Kibale Forest National Park is located in Western Uganda and the forest is 775Kms, 45% tropical woodland, 40% grassland, 15% swamp vegetation. The most common trees are the Wild Rubber trees, Polita Figs which support fauna and flora. It is known as the primate capital of East Africa with 13 different primate species. It is a habitat to more than 1500 chimpanzees which have been habituated here for more than 25 years. Kibale Forest National Park has a high chimpanzee populace and sighting.

Kibale Forest National Park is habitat to five habituated groups of chimpanzees, which have become subsequently used to human interaction. The trail begins at the Kanyanchu Visitors‟ Centre at 8am, 11am and 2pm. The best time to track is early in the morning, when the chimpanzees are most active thought no guarantees as they are wild animals. The trekking in the morning is busier than the one in the afternoon.

The forest also has chimpanzee habituation experience too which is a full or half day done activity that allows visitors to be escorted by the researchers and primatologists into the forest. A ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority briefs the group gives details of what to expect for the chimpanzee conduct. Tracking groups are then split into six to seven people including the ranger. The ranger leads the group to a section of the dense forest with tangled trees where the chimpanzees were last spotted.

It’s an outstanding forest for bird watching with over 275 bird species including Wood Picker, Africa Grain Hepista Red-chested Flufftail, White-napped Pigeon, Green-brested Pitta, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul and others. The forest contains a wide range of primates like Red Tailed Monkey, Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Velvet Monkey and Baboons. Mammals include Chimpanzees, Mangoose, Otters, Sitatunga and Bushbucks. The 1450 Chimpanzees represents Uganda’s largest population.

Tourists can access the park via Kampala- Fortportal road to Kibale forest (suggested direct route) or an alternative route via Kampala – Mbarara – Kibale forest via Ibanda (in case you have a stopover activity there ) and lastly from Queen Elizabeth national park – Kasese – Fortportal – Kibale forest or Queen Elizabeth national park – Kasese – Kasekende craters – Kibale forest national park. Travel by air via chartered flight from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip.