Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park
4.5
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Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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The area

Address
Fortportal Kamwenge Rd, Fort Portal 256 Uganda
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  • chip60
    Hereford, United Kingdom713 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Crazy chimps
    It was quite a difficult trek to see the chimpanzee. We were very fortunate with the time we spent with the group of chimpanzees. They put on a wonderful display. Spending most of the time on the ground, posing, chilling & playing around us. They were really close at times, some scary moments. An incredible experience.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Jiram Global Tours
    Kampala, Uganda2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beat experience ever
    Booking with Jiram Global Tours was an absolute game -changer for our Uganda adventure. From the moment we inquired about our itinerary to the final farewell at the end of our trip, their team went all beyond our expectations. I highly recommend Jiram Global Tours for anyone looking for a safari package to Uganda.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written March 25, 2024
  • Musinguzi Howard
    Fort Portal, Uganda937 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chimpanzee and Forest life at Kanyanchu
    The park , 5month after reports of insecurity , chimpanzee tracking and travel is back to normal . The park is safe , the permit is at a cost $250 normal tracking , CHEX is at $300. Nature walk is at $100. Morning and afternoon trekking is done daily at Kanyanchu tourists information center. Booking is done in advance through a recognised tour operator . Below age 15 is not allowed to track .
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 20, 2024
  • Bukiire Africa Wildlife Safaris
    Kampala, Uganda32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park
    Kibale National Park is a MUST visit park when in Uganda! Known by the nickname of the primate Capital of the World, the forest inhabits 13 primate species for which the Chimpanzees are sought after! Chimpanzee Tracking introduces you to the closely related Cousins of human beings. When see chimps, you can't deny the resemblance amongst us ! The forest in which they inhabit, is so natural that all you listen to, are sounds of wildlife! Guided by an armed ranger and other tourists joining in, the activity resumes heading to the forest in search of the chimps. Each group of tourists consists of 8 members. After locating the chimps, an hour of viewing is all that is permitted. They are way vibrant compared to the Gorillas! Loud sounds of them communicating amongst each other are heard as they move from trees to ground and the reverse is True! So adorable creatures!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled on business
    Written August 7, 2024
  • MP
    Cambridge, Massachusetts31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome chimpanzee trek with Florence
    The chimpanzee trek with Florence was one of the major highlights of our trip! Florence was an awesome guide, so knowledgeable and funny, and she shared lots of information about the forest, the chimpanzees, their behavior, and more along the way. Kibale was one of our favorite experiences on a 12-day tour of Uganda.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 17, 2024
  • Toni T
    Nashville, Tennessee1,118 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Monkeying Around with Chipanzees
    Gordon provided excellent leadership in our 4 hour chimpanzee trek. Our group of 6 people learned about the chimps, their habits, and their lifestyle. The orientation is complete and to the point. The trek over rough terrain, not always a smooth path, has areas of muddy surfaces, so consider hiking footwear or boots. Viewing chimps is an awesome experience. Assistant Derek and intern Patrick helped Gordon to guide us to the best viewing spots. Everyone here is concerned about animal and human safety
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles433 reviews
Excellent
308
Very good
77
Average
28
Poor
11
Terrible
9

Anton F
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Although it was amazing to see the animals, the guides did not treat them with respect.
It said we would be groups of 6, but the individual groups were merged to one of 30 people.
It said we would keep a distance of 8 meters to the animals, but the guides almost forced us to get closer and closer until 1 meter of distance. People were literally stumbling over each other to get photo regardless of the well being of the chimps.
It said we would have a walk of an hour through the jungle seeing other animals before we would get to the chimps, but we arrived after 10 minutes walk, with people talking so loud (the guide even on the phone) that there was no way we could explore the forest or see other animals. For 150$? NO! Please do not promote
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ananjand
Mumbai, India138 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Holders of the day’s token gather at the starting point. The tokens are then exchanged for the actual tickets. We understood that trackers went out early in the morning to find the locations of the Chimpanzee groups.
After an initial briefing, the assembled tourists are assigned into several groups each under the guidance of a ranger and one security personnel. To reach the chimpanzee group assigned, we had to drive a short distance in our own vehicle to arrive at the starting point of the walk.
Kibale National Park, being an evergreen rain forest has tall trees forming a dark green canopy over head while the ground is covered with vegetation fallen leaves and branches. All these require one to keep an eye on where he/she is stepping.
The ranger was in touch with the trackers and after a short walk we came across a male chimpanzee lying on the ground taking a morning siesta. This allowed us to approach it and see it from the closest permissible. A minimum distance is required to be maintained from any chimpanzee and should one approach the human group, it is advised to ensure maintain their distance. It turned out that the chimpanzee lying on the ground was the leader of the group that we were supposed to watch. After allowing us to watch him for a while, the chimpanzee got up and without any care in the world walked right through our cordon. Needless to say we gave him a passage as was possible under the circumstances.
Thereafter, we followed the chimpanzee group who we mostly on the top of the trees. Once a while, one in the group would come down the tree. The ranger also acquainted with the fauna.
The trek ends with returning to the starting point, where individual certificates of completing the trek is handed over.
Overall, a very satisfying experience and highly recommended.
Written May 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LizaGroenewald
Orkney, South Africa152 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
We went on an early morning forest walk in search of the elusive Green Breasted Pitta. Our excellent guide took us to the exact correct spot, and the beautiful birds wings shone like little lights in the dark forest. And an additional bonus, on our way back, three chimpanzees crossed our path! Word of warning though - avoid taking a "nature break" in the forest - I ended up covered in teeny tiny, small ticks!
Written July 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jasmine38Chichester UK
Chichester, UK1,971 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Best place to see chimps in the wild. A chimp trek does not guarantee a sighting but it is rare not to.

I would recommend booking the trek rather than the habituation experience as this is much more hit and miss. When we visited, a week ago, the chimp group in the habituation programme had not been located in the forest for a month and although you get to spend 4 hours with them, if you can find them, it will be at a considerable distance.

On the chimp trek the group is fully habituated. You get to spend just one hour with them but you are likely to be within a few metres of several as they are so comfortable around people. Sometimes they will pass right beside you. It's a wonderful experience. The only downside is that you will probably have to share it with a number of others and it can feel a bit crowded.
Written February 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dean T
27 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
Do not go to the visitor center without a chimp trek permit already in hand!! They do not sell chimp trekking permits at the visitor center and neither could they offer me a birding tour. On the morning I arrived it was ridiculously overcrowded with insufficient parking and a veritable zoo of humans milling around waiting to start their trek. I'm actually thinking it was a lessing in disguise that I was not able to go on the chimp trek here.
Written February 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GlobetrottingSwede
Paris, France4,366 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
The only reason to go into the forest is for chimp tracking.

The forest itself is wet, mucky and dark, like a typical tropical forest. It is difficult to see birds and any other animals for all the foliage. And watch your step for the aggressive ants!

If it wasn’t for the habituated groups of chimps, there would be no reason to take a walk in these woods...
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cristianne
33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
Cannot recommend chimpanzee tracking here enough! We arrived at headquarters early, and were given our brief. Because of COVID, we were separated into small groups just with the people we came with, in our came, jus my husband and I and our awesome ranger. We headed out to the forest and starting looking for the amazing chimps. The hike was not hard, but it is a hike, be ready for mud, puddles, ants, and other bugs. We were very glad to have long pants and long sleeves, good boots and gaiters, and hiking gloves. Also, recommend a hat, and, at least for now at least a couple facemarks, they'll get sweaty if you have to chase the chimps. We found a group of chimps up in a fig tree and were able to just watch them eating resting and grooming for a while. This was great, and we loved watching them, but little did we know, when we least expected it, our ranger told us to get ready to move fast and we saw the group climb down form the tree, fast, and start moving through the forest!! We chased after them as well as we curl keep up and go to see them on the ground and really be able to see how incredible these creatures are!
Everyone involved in the experience is really committed to the well being on the chimps and they made the experience absolutely unforgettable. We were lucky we got to se them this way!!
Written December 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joan
Purcellville, VA18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
This experience was our first time with the chimps and after a briefing we were off! We followed Sarah, our guide, and went into the jungle. We were soon surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle. We found the chimps fairly quickly and spent an hour in awe of them - as they moved and climbed and groomed and slept, ate, played, and lived their lives with us as observers. It was such a treat to be near these amazing primates!
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Victoria H
Bristol, UK79 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
We met our guide Sarah at 7 am and we’re off to trek for chimpanzees for the habituation activity. Sarah was a very knowledgeable and friendly ranger who knew exactly how to track them and so we found a family within an hour. We then got a full three hours of watching them sleep, eat, pee and poop on people ;-), feed young ones, groom each other and swing around the trees. Finally we also got to follow some which were going for walks. It was a fantastic experience in a small group ( 6 people). We learned so much and Sarah answered all our questions in detail.
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shaun H
Kampala, Uganda191 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Great walking, but a Ranger is required at an extra cost to the standard park entry fee. The parking is free, so if using a hire vehicle, there is no entry fee for Driver/Vehicle

We felt the primate walk was expensive so settled for a forest walk instead, the walk was shorter than told, but to be honest we were tired so happy to reduce walking time.

Unexpected observation point which gave immense views and a feel for the expanse of the forest.

Well worth a visit, but be prepared that ranger may hustle for "appreciation" despite paying entrance fee, and charged for the ranger to accompany you which is unavoidable.
Written March 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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