The park located in the western part of Uganda is the best place in the world for chimpanzee tracking. What makes coming here advantageous is that the park lies strategically close to Kasende crater, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains, Semuliki Park, and the Toro-Semuliki reserve. This forest park is home to about 325 bird species and one of the special birds to look around for is the beautiful blue-breasted pitta. For those in love with butterflies, come along with your camera and take pictures of some of the 250 beautiful species in the forest. Despite the park being famous for chimpanzee trekking, it’s one of the parks blessed with diverse flora and fauna. The vegetation ranges from arid tropical forest, evergreen rainforest, savannah, woodland that supports various species.
You are certainly not a solemn trekking enthusiast unless you embark on a memorable chimpanzee adventure at Kibale Park. This haven to about 1500 chimpanzees offers a complete 1 hour guided tracking experience where you get to follow the chimps going about their routine. Tracking is made remarkable because five groups are habituated to human contact so it’s easier for the visitors to get closer without scaring them away. For tourists interested in spending long hours with these chimps, don’t miss out on the enjoyable habituation process. Kibale forest offers the best all day chimpanzee habituation experience in the whole of East Africa Visitors alongside researchers get to follow the chimps from around 6 am to 7 pm while getting educative insights from the guides.
There are many great hiking trails, the popular one being the 12km forest walk trail from Kanyanchu Visitors’ Centre. This trail offers some of the best scenic hikes through the tropical rainforests home to a large array of the 70 mammal species like the illustrious 13 primate species; Black Colobus, White Colobus, Olive baboon, Red-tailed monkey, Blue monkeys, Elephants, Leopards, reptiles, some amphibians, etc. Don’t miss out on the popular guided top of the world hike near Kibale forest an iconic picture spot with panoramic views of the three Kasenda crater lakes, villages, tea, vanilla plantations, and the magical mountains of the moon. Visitors engrossed with the feel of nature in the quiet of the night prepare for guided nocturnal walks where you will spot bush babies and pottos.
If you are a bird lover, prepare for the 3hour walk to Bigodi wetlands the greatest birding sanctuary to about 138 species. The highlight of this place is the beautiful grand blue turaco a must-watch for every bird fanatic who ventures to this place. It’s perfect for photography and some of the birds to sight are the crowned eagle, Yellow-spotted nicator, Dusky crimson wing, Black bee-eater, Black-eared ground thrush, Abyssinian ground thrush, African pitta, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, etc. Tourists are taken on guided walks around this swamp whose beautiful trees, palms, and various plants are more than enchanting. Children don’t get to go with their parents on chimpanzee trekking safaris so Bigodi organizes various activities for them like pond dipping, photography, craft making, and many others.
Explore the cultural adventures of Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru a significant site to the Batooro people who according to legend believe the king cut off the breasts of his daughter as punishment for her bad behavior. However, they have become famous attraction sites because of the craving of most tourists to listen to more of the fascinating legendary stories and the cultural practices that take place here. when you get to this spot prepare to be astounded by the unique rock cave that possesses stalagmites and stalactites, similar to milky breasts water dripping substances the locals call breast milk. Visitors are assigned tour guides to take them around the community and interactive dialogue with the locals to learn about their unique culture. Don’t miss the opportunity to cool off the heat in the waterfall that the locals believe was a place the Bachwezi used to go take showers.