With various encounters the forest offer gives a wider range to participate in various activities when in the forest. Some of the encounters in the forest include Chimpanzees, primate tracking, several bird species, larger mammals like the forest elephants, buffaloes, sitatungas, bushbucks and leopards among many are residents in this dense natural forest.
There are lots of things to do in Kibale Forest National Park.
Primate Tracking
Calling Kibale national park a primate capital, the suggestion never is true. The tropical rainforest forest is a unique one inhabiting over 13 primate species. Tracking on a nature walk in either Kibale forest or the Bigodi wetland sanctuary rewards with the view of almost all the primate here.
Among the primate encounter in the forest include the rare L’Hoest monkey and the red colobus monkey, the olive baboons, grey cheeked mangebay, bush babies, white and black tailed colobus, pottos, patas monkeys among others. On a single a single track may be able to encounter more than five species.
Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a perfect location for primate tracking when in Kibale national park, the wet land is just 6km from kanyacu park headquarters and a visit to the wetland cost USD $40. Though the park has about 1500 chimpanzee but it’s a big luck to encounter chimpanzees on the nature walk, however it’s wider opening of viewing several of the primate residents of this forest.
Chimpanzee Tracking
A primate safari in Kibale National Park offers you a chance to sight at chimpanzees in the wild that make up a total of about 1500. This makes it a few most popular chimpanzee tracking destinations. Chimpanzee treks kick start at Kanyanchu visitor center with briefing on dos and don’ts for chimpanzee tracking. After, you are grouped into 6 visitors and assigned to a park ranger guide. While in search for these fascinating creatures, there are also other primate the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and not to forget birds.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
For those of you who have always wished to spend more time with chimpanzees while in their natural habitat, chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEXP) is such an incredible primate adventure not miss out in out in your travel plan. Unlike the usual treks, with chimpanzee habituation experience, you have the whole day to follow the chimpanzees in the wild and this mainly involves trackers and researchers.
Bird Watching
Kibale National Park one of the very rewarding bird watching destinations. Finding more than 100 bird species on a single track with an experience birders guide, the forest inhabits about 470 bird species. Nature walk in the Bigodi sanctuary visit rewards the best bird watching view in Kbale national park. Among the species to encounter include African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Afep Pigeon, White-naped Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Red-chested Owlet, Black Bee-eater, Western Nicator, Yellow-rumped Tinker bird, Little Greenbul, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Grey Parrot, Brown Illadopsis, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow Spotted Nicator, Little Green Bul, Black-eared Ground Thrush and the Abyssinian.
Opting for the finest bird watching trip can add Kibale national park on the list of destinations, is a selection of matching and interesting destination for both big and smaller bird species.
Nature Walks
Nature Walks happen in two sessions; the day nature walks plus the night nature walk. Nature walks in Kibale follow well designed trails within the tropical rain forest and the Bigodi wetlands. Nature Walks offer amazing encounters with the biodiversity held in the park. Following the trails, eyes and ears are open for any encounters to take perceive, hear or see. Travelers interested botanical tours, nature walks are rewarding with learning about the plant species within the park.
While on a nature walk, expect special encounters including several of primate species, birds, plants and other bigger mammal species like forest buffalos, elephants, bushbucks, insects and butterflies among many encounters.
Day Walks
This nature walks introduces you to the scenic lush tropical forest savanna swamps, allows you to enjoy sight of diverse primate species , birds, flora, butter flies and other mammals and this great opportunity helps to deeply explorer the most beautiful and diverse forest without pressure to spot various monkey species like vervet monkeys, white and black colobus, red tailed monkeys, Uganda red colobus, blue monkey, Lhoest monkeys, olive baboons, among others , and luckily enough you might see chimpanzee on the day nature walk, hence an enriching activity on foot walk experience.
Night Walks
The night walk at Kibale Forest offers the opportunity to explorer the other secrets of the forest mostly nocturnal species, and the rarely seen creatures become active and we make use of the powerful torches to see these species such as potto bushbaby night cricket, tree hyrax occasional civet.
Community Walks
Visiting the Bigodi community, one of the best areas to experience natural biodiversity. While at Kibale Forest one should not miss in engaging in to the Bigodi Swamp Walk. Bigodi derives its name from the local word Bigodi which in Rutoro can be translated as to walk wearily, because it offers some of the finest birding and monkey viewing in Uganda. Through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary luckily enough one can spot more than 40 bird species in one walk these include,
The blue turaco papyrus gonoleks grey-throated, yellow-spotted and double-toothed barbets, speckled, yellow-rumped and yellow throated, tinkler birds, blue malkoha, brown-eared woodpecker African grey parrots, bronze sunbird, black-crowned waxbill among others
Cultural Encounters
The cultural safari in Kibale allows you to visit the nearby local communities to interact with locals. This involves exploring more about their lifestyles, traditions, practices, have taste of some of the dishes prepared by the Batooro and Bakiga. Have hands on experience in basket weaving, etc.
The Bigodi Cultural Center that is situated opposite the Bigodi Swamp Walk office is a great place to visit for a cultural experience. This small museum displays traditional items like clothes, grinding stones musical instruments among others this activity is an optional for those that don’t wish to go for the walk.
Children’s Activities
Children below 12 years are not allowed to track chimpanzees. However the park designed a special package for children and there are alternative experiences to keep them busy too. These include engaging education walks that offer a chance to youngsters to learn about the forest, the wildlife within the park, bird sighting and some games.