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Ultimate well guided Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari experience

The Primates Capital of the World

Kibale forest chimpanzees tracking national park is the primates capital of the world located at latitude 0.43669° N and longitude 30.36674° E is a biologically rich region that also hosts over 120 other mammal species, including baboons, elephants, and antelopes. Along Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari, forest is home to approximately 370 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics such as Nahan’s francolin, Cassin’s spine tail, blue-headed bee-eater, and lowland masked apalis.

Most notable among Kibale’s primate population, is the concentration of about 1,500 chimpanzees, divided into at least a dozen different communities, with four habituated to human presence which guarantee 99% sightings. Kanyantale community has been tracked by tourists daily since 1993. Kibale forest national park is 95km from Queen Elizabeth national park a 2 hours drive and 286km from Murchison falls national park a 5 hours drive.

At Kibale’s premier attraction is the Kanyunchu Primate Walk, offering the opportunity to seek out thirteen different primate species, with a variety of diurnal monkeys frequently observed. Chimpanzees are some of the most exciting primates to watch given their activeness and playful behaviors. However, the true highlights are the chimpanzees. Walks depart from the Kanyunchu Visitor Centre at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM, lasting between two to five hours. Early arrival for registration and briefing is recommended. Interaction time with the chimpanzees is limited to one hour, with group sizes capped at six participants, who must be at least 16 years old. Advance booking is essential.

Cost of chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national park

Permits for chimpanzee tracking activities in Kibale national park costs $250 for foreign tourists on nature walks in tropical forests along with birdwatching, colobus monkeys, butterflies. Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHE) Kibale forest national park will cost $300 per person allowing you follow chimpanzee families for up to 4 hours along with professional rangers and doctors who monitor and treat the primates.

Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari

3 days Kibale chimpanzees SAFARI experience

It's a 3 days focused chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale forest national park that see you travel to the park on the 1st day, track chimp on the 2nd day and leave on the 3rd day and get ready for departure. Kibale forest has the world's highest concentration of chimpanzees with more than 1,500 individuals there. Chimpanzees are some of the world's largest leaving apes after gorillas and also share a more than 90% DNA print with people. Standard tracking allows you be around these apes for 1hr and the habituation experience allows you to spend 4 hours to 1 full day following chimps with doctors & researchers. Along chimpanzees, you are also able to have sightings of black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, forest bird species.

A pair of young mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) playing around while hanging from a tree in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

10 days Kibale-gorillas & wildlife

A 10 days Kibale primates and wildlife Uganda safari takes you in the country's most amazing destinations and game parks. After the 1st day's city tour, this itinerary takes you to many unique activities in Bwindi impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth, Semuliki and Murchison national parks. Exciting features on this tour include; mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, Hot springs, Murchison water falls (the world's strongest water falls), river Nile, bird watching, Kazinga channel, hippo pods, tree climbing lions etc. Get ready for various activities for example photography, boat cruises, birding, hiking, primate trekking, culture tours, nature walks and game drives.

Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari

15 days Kibale & Uganda birding safari

A long 2 weeks/ 15 days birding Uganda safari with Kibale forest and Bigodi swamp offering the best of forest and papyrus species is a recommendable itinerary for primates and birders. The slow travel itinerary also takes in all Uganda's major game parks sighting more than 1,000 bird species along other wildlife. Some of the top bucket list bird species to expect while in Uganda include the shoebills, Albertine rift & Rwenzori endemics, flamingos, fish eagles, martial eagles, kingfishers, geese, pigeons, owls, kites, falcons, grey crowned cranes, vultures, wood peckers, warblers, sunbirds, gulls, ibis hadada, turacos, hornbills, pelicans and much more. Along this great birds other major species include mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, Africa's big 5, hippos, nile crocodiles, giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas etc.

Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari

4 DAYS KIBALE DOUBLE CHIMP TRACKING SAFARI

Another yet great primate trekking excursion on a 4 days Kibale forest national park visit combines standard and habituation tracking experiences along birdwatching in Bigodi swamp. Day 1 sees you transfer to Kibale national park to prepare for a double chimpanzee tracking experience with standard and habituation excursions for the next 2 days. Very early in the morning, you'll get to visit Bigodi swamp at the forest boundaries and enjoy several swamp/ papyrus bird species. After the birding at Bigodi swamp, you'll have a hot lunch and then head out for standard chimp tracking on day 2. Day 3 gets you to enjoy a 4 hours to full day chimpanzee habituation experience with researchers. Species to expect while on this 4 days Kibale safari include chimpanzees, black & white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, turacos, Albertine rift endemics, grey crowned cranes, flycatchers, bee-eaters, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, kingfishers, hornbills etc.

Murchison falls boat cruise

16 days Kibale primates, wildlife & river Nile safari

Another 2 weeks extravaganza safari in Uganda is a slow travel adventure that gets you to encounter top Africa primates and wildlife creatures. A visit to Kibale forest gets you to see some of the world's largest living apes- the chimpanzees along mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable or Mgahinga national park. Other unique primates in Uganda are the golden monkeys only found in the Virunga massif. The 16 days Uganda safari also sees you visit some of the world's record holders for example Murchison water falls (the world's strongest water falls), the source of the river Nile, hot springs, Sipi falls and the lake Victoria (Africa's largest fresh water lake). While on this 16 days, you also enjoy sightings of mount Rwenzori, huge elephant herds, buffaloes, largest Rothchild's giraffe herds, the world's largest hippo pods, antelopes, nile crocodiles, lions, leopards, hyenas, birds etc. These numerous species in the savanna and tropical forests engage you in boat cruises, game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, water rafting, kayaking etc.

Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari

24 DAYS EAST AFRICA SAFARI WITH CHIMPANZEES

The 24 days East Africa safari starts from Rwanda cross into Uganda and Kenya then finally going to Tanzania wilderness and Zanzibar island. East Africa's savanna grasslands have the highest concentration of wildlife in the world for example Serengeti has the highest lion population and animal concentration with Masai Mara game reserve coming second. Uganda and Rwanda have the highest number of the world's remaining endangered mountain gorillas which are also the largest living apes. Uganda is also considered the world's primates capital with chimpanzees, golden monkeys, baboons, colobus monkeys etc. Another wildlife highlight to be excited about on this 24 days safari is the wildebeest migration that traverses the Serengeti Mara eco system. Much more ungulate herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, Africa's big 5, hyenas, warthogs etc. await you in the savanna.

These walks provide the chance to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kanyunchu’s group are accustomed to human presence- some have been observed for over 25 years. During the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX), visitors accompany doctors/ researchers and professional guides following chimpanzees for up to 4 hours as they study their behaviors and offer special attention to the chimpanzees.

The chimpanzee groups involved are less accustomed to human presence than those visited on the primates walk and following and viewing them is both exciting and challenging. CHEX sessions is available on a full or half day basis starting at 06:30. Advance booking for this habituation activity is required on a Kibale forest chimpanzee tracking safari. A chimpanzee habituation experience permit will cost you $300 only.

Nature walks are an opportunity to enjoy one of East Africa’s most beautiful and varied forests without pressure to locate chimpanzees or tick off a dozen Kibale specials on the bird list. This is also an ideal activity for young visitors unable to accompany relatives on the primate walk. Two hour nature walks begin at 08:00, 10:00, and 14:00 from Kanyunchu tourist center.

Night walking experience at Kibale forest

Enter the forest after dark to search for nocturnal creatures such as galagos, pottos and bushbabies, night walks are conducted from 19:30- 22:00 daily.

Birding with chimpanzee tracking at Kibale national park

A bird list of 372 forest species and papyrus endemics at Bigodi swamp including Albertine rift endemics and Guinea Congo biome species make Kibale forest a popular destination for birders. Forest birds can be sought with the help of our experienced guides on the forest trail at Kanyanchu and Sebitoji tourism sites. Birding experience should be combined with a visit to Bigodi wetland sanctuary to add forest edge and swamp special species to the list. This popular community run attraction lies just outside the park 5km south of Kanyanchu.

Bird species in this jurisdiction include; blue turacos, black billed turaco, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, grey crowned cranes, green-breasted pitta, blue-headed sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, collared apalis, dusky crimsonwing, blue-headed bee-eater, black and white casqued hornbill, African grey parrot, blue-chested kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, fly catchers, barbets etc.

Around the Park; Kibale is surrounded by a wealth of additional attractions. Visitors should take time to explore the scenic crater lakes along the western margin of the park, tour a tea factory, drive down onto the rift valley floor to the hot springs in the Semuliki NP, hike on the Rwenzori mountain and view big game on the grasslands of Queen Elizabeth NP.

Best time to visit Kibale forest national park

The best time to visit Kibale forest national park is during Uganda’s summer time/ dry seasons of June- September and December- February for chimpanzee tracking and birding in Bigodi swamp as the trails are found dry and trackable without muddy trails. Also these seasons also make it easy to combine chimpanzee tracking with other safari activities in Uganda and East Africa. 

Safari lodges/ accommodation at Kibale national park

Several safari lodges at Kibale chimpanzees forest national park are both luxury and affordable located in the forest or the outskirts of the park. Accommodation options depend on the comfort & services you need and also the lodge’s location to the national park.

Kibale chimpanzees forest national park

Tabebuia spa & safari lodge

Located at 0.50409° N, 30.32648° E on the shores of lake Nyabikere on the out skirts of Kibale forest national park, Tabebuia spa & safari lodge is a luxury accommodation that you should consider on a chimpanzee tracking experience in Uganda.

Tabebuia spa & lodge offers suites, villas and residences from rates 0f $600- $700 for single occupancy per night and $750- $850 for Twin/ Double occupancy on full board. Reaching Tabebuia spa & lodge is 311km from Kampala on a 7 hours drive and 95km from Queen Elizabeth national park on a 2 hours drive.

While at Tabebuia, you can take on activities like;

  • Chimpanzee tracking
  • Birding & forest walks
  • Photography
Kibale chimpanzees national park- Chimpundu lodge

Chimpundu lodge

Located in Kibale forest national park, Chimpundu lodge is one of the most ideal accommodation options while on a chimpanzee tracking safari experience.

At 0.42597° N & 30.40496° E, chimpundu lodge offers double cottages, deluxe rooms and family cottages. Single occupancy goes for $600, twin/ double occupancy rates at $850 and family cottages starting at $1,700.

Chimpundu lodge is 320km from Kampala on a 7 hours drive. Activities you can take on while at Chimpundu are;

  • Chimpanzee tracking
  • Birding
  • Forest walk
  • Bigodi swamp walk
Kibale chimpanzees national park

Kibale forest lodge

Kibale forest lodge is located at 0.40261° N, 30.41155° E in Bigodi village in the vicinity of Kibale forest (world’s primates capital). Reaching Kibale forest lodge is 322km from Kampala on a 7 hours drive.

Also Kibale lodge offers single rooms for $82, double/ twin rooms at $142 and triple occupancy at $182 per person.

The activities you can take on while staying at Kibale forest lodge include;

  • Chimpanzee tracking
  • Birding
  • Forest walk
  • Bigodi swamp tour

Primates lodge Kibale

Primates lodge is a luxury facility offering standard services to its clients located at 0.43789° N & 30.39606° E in Kibale forest national park. Reaching Primates lodge is 318km from Kampala on a 7 hours drive.

At Primates lodge, offers for a single room at $640, double room $470 per person, honey moon cottage $600 and an extra child’s bed (below 18yrs) at $245

While at Primates lodge, you’ll be able to engage in;

  • Chimpanzee tracking
  • Forest walk
  • Bird watching tour
  • Bigodi swamp walk

Kibale canopy lodge

Located at the edge of Kibale forest, Kibale canopy lodge is one of the most ideal lodges to access the forest for;

  • Chimpanzee tracking
  • Bird watching &
  • Forest walks.

Seated at 0.42385° N & 30.49463° E, Kibale canopy lodge is 288km from Kampala on a 7 hours drive.

Kibale canopy lodge offers;

  • Single rooms starting at $230
  • Double/ Twin rooms starting at $299 pp
  • Triple room starting $299 pp