Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is a deep green forest near Fort Portal in western Uganda. It was protected as a forest reserve in 1932 and became a national park in 1993.

Why go

UWA calls Kibale the primate capital of the world. Thirteen kinds of primates live in this forest, including more than 1,500 chimpanzees, and chimp tracking here is the most reliable in East Africa. On a walk you are also likely to see red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. About 370 bird species have been recorded.

What you can do

• Chimpanzee tracking from the Kanyanchu visitor centre, with starts at 8:00, 11:00 and 14:00. Walks take 2 to 5 hours, in groups of six, with up to one hour beside the chimps.
• The full-day chimpanzee habituation experience, starting early with a group that is still getting used to people.
• Birding and nature walks in the forest.
• Short guided walks for children.

The people side

Just outside the park, the people of Bigodi protect their own wetland. Their village group, KAFRED, was formed in 1992. Local guides lead you along boardwalks through papyrus, pointing out monkeys and birds, and the income has helped build a secondary school and support village projects. Add a village walk and a home-cooked lunch, and you have a wild morning and a people afternoon in the same corner of Uganda. See our Bigodi page for more.

Best time to visit

Kibale is open all year. June to September and December to February are drier and easier on the trails. The climate is mild, about 15 to 27 C.

Getting there

Allow 5 to 6 hours by road from Kampala, and about 1 hour more from Entebbe. Kanyanchu is about 1 hour from Fort Portal. Another option is a flight to Kasese, then about 2 hours by road.

Good to know

Chimp tracking is Level 3, Moderate: trails are mostly flat but can be muddy, with roots and vines, and you may need to move fast to keep up. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed. Permits must be booked in advance. The UWA minimum age for chimp tracking is 12, and you keep at least 10 metres from the chimps. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.