Travel Guide Kibale Forest National Park

Protected as a national park since 1993 and adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park, this 795 km² tropical forest lies southwest of Fort Portal at an altitude of between 1,100 and 1,590 metres. With a multitude of trails to walk along, nearly 250 species of trees (some specimens reaching a respectable height of 60 metres), 375 species of birds (including the highly prized short-breasted green-breasted or the cute mountain barbion), some 50 types of reptiles (including the dreaded Gabon viper) and a record number of 13 species of primates, Kibale Park is a delight for nature lovers. Other mammals, including elephants, leopards, buffaloes, sitatungas and hippos, roam the forest and its swamps but almost never show up. On the other hand, the chimpanzee population, over 1,500 individuals, is the largest in the country, and visitors flock to observe the famous hominid, living on the ground or in the canopy. Ornithologists will not fail, moreover, to visit the Bigodi marshes, south of the forest, where the winged gentleman is queen. Note that Kibale is copiously watered throughout the year, so don't forget to equip yourself accordingly! Don't worry though, you won't have to plant your guitoune in the heart of the jungle as the forest edge is full of accommodation possibilities, not to mention the comfortable Primate Lodge at the middle of the park...