Kibale National Park

Conservation Importance:

An evergreen rainforest National park whose mammal fauna is dominated by primates, 13 species of which live in the forest. It protects Uganda’s largest population of chimpanzees – an estimated 1450, elephants, leopards, bush pigs, three species of otter, several species of African monkey including the Grey-cheeked Mangabey, L’Hoest’s Monkey, East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus monkey; and the endemic monkey, the Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). Up to 375 species of birds have been recorded includes African Grey Parrot, Hornbill, Green breasted & the African pitta. 351 tree species, 70 mammal species & fish species.

Size:

The Park covers 796km2 of rainforest, swamps, rivers and few areas of grassland.

Tourist attractions:

Habituated groups can be tracked with experienced ranger guides at Kanyanchu River Camp. Other notable primates are the nocturnal bushbaby and potto (These can be encountered during guided night walks in the forest); the L’Hoest’s monkey (endemic to the Albertine Rift region).

Other activities:

With well-developed forest trails, tourists spend countless hours exploring several kilometers of forest watching birds, butterflies, looking for rare chameleons, snakes, trees, flowering plants etc. These can be sought on the forest trails at Kanyanchu and Sebitoli tourism sites and in the community-run Bigodi wetland sanctuary on the edge of the park near Kanyanchu. Night guided walks are also offered.