Located in western Uganda, Kibale National Park spans 795 km² of lush tropical rainforest and is one of Africa’s top destinations for chimpanzee tracking and primate research. First gazetted in 1932, the park plays a vital role in wildlife conservation and scientific study, offering sanctuary to an extraordinary range of biodiversity.

Primate Capital of the World

Kibale boasts the highest diversity and density of primates in all of Africa, with 13 species recorded. It is particularly famous for its population of over 1,500 chimpanzees, many of which have been habituated for tourism and research.

Other primates you may encounter include:

• L’Hoest’s monkey (a local endemic)
• Red colobus monkey
• Black-and-white colobus
• Red-tailed monkey
• Blue monkey
• Olive baboon
• Bushbabies and pottos

A Biodiversity Hotspot

Beyond primates, Kibale is also home to:

• Forest elephants
• Buffalos
• Leopards
• Golden cats
• Red and blue duikers
• An impressive array of birds, reptiles, butterflies, and amphibians

With over 375 bird species, Kibale is also a birder’s paradise, featuring highlights like the African pitta, great blue turaco, green-breasted pitta, and black bee-eater.

Connecting Landscapes and Wildlife Corridors

Kibale shares a 180 km-long wildlife corridor with Queen Elizabeth National Park, enabling free movement of large mammals and enhancing the ecological integrity of the region. The corridor stretches from the Ishasha Sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth all the way to Sebitoli Forest in northern Kibale, offering stunning and diverse landscapes.

Climate and Best Time to Visit

The park enjoys a pleasant climate year-round, with the wettest periods being March to May and September to November, especially in the northern part of the park, which receives up to 1700 mm of rainfall annually. The drier months (June–August and December–February) are ideal for chimpanzee tracking.