Tourism attractions at Kibale forest National Park. The park is located in western Uganda in Kamwenge district and it covers an area of 795 sq. km. The park was gazetted in 1932 and established in 1993 to protect the forest and is managed by the Uganda wildlife authority. The park is well known for chimpanzees and several primates hence being regarded as the primate haven park in Uganda.

Kibale National Park has got so many attractions which have made it be ranked among the top tourist destinations in Uganda and East Africa such attractions to include

Primates:

Kibale National Park is a home for primates with the highest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. Kibale National Park is covered with big trees where these primates live, feed and build needs to sleep. Kibale National Park is a home of 13 spectacular species of primates namely blue monkeys, Ugandan red colobus, chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, central African monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, bush baby, and red-tailed monkeys with chimpanzees having the largest population with over 1450 chimpanzee individuals. Chimpanzees in Kibale national park attract more visitors as chimpanzee habituation and chimpanzee is tracking mostly done in Kanyanchu. The park is also a home of nocturnal primates that is the pottos and bushbaby seen during night walks.

Other Animals of Kibale Forest National Park:

Kibale National Park is not a home for only primates but also a home for wildlife species with at least 70 mammals in the park which live in thick forests around the park. Animals in Kibale National Park include elephants estimated to be 500, golden cats, leopards, lions, buffaloes, bush pigs, marsh mongoose, giant forest hogs, swamp otter, warthogs, and duikers among others. Sitatunga and swamp otter saw near Bigodi wetland sanctuary.

Bird species of Kibale Forest National Park:

Kibale National Park is a forested area and a home of 375 bird species with endemic species that are the ground thrush bird species. The park is a habitat of forested bird species and migratory bird species that migrate from Queen Elizabeth national park and other neighboring areas. The bird species at Kibale National Park include Abyssinian ground thrush, black-eared ground thrush, little green bull, yellow spotted nicator, blue-headed sunbird, collared Apalis, dusky crimson wing, purple breasted sunbird, brown illadopsis, yellow-rumped tinker bird, green breasted pitta, African pitta, olive long-tailed cuckoo, African grey parrot, red chested owlet and many more.

Plant species /floral species of Kibale Forest National Park:

Kibale National Park has got moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forest cover with over 250 tree species which have attracted so many researchers from different parts of the world to carry out research among which there are endangered timber species that is Cordia millennia, Entandrophragma angolense, loava swynnertonni, and other tree species include eucalyptus and pine trees.

Cultural attractions of Kibale Forest National Park:

Kibale forest National Park is surrounded by two groups of people that are Bakiga the minority immigrants from Kigezi and Batooro occupying the largest portion of land. These two groups of people have unique African activities i.e  local dances and songs, local handmade crafts

Ndali-Kasenda craters tours in Kibale Forest National park:

Also known as Kibale Ndali Kasenda crater lakes, they offer a tranquil scenic view and are located near the park and can be visited on your safari to Kibale National Park. These lakes were formed long ago and include 60  stable and seasonal fresh water and the lakes here include lake Ntambi, Lake Mburo, Lake Nyamasingiri, lake Nyanswinga, Lake Nyabikere, lake Nkuruba, lake Kifuruka, lake Lyantonde. When you visit these lakes you get to see the green vegetation, butterflies, monkeys, Rwenzori ranges, different bird species, southern rift valley plains, Lake George, and a panoramic view of Kabarole tea estates.

Where to stay in Kibale National Park: On your safaris to Kibale Forest National park you will have a wide range of accommodation facilities both inside and outside the park, these include primate lodge Kibale, Kanyanchu river camp, Sebitoli camping group for camping, Nyinabulitwa forest, and safari camp, Crater valley Kibale lakeside resort, chimp’s nest, Lake Nkuruba nature reserve, Kibale forest camp safari hotel Bigodi and much more.

How to get to Kibale National Park: Kibale National Park is located in western Uganda with so many routes linking to it from Kampala which is 309 Km is making it a 5-hour drive to the park. When traveling to Kibale National Park you can either use road transport or air transport.