Kibale Forest Hike

Kibale Forest National Park is a magnificent forest in the western part of Uganda, the park forms 795 square kilometers in size and is known for chimpanzees, the largest population of primates in Uganda is found within the national park. The Kibale forest hike is one of the angelic things to do while in the protected area, this will give you a deep understanding of the few remaining tropical rain forests of Uganda, the conservation area was gazette in 1993 as a way of protecting animal species that call this home, there are also forest elephants, duikers, forest hogs present in the national park although they are so shy and rare to see.

The Kibale forest hike is a very interesting, exciting activity, the walk takes you through the thick forest of the Kibale Forest National Park, it begins with a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority at the Kanyanchu visitor center, with the company of an experienced guide, you will have the best of the park as they are very knowledgeable about the forest plants, trees, mammals, birds, and reptiles. The Hike will give you close contact with nature during this time expect to meet monkeys like vervet monkeys, olive baboons, white-cheeked monkeys, and blue monkeys to mention a few.

Kibale forest hike is done in sessions, in the morning at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and in the afternoon times at 2:00 pm East African time, en route through the well-distributed trails of the national park you will get to engage with forest creatures to the primates and the surrounding natural evergreen forest, you will enjoy the deep feeling of the forest on foot with a more clear image and sound of many birds, the echoing chimpanzee at a distance is phenomenal.The Kibale forest hike can go for even 12 kilometers to discover the lush green forest, and marshy swampy areas, expect to view several bird species, for example, the Rwenzori turaco, Nathan’s francolin, crowned eagles, purple sunbirds, Abyssinian ground thrush, to mention a few, on a lucky day you will be chanced to meet primates like the olive baboons, sometimes even large forest mammals like elephants on a lucky day.

To enjoy a Kibale forest hike, it is important to pack right for example proper hiking shoes, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, sunscreen, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, and any other items of a personal nature. The best time to go for a Kibale frost hike is during the dry season between December-February and June- July, this is the best time because the trails are drier and easy to access while participating in the activity, it is also accessible in the wet season but expects difficulty in the hiking, if you are up to the challenge then this probably would be the best time to come.

Other things to do while in the park include Chimpanzee tracking which is mostly the main reason for visiting to the national park, this can be combined with a forest hike in one similar visit, Chimpanzee habituation which involves spending a little more time with the primates compared to when you briefly meet during the tracking, birding in the Kibale forest national park, this has been recorded as one of the most important birding sites of Uganda.