Activities in and around Kibale National Park

Kanyanchu River Camp

Kanyanchu is a hub for tourism activities in the central part of the Park. The main attraction is the opportunity to track Chimpanzee in their Rain forest home. A community of Chimpanzee have been habituated since 1991 and the chance of locating them is very good indeed (over 90%). Note that the park is only accessible on foot; there are no motorable tracks open to tourists.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

The Chimpanzee habituation Experience allows you to accompany Kibale's researchers and habituators as they follow Chimpanzee during their daily activities, thereby getting them used to human presence without altering their natural behaviour. You can expect to see the Chimps de-nesting (coming out of their nocturnal nests) between 05:30-06:30, before following them during the day until they create new nests and retire for the night around 19:00. The habituation Experience runs during tourist low season months (March, April, may and November).

Primate walk (Chimpanzee tracking)

The most popular of Kibale's walks starts from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08:00 and 15:00 and lasts 2-3 hours. Chimpanzee are the Primate most sought after by visitors, but you should also look out for the Black and White colobus, red tailed monkey and gray cheeked mangabey. Your guides will point out sun birds, pittas, and other bird species and will explain the traditional uses of plant species within the forest. This walk is for six persons per group. advance booking is essential during peak seasons

forest Hike

This seasonal 12km hike is restricted to the dry seasons of mid November-February and june-September. It explores the park's diverse habitats including tropical rainforest, riverine forest, swamp and grassland. You will have the chance to see a wide variety of bird species and primates and perhaps also duiker and bushbuck. The walk begins at 08:00 from Kanyanchu Visitor centre and ends at the elephant wallow around 14;00. Take enough drink and snacks. Pre- booking is recommended.

Children's Activities

Children of 12 years and below who are allowed to view the Chimps or go into the forest can instead enjoy educational forest walks of 1-2 hours duration followed by creative activities. Parents can enjoy their forest walks in the knowledge that their children are occupied in a worthwhile activity with trained ranger guides. The children visit the forest and learn about the ecosystem and its inhabitants through short interesting walks. Games and creative activities include pond dipping, cyanotype, photography and batik making.

Sebitoli Forest Camp

Sebitoli is located 12km from fort portal town on the kampala -Fort portal road. This part of the forest offers excellent bird and Primate viewing in moist evergreen forest with a semi-closed canopy of stratified tree crowns.

Cultural Heritage and Nature Trail (former Long Distance Walk)

The adventurous visitor can follow a 2-6 days trail through the forest. The Full walk starts or finishes at either kanyanchu or Sebitoli. The route explores the forest during the day, emerging in the evening to sleep in community- run campsites near the villages of kikoni, Nyaibanda and Nyakalongo.These provide the opportunity to meet local people and gain insights into their Batoro and Bakiga cultures. Porters can be hired at the trail heads to carry equipment. Groups of up to 6 people can undertake the walk. Pre-booking is essential.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is situated just outside the park in Magombe Swamp. This is known for a wide range of wildlife that includes primates, such as chimpanzee, red colobus,black and white colobus, red tailed monkey and other mammals such as sitatunga, bushbuck, other and mongoose, The wetland is also home to 138 bird species. These can be seen during guided walks from viewing platforms and a boardwalk trail.

The sanctuary is a community- run initiative aimed at conserving the unique bio diversity and environmental values of the wetland. Enquire about the sanctuary at the Kanyanchu Visitor information Centre or at the UWA HQ in kampala.

Kihingani wetland Guided Walks, similar to those at Magombe, are conducted in the Kihingani wetland, just outside the national park near Sebitoli.

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