Did you know that you can enjoy an unforgettable self-drive car hire adventure into Uganda’s primate haven? Kibale National Park, with its dense tropical rain forest and several primate species, is a dream destination for nature lovers and those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor.
You can plan to explore the ‘primate capital’ with 4×4 car rental in Uganda and have the freedom to explore at your own pace and immerse yourself in the incredible beauty of the forest.
About Kibale National Park
Kibale forest is one of the most popular destinations in Uganda known for incredible chimpanzee tracking adventures as well as other primates. The forest has up to 13 primate species that also include different monkey species, baboons, pottos and galagoes among others.
The park’s terrain ranges from 1,100m to 1,590m above sea level, offering everything from lush rain forests to open grasslands, all perfect for discovering the wonders of nature. It also has about 60 mammal species and 335 bird species, making it an ideal tourist location.
Why Kibale National Park?
Kibale Forest National Park offers plenty of opportunities for self-discovery say with a car hire in Uganda. Known for its chimpanzee trekking, it provides a unique chance to follow these fascinating creatures through their natural habitat. And when you’re not trekking with the chimpanzees, you can enjoy more adventures including nature walks and bird watching.
Species and Wildlife Highlights
Kibale is home to an astonishing array of wildlife, including 60 mammal species like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, warthogs, and bush pigs. However, it’s the primates that truly steal the show, with 13 species calling the park home. These include monkeys like vervet, blue monkeys, red-tailed, and black-and-white colobus and these are regularly spotted, providing perfect photo opportunities as they swing through the trees even though you are not on the trek.
On the other hand of bird watching, about 335 bird species have been recorded in Kibale, including rare species like Nathan’s francolin and Cassin’s spine tail. You’ll want to make time for a visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, just outside the park. Here, you might spot the dazzling Great Blue Turaco or the elusive papyrus gonolek.
Things to Do in Kibale
Your Uganda car rental adventure to in Kibale wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the activities that make the park famous and these include the following.
Chimpanzee Trekking
This is the park’s crown jewel as earlier mentioned. Chimpanzee trekking is done in Kanyanchu and Buraiga tracking sections in two swifts of morning (A.M) and afternoon (P.M). The permissions for chimpanzee trekking are $250 per person and these can be obtained through your Car rental agency. Kindly note that you can neither buy these permissions at the headquarters or as an individual.
This activity includes a nature walk on the day of tracking allows only one hour with the chimpanzees however; you can choose to do a chimpanzee habituation experience at $300 where you are permitted with 4 hours with these apes.
Bird Watching at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
A guided walk through the Bigodi Swamp will give you a front-row seat to some of Uganda’s most stunning and rare birds as earlier stated.
Nature Walks & Primate Spotting
For those looking for a more immersive experience, nature walks through the forest give you the chance to spot not only some primates but also other forest creatures and plant life. With medicinal plants and reptiles to discover, every step in the park offers something new.
Accessibility and Getting There
Kibale National Park is located in the heart of western Uganda, about 26 km south-east of Fort Portal town. From Kampala, you can reach Kibale via two main routes: the shorter northern approach, which follows the tarmac road from Mubende to Fort Portal, and the southern route via Mbarara and Kamwengye. You need to take caution while driving especially via the shorter northern route since its condition is generally poor despite being tarmac.
It was under construction and some parts of the road were graveled while others are patched with potholes. Expect some delays due to reduced speeds as well as monitor where you pass to avoid minor breakdowns due to tyre cuts by sharp stones.
Despite all, even a simple 4×4 like a Toyota rav4 can assure you a great experience in Kibale Forest. Other vehicle options can be a Toyota Landcruiser Prado and Landcruiser V8. It doesn’t matter whether the car that you hired has a pop roof or not since there are no activities like game drives in the park where you would specifically need an open roof for a great game viewing experience.