Birding Trips to Kibale Forest National Park

Birding Trips to Kibale Forest National Park: Despite being the primate capital of the world, Kibale National Park also serves as one of Uganda’s top birding destinations, offering exceptional birdwatching safaris. The park was established in 1993 as a safe haven to protect the forest and its unique primate species, particularly chimpanzees. The park is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority, a state body responsible for managing and protecting wildlife. It is found in western Uganda, south of Fort Portal town in Kabarole District, approximately 450 km from Kampala.

Besides chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching in Kibale Forest National Park is the second most done activity with over 372 species of birds 6 of which are endemic to Kibale Forest. The park is a haven for a diverse bird species due to its forested area, and birds can be spotted during nature walks with a well-trained guide.

The park has recorded some bird species that have not been seen anywhere else in other protected areas of the country. These include Nahan’s Francolin, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Cassine’s Spinetail, and Masked Apalis. The park also receives migratory birds from November to April, offering birdwatchers a chance to explore a variety of bird species.

Birds of Kibale National Park-

Birding Trips to Kibale Forest

These include African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Black and White Shrike Flycatcher, Dusky Crimson Wing, Black-capped Apalis, African Black-headed Oriole, Black-crowned Tchagra, White Collared Olive, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus canary, Cameroon Somber Greenbul, African- pied Wagtail, Brown eared woodpecker, zebra waxbill, blue-throated roller, African dusky flycatcher, blue-throated roller, Black-billed weaver, yellow-rumped tinker bird, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chubb’s cisticola, Black-capped waxbill, Africa Shrike flycatcher, African black-headed oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green Pigeon, African Jacana, Abyssinian proud thrush, crowned eagle, Collared Apalis, Black bee-eater, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Papyrus Gonolek, Little greenbul, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-throated roller, Black-billed Turaco, Barn swallow and others.

Birding in Kibale Forest is mainly carried out during guided forest walks or nature walks, which offer a chance to bird lovers to spot as many birds as possible. Kibale Forest has unique and conveniently developed walking trails that enhance hiking excursions, enabling birding enthusiasts to see several unique birds.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is the leading birding spot where site birding guides from the community project lead visitors on a 4-hour walking trail looking for several bird species. Birding excursions in Kibale Forest begin at 7 00 am at the park’s visitor centre in Kanyanchu with an experienced birding guide, who is knowledgeable about the best birding trails convenient for visitors, especially avid birders.

What is the best time of the year to do birding in Kibale Forest

Birding trips in Kibale National Park is carried out throughout the year. However, the best time to do birding in Kibale National Park is during the months of March to May and also September to November, months of the rainy season, when there is plenty of food and fruits that attract several bird species to enhance their nesting period.

However, birding trips to Kibale Forest National Park can also be carried out during the dry season, which runs from June to August and also from December to February. This dry season is mainly convenient for travellers who combine chimpanzee trekking and birding experiences since the trekking trails are always dry, open with short vegetation and easily accessible, offering clear views of wildlife, including several bird species.

Primates to see in Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest is not only a birders’ haven but also serves as a home to unique primates and is commonly known for its highest concentration of chimpanzees in Uganda, other primates include the Red-colobus monkey, L’Hoest monkey, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, bush babies, among others. However, visitors primarily visit the park to see chimpanzees through Chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experiences.

Best way to access Kibale National Park

Travellers planning for wildlife safaris in Kibale National Park, particularly birdwatching and chimpanzee trekking, can access the park by either road or air means of transport. By road, the journey takes about 300 km from Kampala to Fort portal town and then head to Kanyanchu visitor centre. This takes about 5-6 hours offering unique and scenic rewarding road countryside. By flight, it takes 1:15 minutes, where travellers may take their flight from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese Airstrip or in Nyakisharara Airstrip in Mbarara, and after travellers can get transferred to the park on road.

What to pack during birding in Kibale National Park

Since Kibale Forest National Park is a tropical rain forest, this makes it is a haven for birdlife where unique birds are spotted, including forest and skulking birds. This means that visitors should prepare in advance with the right essentials in order to carry out a successful birdwatching tour. Some of the essentials include long-sleeved shirts, a pair of trousers, a camera, a telescope, a pair of binoculars, water waterproof jacket, hiking shoes, a waterproof backpack, insect repellent, sunglasses, a brimmed hat, a field guide book, extra batteries, energy boosting snacks, and many others.

Accommodation in Kibale National Park

Accommodation facilities in Kibale Forest National Park range from high-end and mid-range to affordable choices and these include Primate Lodge, Guereza Canopy Lodge, Chimpundu Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Kibale Tourist Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Rubaliika Safari and Farm Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Tree Tops, Bweza Lodge, among others.