewing and forest walk to the water falls. Visits to the tea estates can also be arranged.

Accommodation and meals

There are bandas at kanyanchu river camp, four of them, each with two beds with beddings. There is one elevated banda that is self-catering. And more to that, there are two more general campsites. There is a canteen at kanyancu river camp which provides food on order. It operates from 7:30 am up to mid-night. The canteen offers meals, snacks, and drinks. It is advisable to book cooked meals in advance. At least an hour before.
Kanyanchu river camp has got an interesting and unique accommodation known as SKY TREE HOUSE. This sky tree house exposes visitors to scenic elephant wallow. This house accommodates two people and it takes 10 to walk from the camp. Sebitoli forest centre also offers accommodation that is managed by kabarole tours. It has the maximum capacity of eleven beds.

Conservation value of kibale national park
Kibale national park is an important site for conservation and research. The Uganda wildlife authority with Jane good all institute started the kibale primate habituation project which focuses on habituating of chimpanzees to human presence. This has increased the chances of viewing chimpanzees to over 90%, allowing visitors a chance to view the apes in their natural environment. funds generated through tourism help improve the standards of the park and support the local community projects.

Researchers too have a chance to use the park since Makerere University established a biological field station at kanywara. There are accommodation facilities for only researchers and people attending conferences and seminars, otherwise persons visiting kibale for its tourism experience are advised to stay at kanyancu river camp or sebitoli forest centre.

There are two major tribes living around the park. These are bakiga and batooro. Traditionally, both tribes utilize the forest for food, fuel, building materials and medicines.kibale is a protected area under Uganda wildlife authority, which allows people to have controlled, and sustainable access to selected forest resources. Most of the employees in the park are community members around the park. As per the law establishing Uganda wildlife authority, the community receives 20% of the park entrance fees for their development projects.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary is yet another interesting feature for the tourists. This is located at the eastern edge of kibale national park and is managed by the local community. The sanctuary is located in magombe swamp and is known for a wide range of biodiversity including species of primates such as red colobus monkey, grey - checked mangabey, red tailed monkey, I’hoest monkey, vervet monkey, blue monkey and baboon.
This place also has mammals like sitatunga, bush pigs, bush bucks, otters, magoose, and chimpanzees. These mammals visit the swamp from the national park.
Bird species totaling to 138 have also been identified in the sanctuary. The great blue turacco is one of the main species found in bigodi wetland sanctuary. Tree houses that are good for bird watching are also found at the sanctuary. Board walks, visitor information centre, camping site and tourist guides are also available at the sanctuary. This sanctuary is both beneficial to the community and the tourists.

Access
It is 36 kms to kanyanchu river camp from fort portal, and 12 kms to sebitoli forest centre from fort portal. Public transport is available for the visitors from kamwenge. Vehicles are available all day up to 6:00 pm.
Sebitoli forest centre is situated 290 kms from Kampala.

For conservation purposes the park has rules and regulations

• These regulations are in favor of both the visitors and the park management
• The park opens at 7:30 am and closes at 7:00 pm therefore visitors should ensure they are through with all the activities by the closing time.
• No domestic animals are allowed in the par k. therefore visitors should ensure they leave out their dogs or any other animals out.
• Sick people are not allowed in the park as this puts the animals in the park at a very high risk of adapting the sickness.
• The number of visitors is limited four per group. This applies to visitors who go to the forest.
• Taking out of animals or even flowers from the park is prohibited.
• Making noise in the park is strictly not allowed.
• Children below the age of twelve years are not allowed to view the chimpanzees for security purposes.
• Under no circumstance should anyone chase the chimps or any other animals while they are descending to or walking on the ground.
• Littering is not allowed. Visitors should follow proper waste disposal methods.
• Visitors are advised to keep in their tight groups and follow the guides’ direction at all times.
• Visitors should keep away from the chimps and any other animals at least 8 meters away.
• Visitors are not supposed to eat in the presence of the chimps and any other primates.
• Visitors who want to go for short or long calls should do it away from the trails and all the waste and the toilet paper should be buried.
• Fire arms and ammunitions are strictly not allowed in the park.

Fees
Different activities are charged for differently. Entrance fees, guided walks among others are charged differently.
Different categories of people are charged differently. That is the youth, children, non residents, east African residents and Ugandan citizens are not charged the same. Visitors may pay in Ugandan shillings, us dollars, and euro based on current rates quoted at the point of entry.