KIBALE
NATIONAL PARK
A
gorilla in the wildTake the road from Fort Portal to Kamwenge,
which commences near the bridge over the Mpanga River in Fort
Portal and is well sign posted. Turn left at the junction 12-km
from Fort Portal and follow signpost for a further 24 km to Kanyanchu
Tourist Centre.
Kibale
National Park harbours the greatest variety and concentration
of primates found anywhere in East Africa. It is an extensive
National Park, protecting a large block of rainforest that offers
some excellent forest for bird watching. Birds and primates combined
with easy access, a good infrastructure and a variety of interesting
Activities make this forest ideal for primate watching safaris
to Uganda . Many of the facilities are community based, thus providing
the local community with the necessary revenue to keep their interest
focused on the long-term protection of the area.
The
area is mainly occupied by two tribes i.e. Batooro and Bakiga
traditionally both tribes utilise the forest for food, fuel, building
materials and medicines.
MATTERS CONCERNING KIBALE NATIONAL PARK.
District: Kabarole.
Elevation : 1110 metres to 1590 metres
Timing: March - May, September - November
Time required: 2 days
Status: National Park since 1993
Size: 560 km 2
The forested section (77%) of the park is covered by medium altitude
moist evergreen forest in the north and medium altitude moist
semi-deciduous forest at lower altitudes in the south. The remaining
23% consist of grassland, swamps and some plantations with exotic
conifers.
Birds Recorded: 335 species.
Key
Species of Birds
Grey-winged
Robin, Red-winged Francolin, White-naped Pigeon, Green-brested
Pitta, Red-chested Flufftail, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul,
Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied
Crested Flycather, Masked and Black-capped Apalises, Uganda Woodland
Warbler, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted and Tiny Sunbirds,
Grey-headed Olive-back.
OTHER
WILDLIFE
Kibale has a customary Chimpanzee-tracking program with a high
success rate. Other primates that may be found on these guided
walks include Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Guereza Colobus, L'Hoest's
Gentle (Blue) Olive Baboon, and Red-tailed Monkeys is more likely
to be found in open areas adjacent to the forest. You may find
evidence of Elephant, Bush Pig and Bufallo along the trails, whilst
Bushbuck, Blue, Harvey's and Peter's Duickers are other shy inhabitants
of the forest interior. The guided night walks are also rewarding:
Potto, Spectacled Demidoff's and Thomas's Galagos, Lord Derby's
Anomalure, African Civet and Common Genet are all possible.
Other
interesting mammals from the list of over 60 species include Banded
and Marsh Mongooses, Ichneumon, , Swamp Otter, Alexander's Cusimanse,Ratel
(Honey Badger) and African Palm Civet. Although Golden Cat, Serval,
Lion, Leopard, Warthog, Giant Hog and Hippopotamus are recorded
from the park, they are unlikely to be encountered in the Kanyanchu
area. Sitatungas are known from Bigodi Swamp but are infrequently
seen. The spectacular and beautiful Rhinoceros Viper is fairly
common here but is, unfortunately, less often found alive than
as a road-kill.