3 DAYS: KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK UGANDA SAFARI
3 DAYS: KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK UGANDA SAFARI
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A 3-days safari in Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda offers a fantastic opportunity to explore lush rainforests, encounter primates, and immerse yourself in nature. Kibale Forest is renowned for its chimpanzee tracking experiences. Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, which protects the moist evergreen rainforest. It is 766 square kilometers in size and ranges between 1,100 meters and 1,600 meters in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes. However, the most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be seen, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this twice-daily show are chimpanzees. Kanyanchu’s chimpanzees have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8 am and 2 pm and last an average of three hours, depending on various factors.
More Activities include the Bird Safari Tour–Because of the bird population it protects, Kibale National Park is known as the birder’s paradise in Uganda. Kibale National Park is home to over 300 bird species, ensuring a long and productive avian life. Birding in Kibale National Park is primarily done in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Birders visiting Kibale National Park keep an eye out for Nahan’s francolin, an endangered bird species in Africa, and the ground thrush, which is only found in two other birding areas in Uganda. Other bird species found in Kibale National Park include the grey winged robin, yellow spotted barbet, grey-breasted pitta, speckled tinker bird, little Grenoble, white thighed hornbill, black billed turaco, masked Apalis, tiny sunbird, and superb sunbird.
Activities To Do In Kibale Forest National Park
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
A nature walk through Kibale National Park is a must-do for nearly all visitors to the park each year. It is primarily a popular destination for visitors looking to go birding in Kibale National Park. Bigodi Wet Land Sanctuary is a community initiative located on the outskirts of Kibale National Park in the south, within Magombe Swamp. The Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a community-run conservation project, and the consortium funds are used to improve the Bigodi community. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary has over 120 bird species that visitors enjoy watching during guided nature walks through the broad walkways planted by the swamp’s local caretakers.
Crater Lakes Safari In Kibale Conservation Area
Kibale National Park’s craters are located on the rift valley floor of the Great Western Rift Valley region. Tourists know the craters as the Ndali Kasandra crater region of Kibale National Park. The craters on the outskirts of Kibale National Park can be reached from Fort Portal town. The craters in Kibale National Park’s Ndali Kasandra region provide a spectacular view of the forests as well as a peaceful camping area. Kibale National Park’s crater lakes include ndali Crater Lake, lake nkuruba, lake nyamasani, ntambi, and lyantonde, among others. It should be noted that, despite their name, the craters are not found in the Kibale forest or even within the Kibale national park, but rather on the outskirts of the park.
Mabere ga’nyina mwiru Caves
There is a rich cultural history attached to these rocks which form scenic caves with streams of water above them causing refreshing waterfalls. The Batoro (the tribe located in this area) have a strong belief attached to these caves with an interesting myth told through the generations about them.
Chimpanzee Trekking
The first activity known as Kibale National Park; highlights all park safaris in this area. Kibale National Park is the best place in Uganda for chimp trekking; the park is home to over 1500 chimps, some of which are habituated to human contact. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park begins at the Kanyanchu visitor center. The primate walk is another name for chimp trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park begins around 8 a.m. and lasts approximately 3 hours until 2 p.m. The chimp trekking in Kibale National Park provides an opportunity to see other primates such as monkeys and other forest creatures. You have a 90% chance of seeing habituated chimps. The one-hour interaction with chimps is extremely rewarding because it allows you to learn more about chimp behavior in a natural setting.
Guided Nature Walks and Hikes
Talking about a walk through the vast forest is a great way to discover and marvel at the great biodiversity in the park and surrounding landscapes that include visiting the Amabere caves. The starting points can be from Sebitoli or Kanyanchu. Regardless of which section of the park you choose to start your walk, you will be treated to the full spectacle of tropical forests, grasslands, swamps and rivers. For those interested in observing how the local people go about their daily lives and work in the gardens a walk through Nyaibanda, Nyakalongo and Kikoni villages would be perfect. Night walks can also be arranged to see nocturnal animals like pottos, bush babies and other rare birds.
This itinerary focuses on chimpanzee tracking and offers a taste of the rich biodiversity of Kibale Forest, including bird watching in the adjacent Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Kibale Forest is one of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat, and the surrounding ecosystem is teeming with other wildlife and bird species. Kibale Forest National Park provides an excellent opportunity to connect with nature and observe primates and birds in a stunning rainforest setting.
Please note that this is a general itinerary, and the actual duration, activities, and accommodations may vary depending on your preferences, available time, and the specific arrangements made with you. It is advisable to consult with us to customise your itinerary and make any necessary adjustments.
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation
- 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel and Driver
- Professional Local english speaking Guide/Driver
- Full Board Meals Plan
- All park entry fees-Game drives, ranger and entry fees
- Safari Boat Cruise
- Entry Visa Fees
- All Air fares
- Meals where not provided
- Alcoholic drinks
- Porter fees while trekking
- Personal Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Items of personal nature
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe Airport/Kampala City
To Kibale Forest National Park After your breakfast, the drive will brief you about the whole safari. You will then embark on the journey to the Southwestern part of the country. Along the way, there are a lot of highlights like fruit markets, different topography, and culture. You will then arrive in a town named after two European explorers (Gerald Portal and Fort Lugard) for lunch. After lunch, you can choose to visit (Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru), a cultural and historic site with rock formations of stalagmites and stalactites with a rich cultural history attached which form scenic caves and waterfalls. After the experience, you can then drive to the lodge for an overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walking Tour
After your breakfast, you will drive to the chimpanzee briefing point for a briefing about the chimp trekking activity. You will be assigned a tracking group and armed game rangers for your safety. You will walk through the forest as the ranger keeps in touch with the monitoring team on the ground. This primate walk provides an opportunity to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Upon finding the chimpanzees, you may be able to see them feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, and patrolling. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and head out for the swamp walk. The swamp is biodiversity rich with species and during the walk, expect to spot bird species such as Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, and Meyer’s parrot. You may also encounter primate species including black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and Guereza colobus. Besides the guided swamp walk, you may also take a walk through the village for a cultural experience where you will be able to see activities like local liquor making, weaving of baskets, cultural dances and also paying a visit to the cultural doctor. You will then return to the lodge for an overnight.
Day 3: Bird Watching Tour and Transfer To Kampala City/Entebbe Airport
After your breakfast, you will go for a Birding tour and here you will get a chance to see different birds including white collared olive, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, Cameroon sombre greenbul, African- pied wagtail, brown eared woodpecker, zebra waxbill, blue-throated roller, African dusky flycatcher, blue-throated roller, black-billed weaver, yellow-rumped tinker bird, blue breasted kingfisher, chubb’s cisticola, black-capped waxbill, Africa shrike flycatcher, African black-headed oriole, African emerald cuckoo, African green pigeon, black-headed oriole, African jacana, African pitta, Abyssinian proud thrush, crowned eagle, dusky crimsoning, collared Apalis, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul, brown chested Alethe, black-billed turaco, black and white shrike flycatcher, barn swallow and ash flycatchers and so much more. After you will have a transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe the driver will drive via Rwimi driving through scenic views of some different crater lakes like Lake Nyinambuga, Kasenda, and Kifurukwa, seen along the way. As you approach Kasese town, you will be able to have spectacular views of the Rwenzori ranges. You will drive back to Kampala with an optional drop-off at your hotel in Entebbe or anywhere at your local residence. Or you will be dropped off at your hotel/lodge or at any place of your inconvenience.