Area795 km²
Primates13 species
Getting thereAbout 5 to 6 hours by road to Fort Portal
Best monthsJun to Sep, Dec to Feb
Why go
- Chimpanzee tracking with a high chance of seeing them, in a forest full of other monkeys.
- Fort Portal is a good base: crater lakes, tea estates and caves are all within a short drive.
- Cooler weather and green hills make a gentle contrast to the savannah parks.
Worth knowing
- Chimpanzees move, so the trek can be short or long. Tracking is offered in the morning and afternoon.
- The forest is wet in March to May and September to November.
What you’ll do here
01
Chimpanzee tracking
Follow a ranger into the forest to find a chimpanzee community. Once you find them, you spend an hour watching.
02
Bigodi wetland walk
A guided walk run by the village next to the park, good for monkeys and birds such as the great blue turaco.
03
Crater lakes
The hills around Fort Portal are dotted with crater lakes. Walk the rim or stay in a lodge on the shore.
04
Tea and caves
Walk through a tea estate, visit the Amabere caves and waterfall, or drive out to the Sempaya hot springs.
Around Kibale
KanyanchuThe main tracking centre inside the park.
BigodiThe wetland sanctuary on the park’s edge.
Fort PortalThe town, a good base for tea estates and crater lakes.
SempayaHot springs in Semuliki, a day trip from Fort Portal.
Check permit availability
Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and run out early. Pick a date to see what our team last confirmed with UWA.
