Kibale National Park
Kibale has instant likeability and although it can be crowded with tourists in the high season, there are plenty of good reasons for its popularity. For a start, it is located on a plateau surrounded by stunning crater lakes, endless miles of rolling tea plantations and towering ranges of Mountain Rwenzori. That aside, it is has the biggest population of chimpanzees in East Africa, boasting over 1,000 individuals. They are just one the thirteen primate species that have earned Kibale a solid reputation as Africa’s primate capital, or should we say primate kingdom. Other residents include red colubus monkey, Ugandan mangabey, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervets, blue monkeys and baboons among others. On the other hand, the top three nocturnal specials include pottos and bush babies. Altogether, it has 70 mammal species and 375 bird species
Thanks to the availability of boardwalks, even the marshy stretches of the forest are navigable. This makes it possible to access the other mammal species, most of which reside in its Northern section, an area with a permanent swamp.
Even better, the park has a great choice of accommodation from budget campsites to luxurious Uganda safari lodges that are worth a star recommendation.
Although the steep climbing challenge remains the weak link, Kibale’s popularity is rising by the day. Newer routes are being established for people without prior hiking experience.
Chimpanzee trekking Vs Chimpanzee habituation
If you’re reading this then you’re probably trying to decide which of the parks’ two ‘chimpanzee experiences not to miss out on, between chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation. The answer probably comes down to simply how much time you have available. While chimpanzee trekking lasts 1-4 hours, of which your actual time with the primates is limited to one hour, chimpanzee habituation is much more enriched and lasts a whole day. It entails following ranger guides as they delve deeper into the heart of the forest in search for one of the wild families they are trying to interest into being more accommodative to tourists. Because it sometimes unfolds off the beaten path, it offers one incredible chances of coming across wildlife that tends to shy away from the busy main trails. It could be an endangered bird species, colourful butterflies or even forest mammals like elephant, giant forest hog, buffalo, bushbuck, Peter’s duiker or bush pig.
On the other hand, the chimps that have already been habituated hardly bat an eyelid at human presence. This creates lots of picture opportunities, especially that moment when they walk right past you, possibly even brushing against you as they go.
So in that, your choice between the habituation and trekking experience might depend on how much time or money you have for adventure. While trekking costs $200, habituation costs $250.
You can combine your tour of Kibale National Park with a hike to Mountain Rwenzori, Uganda’s highest mountain (5,109meters above sea level). It takes an average of 7-9 days to summit this snow caped mountain that lies at Uganda’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Alternatively, you can explore Mabere Ga Nyinamwiru, a heritage site within thirty minutes’ drive from the park.
Its cave system is famed for its stalactites and stalagmites, some of which nature started creating over three centuries back.
