Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park - Uganda's premier chimpanzee trekking destination - adjoins the northern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.

This 776km2 (77,600ha) patch of evergreen rainforest marks a transition from typical high-altitude Afromontane to lowland forest and protects a diverse array of fauna and flora in addition to more than 1,000 chimps.

Beneath the thick canopy, the winding paths are widely acknowledged as some of the most picturesque on the continent, lined with a thick layer of shrubby undergrowth. The tracts of forest are interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp. On the park’s fringes, the community-run Bigodi Wetland is a popular attraction for primate enthusiasts and birders.

Kibale National Park is most famous for chimpanzee trekking but visitors can also see another 12 species of primates - including Ugandan red colobus monkey, Uganda mangabey, common patas monkey, Abyssinian black-and-white colobus, vervet monkey, and blue monkey. A special night walk may also reveal the shy and elusive East African potto and several galago (bushbaby) species.

Kibale is home to 70 other mammal species, including red and blue duikers, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, servals, rare African golden cats, and two species of otters (Congo clawless and spotted-necked).

There are over 375 bird species including olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird, African pitta, black-bellied seedcracker, African grey parrot, black bee-eater, red-chested owlet and black-eared ground-thrush. Probably the most sought-after birding jewel is the green-breasted pitta.