Kibale, back in the 1990s, was a forest mainly used for timber. Efforts were made to make sure the forest did not disappear. Trees were planted, and later, when the government took over under the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kibale National Parxk was created around 1993.
Today, the park is filled with tropical rain-forest, large buttress mahoganies, swamps, and tall fruiting fig trees. The forest canopy reaches 60 meters in height and spreads across areas between 1,100 and 1,590 meters above sea level.
In the past, wildlife was hard to find, but recent surveys show good improvement. The number of forest elephants has increased due to a stop in poaching inside the park.
If you walk through the peaceful swamps, you may hear the palms moving in the wind as the large grey elephants stand calmly among the strangler figs and big tree roots.
When night falls, you will notice the beauty of the forest. Beetles roll balls of dung while golden mushrooms grow through the soft, decaying forest floor.
In the early morning, monkeys start swinging from one tree to another, and eagles fly over the grasslands and lakes as they search for food.
The park also protects one of the few remaining sub-montane forests in eastern Africa. Most of the land around the park is used for small farms and large tree plantations.
Kibale covers 795 square kilometers and forms a connected area with Queen Elizabeth National Park. The northern part of the park is the wettest, receiving an average annual rainfall of 1,700 mm, mostly between March to May and September to November. Temperatures are mild, ranging from 14°C to 27°C.
The highest temperatures are found in the south, where the forest opens into grasslands. The forest mostly covers the northern and central areas of the Fort Portal plateau.
Kibale is one of the last places that still has both lowland and montane forest. It plays an important role in protecting the last areas of pre-montane forest in eastern Africa and is also home to the Makerere University Biological Field Station.
Come and enjoy nature at Kibale National Park. The gates are open all year round.
Visit Kibale National Park in Uganda with these recommended Uganda chimpanzee companies or inquire with us below to book your tour directly through this website.
