Where is Kibale Forest National Park located

Kibale Forest National Park is located in the western part of Uganda covering the districts of Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Kyenjonjo, Kabarole. Its distance is 348 km from Kampala the capital city of Uganda. Kibale is bordered by Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Mountains and semuliki National park.

What is Kibale Forest National Park?

Kibale forest was gazetted in 1932 and established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve. This forest adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park creating 180 kilometers wildlife corridor. Kibale Forest National Park is 766 square kilometers in size and ranges between 1,100 meters and 1,600 meters in elevation.

Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest. The park is one of the best Chimpanzee safari destination in Africa with over 400 chimpanzees in its tropical forest.

Where to stay while in Kibale Forest National Park?

Kibale Forest National Park is blessed with the most excellent accommodation facilities. It has budget, midrange and luxury accommodation.

Budget accommodation in kibale includes; Rwetera safari lodge, Isunga safari lodge, Rwenzori guest house and many others.

Midrange accommodation includes; Isunga safari lodge, Chimpanzee forest guest house, Kibale forest camp, Primate lodge and many others.

Luxury accommodation include; Chimpundu safari lodge, kyaninga lodge, crater safari lodge.

Is it safe to visit Kibale Forest National Park a day?

Tourists should never get worried while on their stay in Kibale Forest National Park because the whole forest is surrounded by trained armed ranger guides. These guides are trained by Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect visitors and wild animals in the park.

The armed ranger guides are well equipped with firearms which helps them to protect tourist incase wild animals misbehave. The use of these firearms is to shoot in the air when animals misbehave but no one can shoot people or wildlife.

Other than Chimpanzee, what else can be found in Kibale Forest National Park?

Birds

This park is a good destination for birders with various birds’ species for example, Black bee-eater, African Black-headed Oriole, shrike-flycather, black-billed, Alpine Swift, Ash flycatcher, Papyrus canary, papyrus gonolek, waxbill, Africa shrike, Little greenbul, Collared appalis, African pitta, Zebra waxbill, African wood owl, Robin-chat to mention but a few.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary

Bigodi wetland sanctuary is located 6 km south of Kanyanchu information center in Kibale Forest National Park, it is known for its extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates species like the Baboons, black and white colobus monkey, vervet monkey, red tailed monkey, red colobus monkey, mangabey and L’Hoest monkey. The wetland is also a home of mammals such as bush pigs, semi-aquatic sitatunga antelopes, mongooses, otters plus bush bucks to mention but a few.

What is the best time to visit Kibale Forest National Park?

The best time to visit Kibale Forest National park is open for game viewing all year round like any other protected area in Uganda but the best time to visit is in the dry seasons from June to September and December to February when the trails are not slippery and the forest is clearer.

How long does it take to reach Kibale Forest National Park?

Kibale Forest National Park can be easily reached when you book a trip with Funride adventures. The park can be reached by both road and air transport.

By road travelers can use Kampala – Mubende – Fort portal road. This is the shortest route, its about 310 km and takes about 5-6 hours drive. From fort portal town to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters (Kanyanchu Visitors center) its about 26km taking about 30-40 minutes’ drive.

Travelers can still use Kampala-Hoima-Fortportal then Kibale National Park. By using this route, one can beat two birds at once, why? How? Travelers can have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the only place that shelters Rhinos in Uganda for Rhino tracking and proceed to Murchison falls national park, the oldest and largest national park in Uganda then after make your way to Kibale Forest National Park. This is a long route but very adventurous, memorable and unforgettable.

There is also the longest route that is Kampala-Mbarara-Kasese-fortportal- Kibale Forest National Park. This covers 555km taking over 8 hours drive. This is also adventuring since you by pass the Uganda Equator, Igongo cultural center, Lake Mburo National park, queen Elizabeth National park, get a view of the Rwenzori Mountains and many other attractions.

You can also travel to Kibale Forest National Park by Air transport, our team at Funride Adventures is always ready to book for you a flight to the park. The park is accessed by two airstrips that is Nyakishara near Mbarara and Kasese.

Travelers can either depart from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala. You can either use fly Uganda or Aerolink. Both aircrafts takes 30 minutes.