Kibale Forest National Park; Chimpanzee Tracking Tours & Wildlife Safaris
Lying at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda, 35 km from Fort Portal, this park is linked to Queen Elizabeth National Park, but contains a unique moist-forest habitat with an extremely high diversity of animals and plants.
Kibale is predominantly mature tropical rainforest, where some trees attain heights of 55 metres. The forest is interspersed with bush grasslands, swamps and colonising woodland. Wild coffee can be found and many plants are used for medicinal purposes. Certain areas have been selectively logged or planted with exotic hardwoods.
Apart from its wide range of vegetation, including Parinari, Pteragota and Cynometra, the park supports an extensive range of mammals. The herds of the forest elephant are the largest in Uganda , but are rarely seen amongst the forest cover.
The park also supports the highest density of primates in the world: there are 12 species, including Black-and-White and Red colobus, L'Hoest's monkeys, baboons, guenous and chimpanzees (500 of which are habituated to visitors since 1992, and are the main attraction) ie chimpanzee tracking and watching.
There are 325 species of birds in Kibale, and 144 species of butterflies and moths. The local people, the Batoro and Bakiga, are farmers who grow cash crops such as coffee, and eucalyptus trees for timber.
Activities in the Park
Guided walks are led by knowledgeable field staff, and Kibale is an excellent place to observe an exciting array of primates. Forest walks start at Kanyanchu at 7.30 and 15.30 daily, and last 2-3 hours. A tree-house viewing platform provides a special view of the forest. The Rwetera Tourism Society offers guided walks of nearby crater lakes, which are good for swimming. The Kibale Association for Rural Development offers a guided hike of the Magombe Swamp near Kanyanchu. There's also chimpanzee tracking or trekking for those interested in primate watching which is the main tour attraction to kibale national park.
Accommodation
Camping facilities, two private and three general, are available near Kanyanchu. The general campsites do not provide tents. Bring your own food. To the west of the park is the Crater Valley Kibale Beach Resort Camp Site - tents are not provided. Hotel accommodation is available at Fort Portal.
How to Reach the Park
The visitor centre at Kanyanchu is located 35 km south of Fort Portal, which is 320 km west of Kampala. A 4WD vehicle is advisable for travel from Kampala to Fort Portal via Mubende and from Fort Portal to Kanyanchu.
VISITORS - Entrance Fees in US $ per 24 Hour Visit
Adult Child
Foreign Non-resident 9.52 2.86
Foreign Resident 9.52 2.86
Citizen Resident 1.90 0.47
MOTOR VEHICLES - Entrance Fees in US $ per visit
Ugandan Foreign
Motorcycle 1.90 7.62
Motor car or Pick-up 4.76 19.05
Bus or Lorry 11.43 45.71
CAMPING FEES - Per person, per night
Foreign Non-resident 14.29
Foreign Resident 9.52
Citizen Resident 4.76
RANGER GUIDE - Per half day
Foreign or Non- resident 6.67
Citizen Resident 1.90
CAMPING FEES - Per person, per Night
Foreign Non-Resident 9.52
Foreign Resident 4.76
Citizen Resident 1.90
VEHICLE HIRE - Per kilometre
Kombi 6.67
Landrover 1.90
PHOTOGRAPHIC FEES - commercial filming
Where the size of the filming party is:
1-5 persons 190.48
6-20 persons 476.19
Over 20 persons 952.38
These figures do not include Entrance Fees
For fuller details, please contact:
The Warden in Charge,
Kibale Forest National Park,
P. O. Box 699, Fort Portal, Uganda.
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Copyright © 1996 Text: Uganda Tourist Board;
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