Attractions in Kibale National Park : Kibale forest national park is a remarkable Uganda tourist destination famously known for hosting the largest population of chimpanzee in East Africa, the park is also referred to as the primate capital for being a home to a huge population of primates with 13 recorded species living in the thick forests with more than 1,450 chimpanzees. Kibale Forest national park is located in western Uganda slightly off the Equator, the park covers an area of 795 square kilometers of land covered with the most beautiful and most diversified tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This forest predominates in the central and northern regions of the park on a Fort Portal plateau , the northern tip of Kibale forest national park is the highest point of the park standing 140 meters above the sea level.
The annual temperatures in Kibale Forest national park ranges between 14 – 27C and the park is generally cool.
Kibale Forest national park is a remarkable Uganda safari destination with beautiful attractions which are a reason to why this park is visited by thousands of tourists, tourist attractions in Kibale Forest national park are as follows
Vegetation in Kibale Forest national park
Kibale Forest national park has varied vegetation comprises of different habitats including woodland, savannah, wet tropical forest and semi-deciduous dry tropical, the vegetation is generally interspersed with grassland and swamp patches. The dominant vegetation type is the rainforest spanning 1,100 – 1,50 meters altitude with a floral composition as the vegetation transitions to typical eastern Afro-montane and western lowland forest.
Over half of Kibale Forest national park approximately 45,000 hectares are occupied by various forest vegetation classified as medium – altitude moist evergreen forest in the north and medium – altitude moist semi –deciduous forest at the lower altitudes in the south.
Kibale Forest national park is contingent with Queen Elizabeth national park in the South occupying undulating terrain on the western plateau, slightly tilted to the south. Kibale Forest national park’s vegetation comprises tolerant herbs, a variety of ferns, shrubs and broad leaved forest grasses and a sparse undergrowth and 351 tree species.
Wildlife in Kibale Forest national park
Kibale Forest national park is a primate capital with 13 different species of primates, the park is a home to the highest population of primates in Africa and the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa with 1450 individuals which makes it the best destination for chimpanzee tracking safari in Africa. Primates in Kibale Forest national park include the black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, grey checked mangabeys, bush babies, L’Hoest monkeys, Blue monkeys, the endangered red colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys, pottos and chimpanzees.
Kibale Forest national park is also a home to 60 mammal species including leopards, Duikers, Forest Elephants, Forest Buffaloes, Golden cats, Warthogs, and Bush Pigs.
Birdlife in Kibale Forest national park
Kibale Forest national park is an excellent habitat and a prime birding spot in Uganda, the park is a home to over 375 bird species including 6 species endemic to the Albertine Rift Area. Because of the varied habitat and dense vegetation, the park offers a safe haven and plenty of food for the birds to feed on.
Birds in Kibale Forest national park include Green breasted Pitta, Red-chested owlet, Purple breasted sunbird, African Grey Parrot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, little Greenbul, Black Bee eater, White-naped pigeon, and Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Western bronze-napped Pigeon, Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-throated Nicator, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Red Headed malimbe, Yellow-spotted barbet and Dusky-blue Flycatcher among others.
Amphibians and Butterflies in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest national park is a home to over 250 species of butterflies, several species of reptiles and amphibians.
How to get to Kibale Forest national park
Kibale Forest national park is accessed by road or air transport from Kampala and Entebbe, by road it is a drive of approximately 6 hours from Kampala to Kibale Forest national park via Fort portal, Kampala to Kibale Forest via Ibanda and from Queen Elizabeth national park Kasese Fort portal Kibale forest or Queen Elizabeth national park Kasese Kasende craters Kibale Forest national park.
Where to stay in Kibale Forest national park
In Kibale Forest national park there are accommodations to use during your Uganda safari, these accommodations are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget and they include Kyaninga Lodge, Mountains of the moon Hotel, Rwenzori View Guest house, The Dutchess, Papaya Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Chimpanzee Guest house, Kibale forest camp and Isunga Lodge among others.
