Kibale Forest National Park
Uganda's Primate Capital
Looking for the ultimate chimpanzee encounter? Welcome to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda's premier primate destination and home to one of Africa's highest concentrations of chimpanzees.
Quick Facts
- Location: Western Uganda, near Fort Portal
- Distance from Kampala: ~320 km (5–6 hours by road)
- Size: 766 km²
- Established: 1993
- Best time to visit: June – August and December – February (dry seasons)
Why Visit Kibale Forest?
- Chimpanzee Tracking: Track habituated chimpanzee communities with expert rangers
- Primate Diversity: Home to 13 primate species including red colobus, l'Hoest's, and grey-cheeked mangabeys
- Birding Paradise: Over 375 bird species including the African pitta and green-breasted pitta
- Bigodi Wetland: A community-managed sanctuary offering excellent birding and primate walks
Top Things to Do
- 🐒 Chimpanzee Trekking: Track chimps through the forest with a knowledgeable guide
- 🦜 Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: Spend a full day with a chimpanzee family being habituated for tourism
- 🚶 Bigodi Wetland Walk: Community-run nature walk through the adjacent Magombe Swamp
- 🦅 Bird Watching: One of Uganda's top birding destinations
- 🌿 Night Forest Walk: Spot nocturnal primates and forest creatures after dark
Where to Stay
- Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale, Ndali Lodge
- Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget: Turaco Treetops, Fort Portal guesthouses
How to Get There
Kibale is easily reached from Kampala or Entebbe via Fort Portal.
- By Road: Kampala → Mubende → Fort Portal (5–6 hours), then 30 minutes south to the park
- By Air: Charter flights available to Kasese or Fort Portal airstrips
✨ The Chimpanzee Capital of Uganda
Kibale Forest is a world-class primate destination. Spending time with wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat — hearing their calls echo through the canopy, watching them leap between trees — is a humbling and unforgettable experience.
If gorillas capture your heart in Bwindi, chimpanzees will capture your soul in Kibale.
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Book Your Kibale Forest Experience
Track chimpanzees in one of Africa's finest primate forests.