How to Get to Kibale Forest National Park (By Road / Flying)
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the most sought-after conservation areas of Uganda. It is a renowned home to 13 primate species, presenting the highest density of primates in Uganda, with the most popular kind being the chimpanzee. There are about 1,500 individuals living within the forest freely without being captivated, and the most habituated population is within the Kanyanchu Visitor Center, where the chimpanzee tracking starts, and which is within 10 minutes’ drive from Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge. Besides the primates, other mammal species are present in the park, like forest elephants and giant forest hogs, although these are rare to see. The Forest is among the few remaining tropical rainforests of the country, with different tree species raising a canopy of up to 55meters tall, and is surrounded by a large number of crater lakes stretching towards the great rift valley region of western Uganda in Kabarole and Kamwenge districts.
How to get to Kibale Forest National Park is a question that comes up most of the time when considering chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. The forest is approximately 320 Kilometers from Kampala. It can be accessed by 2 options: driving and flying to the destination. Driving to Kibale Forest National Park takes approximately +/-6 hours from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The scenic drive exposes you to the angelic beauty of the countryside, taking you through small towns, rolling hills, and lush green banana and Tea plantations. The commonly used route is via Fort Portal, passing through Mityana and Mubende. Although there are other routes via Mbarara. The road is well-maintained to ensure a smooth routing and faster journey to the destination.
When driving to Kibale, there are several stopovers you can consider along the way for breakfast, lunch, and a little bit of time to stretch out the legs. Mubende town is a good spot to buy a drink or something to eat from the vendors. You might enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal at the nearby restaurants and cafes, after which you proceed to the destination. Alternatively, you can choose to drive straight to the conservation area for meals to be had at your preferred accommodation facility. There are present accommodation types ranging from the best budget to luxury options. Guests have the chance to hire a guide to take on the trip to Kibale Forest National Park by road or can self-drive, although it is easier and recommended to use a guide when conducting a safari in Uganda. Alternatively. You can arrange with your lodge to be picked from either Kampala or airport, incase the lodge own a shuttle transfer vehicle.
Flying to Kibale Forest National Park is a great option for travelers. Domestic flights can be arranged from the Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airstrip. Several airlines offer this service, for example, Aerolink Uganda, Pearl Sky, and The Kampala Executive Aviation (KEA). Flights depart on schedule or charter, taking approximately 1 hour, depending on the routing, into the Kasese Airstrip, the closest to the park. And thereafter, a 60-75 minute ground transfer to the conservation area. When booking flights, it is advisable to arrange this on time due to flight availability. It gets busier during the dry season in June, July, August, September, early October, December, January, and February.
Upon getting to Kibale Forest National Park, there are several things that travelers can participate in including Chimpanzee tracking, the number 1 reason as to why they travel to the destination, the chances of seeing primates here is higher compared to the rest of the parts of Uganda, visit the Bigodi Swamp, bird watching at the destination, crater lakes walks, guided nature walks, to mention a few.
To pack for a trip in Kibale Forest National Park, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, hiking waterproof boots, t-shirts, sunscreen, insect repellants, huts, a water bottle, backpack, and any other important items of personal nature.