Attractions in Kibale Forest National Park
Attractions in Kibale forest national park: Kibale forest national park is one of the best national parks to visit while of a Uganda safari due to the fact that it harbors lots of attractions that have made it to be listed amongst the best destinations to visit in Uganda and Africa at large. Kibale forest national park covers the rainy forest covering a landscape of 795km2 at an elevation between 1100m to 1590m high above the sea level. Kibale forest is situated in western part of Uganda and is famously known for chimpanzee trekking among other activities that are carried out in the same park thus chimpanzees are the most common attractions within kibale forest national park.
A visit to kibale forest national park enables travelers to explore the attractions that are hidden within this forested national park and these attractions range from fauna and flora species, lakes, culture as elaborated in this article.
Fauna species in kibale forest national park
Fauna species are the one of the attractions found in kibale forest national park and these species range from wildlife species such as primate species, mammal species, bird species and butterfly species.
Primate species: primates are the major attractions found in kibale forest national park this is because the vegetation cover of kibale national park provides shelter, food and nesting grounds to 13 species of primates. These species of primates include Chimpanzees which are always available for both trekking and habituation. In fact, kibale forest national park is the only destination in Uganda where chimpanzee habituation can be carried out. The cost of chimpanzee habituation in kibale national park with effect from July 1st is $250 per person. However Chimpanzee trekking permit in kibale forest national park with effect from July 1st 2020 is $200 per person allowing a full hour of close contact with the endangered primates that share about 98% of human DNA. Other primate species in kibale forest include; L’Hoest’s monkeys, Mangabey monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Colobus monkeys and many more. Most of these primates are always encountered during the chimpanzee trekking in the forest while others are encountered in the swamp during the nature walk.
Mammal species: Mammals are yet other attractions in kibale forest national park. This park is known to be a home to several species of mammals including the species that reside in the park and others that are always seen visiting the park from the nearby Queen Elizabeth national park. Some of the mammal species seen in kibale forest national park include forest hog, bush pigs, duikers, elephants, buffalos, and many more. On a lucky day, travelers are in position to encounter leopards and lions. Kibale forest national park doesn’t offer game drive safaris due to its nature of being forested thus these mammals are always encountered in the forest during chimpanzee trekking in the forest and nature walks in bigodi wetland sanctuary. The largest population of mammals seen in kibale forest national park are visiting the park from the neighboring park which is none other than Queen Elizabeth national park since kibale forest stretches towards the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park to Ishasha sector creating a passage where these mammals pass to roam from one park to another. We shall not forget the Sitatungas which are normally seen in the swamp within kibale forest national park.
Bird species: Kibale forest national park is a home to over 300 species of birds making it the best place for birding safaris. Amongst the bird species found in kibale forest national park are the migratory bird species, bird species endemic to Albertine rift and many more. Here are some of the species of birds with in kibale forest national park; grey parrot, ground thrust, pittas, tinker birds, kingfisher, among others.
Flora species in kibale forest national park: The unique flora species of kibale forest national park are yet another attraction that is worth a visit. Kibale forest national park has the best bio diversity of flora species that act as attractions to several travelers from different parts of the universe. The park boasts over 200 species of trees which are easily seen during chimpanzee trekking and nature walks. The park also protects several plant species mostly found in the wetland area which are explored by taking a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary which is known for protecting lots of botanical species that are used to heal different diseases. A nature walk with the local guides is such a fascinating adventure as these locals help in explaining about how different plant species are used for different purposes.
Cultures: Apart from fauna and flora species, kibale forest national park is best known for being a home to several cultures of people that reside around the park. The most common cultures found in kibale are the batooro and bakiga. These people normally entertain the travelers with their traditional performance of dances and drama and also manufacture some crafts from the local material obtained from within the park.
Crater lakes: The crater lakes in kibale forest national park also act as attractions and are always visited by several travelers after they are done with chimpanzee trekking as an additional activity. These crater lakes are known as Ndali craters and they have about sixty lakes all filled with fresh water. Along the shores of Ndali lakes, there is a very beautiful green vegetation cover that harbors bird species, butterflies and other wildlife species that make it more attractive to be visited at list once in a lifetime.
Conclusion
Kibale forest national park which is situated in western part of Uganda and famously known for harboring chimpanzees as the major tourism attraction in that chimpanzee trekking safaris are best carried out in this park. However, there are other unique attractions found in the southern part of queen Elizabeth national park (Ishasha sector) that is situated close to kibale forest national park thus one can easily combine a chimpanzee trekking safari in kibale with a tree climbing lion safari in queen to have a watch the tree climbing lions as they sleep in the acacia tree branches.
