Kibale National Park - Cisticola Birding and Nature Tours

About Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be sought, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this twice-daily show are chimpanzees. Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8am and 2pm and last an average of three hours, depending on various factors.
The perennially popular primate walk provides the chance to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Kanyanchu’s groups are accustomed to human presence – some have been observed for over 25 years – and the chance of locating them is over 90%. Walks leave Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08.00, 11.00 and 14.00 and last between 2-5 hours. Early arrival to allow for registration and briefing is recommended. Contact time with chimpanzees is limited to one hour; group size is limited to six visitors; participants must be aged 16 or over. Advance booking is essential.
This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 370 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.The Nahan’s francolin,cassin’s spinetail,blue headed bee-eater and low-land masked apalis.

Most prominent among Kibale’s primates is the chimpanzee population surge of about 1,500 individuals,divided into atleast a dozen different communities,four of which are habituated to humans.The Kanyantale community has been subject to daily tourist tracking since 1993.

Chimpanzee Trekking

There are over 1500 chimpanzees living in the Kibale rain forest. Chimpanzee trekking is one of the top things to do & see in Kibale national park, this major tourist activity in Kibale national park attracts a great number of visitors. Chimpanzees are the closest human relatives sharing 98% DNA with human beings. Chimpanzee trekking starts early in the morning with briefing at Kanyanchu visitor center before visitors head into the forest in search of chimps.

Bird Watching

There are over 375 bird species in Kibale national park with endemic birds, migratory birds and forest birds. Kibale is one of the top birding spots in Uganda and birding usually done very early in the morning. Some of the birds that can be seen here include sunbird, yellow billed barbet, great blue turaco, black capped Apalis, African pied wagtail, blue breasted kingfisher, etc

Nature Walks

Visitors get to learn more about the forest and its inhabitants. Along the nature walks different animals are seen like forest elephants, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and a number of bird species plus plants. Listening to the forest sounds and taking in the fresh air is such a great experience everyone should get.

Time to visit Kibale NP

The best time to visit Kibale Kibale National park is open for game viewing all year round but the best time to visit is in the dry seasons from June to September and December to February. March to May and September to November mark the wet season, where wildlife viewing is quite challenging, but it is a good time for bird watching.