Skip links

Night forest walks in Kibale national park

Night forest walks in Kibale national park.

Kibale woodland National Park, which is situated in Kabarole district in western Uganda, offers nighttime woodland hikes. Because it is home to thirteen different primate species, including chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, and pottos, Kibale Forest National Park is also referred to as the primate capital. In addition to more than 375 bird species, Kibale Forest National Park is home to a variety of mammals, including huge forest pigs, warthogs, and forest elephants.

An exciting activity in Kibale Forest National Park is the night forest walk, which allows visitors to explore the forest at night with spotlight torches to clearly see nocturnal animals that become active. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) provides armed ranger guides and an experienced park guide. After receiving a lecture about the guidelines and expectations at the Kanyachu Visitors Center, night forest treks in Kibale National Park begin at approximately 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. Following the briefing, you will begin your two-hour journey into the forest, where you will see nocturnal creatures such as huge forest hogs, galagos, pottos, serval cats, tree hyrax, night jars, African civets, crickets, night owls, and bush babies, among others.

The price of walking in the forest at night at Kibale Forest National Park

The cost of nighttime forest treks at Kibale Forest National Park is 40 USD for non-resident foreigners, 20 USD for locals, and 15 UGX for East Africans. The prices do not, however, include the entrance fees, which are 20,000 UGX per person for East African citizens, 40 USD per person for foreign non-residents, and 30 USD per person for foreign residents.

The ideal time to go

The best time to go on night forest walks in Kibale Forest National Park is during the dry season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because there is less or no rainfall in the park during this time, so the nature walk trails are dry and passable, making hiking easier than during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making hiking challenging.

What to bring to Kibale Forest National Park for nighttime forest treks

Walks through the night jungle in Kibale National Park
Trekking with Chimpanzees
Spotlight torches, long-sleeved shirts and pants, hiking shoes, garden gloves, a camera and extra batteries, insect repellent, a waterproof rain jacket, a warm sweater, a walking stick, and a backpack are some of the things you should bring for the nighttime forest walk in Kibale Forest National Park.

Additional pursuits within Kibale Forest National Park

Aside from nighttime forest walks, Kibale Forest National Park offers other exciting safari activities, such as chimpanzee trekking, which allows visitors to spend an hour with the primates, bird watching, which allows visitors to observe various bird species, chimpanzee habituation, which allows visitors to spend four hours with the primates, day nature walks, which allow visitors to explore the forest on foot, and cultural tours, which allow visitors to engage with locals in nearby communities.

Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park while on safari

Chimpundu Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, Ataco Country Resort, Isunga Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge Kibale, Ndali Lodge, Kibale Guest Cottages, Kyaninga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Mountain of the Moon Hotel, Turaco Treetops, Rwetera Safari Park, Guereza Canopy Lodge, Nyaika Hotel, Rubalika Safari Lodge and Farm, Chimpanzee Capital Safari Lodge, Fort Motel, Kibale River Camp, and others are among the budget, midrange, and luxury lodging options available in Kibale Forest National Park.

Location of Kibale Forest National Park directions

It takes roughly six to seven hours to drive in a safari vehicle to reach Kibale Forest National Park, which is situated in western Uganda.

It takes roughly six to seven hours to drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kibale Forest National Park.

A charter or scheduled domestic flight with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese or Semuliki airstrips, followed by a road connection to the park headquarters, is another way to get to Kibale Forest National Park.

This website uses cookies to improve your web experience.