Kibale Forest is one of the prime destinations in Uganda to provide captivating night nature walks. You must capitalize on this opportunity to enter this rainforest after dark and walk on its nature trails. There is plenty of nocturnal wildlife to encounter on the guided night nature walks in Kibale Forest. Animals to see include the elusive pottos, tree hyrax, and bushbabies, etc. The night nature walks in Kibale Forest start at 7:30 PM, and end at around 10:00 PM.

Each night nature walk starts from the Kanyanchu Visitor Center. You are advised to arrive at around 7:00 PM for briefing. There are rules and regulations that you will be told to follow while on the night nature walk. An experienced ranger guide and armed ranger will lead you in the captivating night nature walk in Kibale Forest. You will have to move with a spotlight to improve your visibility in the dark forest.

About Kibale Forest?

Kibale is a moist evergreen forest in the 795km² Kibale National Park. Nestled on an altitudinal range of 1,160m to 2,607m above sea level, Kibale Forest is in the Albertine Rift Valley. Forests are categorized into the medium altitude moist evergreen and the semi-deciduous. Kibale Forest also comprises woodland and grassland. Kibale Forest forms a wildlife corridor with Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south. Rwenzori mountains are in the west of Kibale Forest.

Kibale Forest is renowned for its highest population of chimpanzees in Uganda, with almost 1,500 individuals. Including chimpanzees, Kibale Forest houses 13 primate species. Angolan colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, Thomas’s bushbabies, L’hoest’s monkeys, Demidoff’s galagos, vervet monkeys, needle-clawed bushbabies, pottos, and Ugandan red colobus monkeys are the other primates found in the forest.

Besides primates, Kibale Forest is a wildlife powerhouse, boasting 71 mammal species and over 372 bird species. Large mammals residing in the forest include African forest elephants, African forest buffaloes and giant forest hogs. Kibale Forest is an Important Bird Area that positions it as a birding hub. Bird species include African pitta, blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Kibale ground thrush and Abyssinian ground-thrush.

How to travel to Kibale Forest?

Air or road transportation are options you can use to reach Kibale Forest. If your choice is using the road, Kibale Forest is 320km from Kampala. This road trip toward the west of the country passes through Mubende, Kyonjojo, and Fort Portal. Private means is highly recommended for convenience and comfort. Car hire services are offered by Standard Safaris and you can select a well-looked after 4X4 safari car which is driven by any of our experienced guides.

Air transportation is your second option to reach Kibale Forest. Domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip are available. You must book with AeroLink for a scheduled flight that lasts 1-3 hours. Standard Safaris can book on your behalf so that you only enjoy the travel experience without inconveniences. At Kasese Airstrip, you will reach Kibale Forest on road transport. This is only 100km and Standard Safaris will handle this.

Kibale Forest is also reachable from other tourist destinations of Uganda. From Queen Elizabth National Park, the journey covers 150 km. From Murchison Falls National Park, the journey covers 360 km. From the Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park, the journey covers 380 km. From Lake Mburo National Park, the journey covers 200km. From Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the journey covers 370 km and From Lake Bunyonyi, the journey covers 350 km.

The best time to travel to Kibale Forest?

Night nature walks are done in Kibale Forest throughout the year. But like all thrilling outdoor activities, night nature walks are less challenging during the dry seasons. This is important because you need your night nature walk uninterrupted with rainfall. Also, you will likely have a comfortable experience if you walk on dry and rough nature trails. Though Kibale Forest is lush, the undergrowth is less dense during the dry season, thus enhancing movement on the trails.

Dry months in Kibale National Park are generally expected from December to February and from June to July. However, if you are a hardcore adventurer and would like to have your night nature walk during damp forest conditions, you should visit during the wet season. Wet seasons typically occur from March to May and from September to November. The undergrowth is dense, nature trails are muddy and slippery, and frequent showers are expected.

Other activities to enjoy in Kibale Forest?

There are plenty of other activities to enjoy in Kibale Forest besides night nature walks. They include chimpanzee trekking tours and chimpanzee habituation experiences. Birding excursions and day nature walks are also done in Kibale Forest. Visitors also enjoy photography and identifying plenty of butterfly species in Kibale Forest. You can also go for primate walks in Kibale forest to spot the different primate species like the red-tailed monkeys etc.