Kibale National Park Tours Uganda Chimpanzee Tracking Expedition Africa

February 27, 2008

Around the park:
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience:
This allows you to follow the park’s researchers as they follow the Chimpanzees during their  normal activities in order to interact with human beings.
Here you may experience the real life of the chimpanzees as well as seeing their nests. The  experience of the Habituation usually occurs in the season of March, April, May and November,  when tourists are few.
The chimpanzees come out from their nests at around 5:30-06:30, then go back for the night at  around 19:00.
Primate walk:
The walk starts from Kanyanchu visitor centre at 8:00 and ends at 15:00, which might take almost  2-3 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are. Other primates may include the red tailed  monkey, grey checked mangabey, black and white Colobus. However, visitors are more interested in  the chimpanzees since they are the most sought after.

The walk is 6 persons per group, with your guide who will take time to explain the traditional  uses of some plant and bird species in the forest.
Its essential to book in advance during the peak seasons.

Kanyanchu River Camp:
The camp hosts a variety of activities, which include the common chimpanzee tracking.
Since 1991, a group of chimpanzees has been habituated and chances of locating them are indeed  very good with the help of a forest guide.

Forest hike:
The 12m hike is restricted to only dry months of November-February and June-September. The hike  passes through the tropical rainforests grassland.

Forests, Swamps and Riverine Forests:
During the hike, you will have a chance of seeing the duiker and bushbuck as well as a number of  primates and a variety of bird species.
The walk starts from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 8:00 and ends around 14:00at the Elephant  wallow.

Sebitoli Forest Camp:
Sebitoli is situated 12km from the town of Fort Portal, along the Kampala Fort Portal road. With  a semi-closed canopy in the moist evergreen forest of stratified tree crowns, you will be able  to view a variety of birds as well as a number of primates.

Kihingani Wetland:
These are nature walks outside the National parks near Sebitoli in the Kihingani wetland. Here  you will have a chance of viewing a variety of bird species.

Cultural Heritage:
Cultural Heritage and Nature Trail:
The complete trail takes 2-6 days either starting or ending at Kanyanchu or Sebitoli.
During the day, the trail is conducted while during the night; you sleep in the campsites near  the community villages of Nyakalongo, Nyaibanda and Kikoni. This gives you an opportunity to  interact with the Bakiga and Batoro cultures.

Children’s Activities:
Children who are not allowed to view the chimpanzees (13 years and below), can as well stay and  enjoy educational forest walks for 1-2 hours, with trained ranger guides. The children may learn  the ecosystem and the forest inhabitants followed by a short interesting walk. Other activities  include; batik making, cyanotype pond dipping and photography.

Bigodi wetland Sanctuary:
The Sanctuary is found in Magombe Swamp outside the park’s boundaries.
It offers you a chance to view common primates like the chimpanzee, black and white Colobus, red  tailed monkey and red Colobus.
Among the mammals include the bushbuck, otter, mongoose and the sitatunga.
While on the broad walk trail and open plat forms, you can view a variety of bird species.
The Sanctuary is a community-based initiative aimed at conserving the wetland values and the  surrounding environment.

Chimpanzee tracking Rues and Guides:
§    Never eat near the chimps.
§    Children of 12 years and below are not allowed to view the chimps.
§    Flash photography is not allowed.
§    Never scare the chimps.
§    Never enter the park without a Guide.
§    Never enter the forest if you are sick especially with flu, since you may spread the  disease to the chimps.
§    Keep a distance of about 8 metres away from the chimps.

What to bring:
Warm clothings, camera, binoculars, hat, mosquito repellent enclosed shoes, rain gear since  mornings and evenings may be cool.

Written by admin · Filed Under kibale-forest-park 

Kibale Safari Uganda,Vacation Ideas, Travel and Safari Trip Africa

February 27, 2008

Flora and Fauna:
Kibale National Park supports a variety of habitat like the Savannah and the wet tropical forest  as well as dry tropical forest in moist semi deciduous.
In the middle of the park (Kanyanchu), the forest contains evergreen trees and a mixture of  deciduous and the evergreen species being common.

Trees grow up to 55m and exhibit stratified tree crowns of a semi-closed canopy.
351 tree species have been recorded, with the undergrowth being dominated by shrubs, common fern  species, herbs and broad-leaved forest grasses.

Among the primates include 13 species of chimpanzee, with the highest population in Uganda  totalling 1450 of the endangered chimpanzee.

Also common in the park are red Colobus monkey, rare l’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey, white and  black monkey, bush baby, potto, red tailed monkey, olive baboon and the grey cheeked mangabey.

Among the mammals include; Elephants, bush pig, duiker, leopard and buffalo as well as a variety  of colourful butterflies.

The park is also a habitat to a record of 325 bird species including 6 endemic to Albertine Rift  Valley, which include blue-headed sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler, dusky crim son wing,  black-capped apalis, purple-breasted sunbird and collared apalis.

Among other species include green breasted pitta, black bee-eater, African pitta, yellow rumped  tinker bird, blue breasted Kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush crowned eagle and brown chested  alethe.

Local People:
The Bakiga and the Batoro are the main people around the park.
The Batoro were the first habitats in this region, followed by the Bakiga who migrated from the  Southwestern densely populated area of Uganda.
The Batoro took over the Toro Kingdom cultural pride in Africa’s Great lakes region. The King  (Omukama) and its Kingdom (Embody) are the traditional and cultural values of the Batoro.  However, their counterparts, the Bakiga still maintain their dance folklore and language  tradition.

The locals have enjoyed forest products such as building materials, medical herbs, fire wood,  coffee as well as food, hence playing a vital role in their lives.

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Lodges Semuliki National Park Accommodation Uganda Africa

February 27, 2008

Accommodation:
Accommodation at Kanyanchu is a Kibale Primate Lodge that provides stone cottages up market  tented camp, and a tree house. However, cottages are found at Sebitoli.
Basic meals on order are provided by these campsites.
Also available in the villages of Nkingo and Bigodi near the park are the mid range  accommodations, while Ndali crater area provides a wide range of accommodation facilities which  range from up market Ndali lodge to Chimpanzee Guest House good budget options. Among other  accommodations include those in Fort Portal town and around Lake Nkuruba.

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Kibale Forest National Park Uganda Safari Africa, Adventure Holiday Uganda

February 27, 2008

KIBALE NATIONAL PARK.

Kibale National Park covers an area of 795km2 mostly tropical forest. The park being a tropical  forest calls forest wildlife most especially the primates (13 species) e.g. the chimpanzee.
The forest covers the central parts and Northern parts of the park on a raised Fort Portal  plateau. Kibale stands 1590m above sea level, hence being the highest at the Northern tip of the  park.
Mostly during the rainy seasons of March-May and September-November, the park receives 1700mm of  mean annual rainfall. Temperatures are generally normal, with a range of 140-270C. Temperatures  are highest in the South and the forest’s grassland begins to grow where the terrain drops down  into the hot Rift valley.
Southern Kibale neighbours Queen Elizabeth National Park and the two parks create a 180km-long  corridor for migrating wildlife from Ishasha to Sebitoli forest in Kibale North.

The most rewarding Uganda’s explore areas is Kibale-Fort Portal region. The region offers you a  chance to visit Queen Elizabeth for a half days drive. Other visits include; Semuliki National  Park, Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve, as well as the Ndali Kasenda crater area.

How to get there (Access):
The park is situated 26km South east of Fort Portal in western Uganda.
The main centre for tourism is the Kanyanchu River Camp and can be reached via Mubende and Fort  Portal from the North or via Mbarara and Kamwenge from the South all routes coming from Kampala.
With a 300km tarmac road, the Northern route may be shorter, followed by 36km to Kanyanchu.
Another Secondary Centre is the Sebitoli Forest Camp, which can be easily reached on the Kampala  road for 16km before reaching Fort Portal.
Using public means between Kampala and Fort Portal to Sebitoli and Fort Portal and Kamwenge to  Kanyanchu, a daily bus always operates on these routes.

Written by admin · Filed Under kibale-forest-park