safaris@jungledwellers.net

UGANDA

Kibale National Park

The primate capital of East Africa—lush forest, wild chimpanzees, and a chorus of jungle calls.

Welcome to the Forest Realm

Kibale National Park is the best place in Uganda—and arguably in all of Africa—to track wild chimpanzees. This evergreen rainforest is home to 13 primate species and teems with birds, butterflies, and rare plants. With well-maintained trails, expert guides, and a network of eco-lodges, Kibale offers a deeply immersive nature experience that pairs perfectly with gorilla safaris or classic game drives.

Featured Tours in Kibale

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers one of the most varied and rewarding safari experiences in Uganda. From wildlife-packed game drives to tranquil boat cruises and volcanic crater views, it’s a destination that truly has it all.

Uganda and Zanzibar Beach Safari

Combining a Uganda safari with a Zanzibar Beach safari is a fantastic way to experience both African Big 5 wildlife and ocean life. This combo offers incredible wildlife encounters, including gorilla trekking, with Zanzibar providing a serene beach escape. This combination is perfect for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts alike.

Uganda Gorilla and primate safari experience

The 5-Day Uganda Wildlife and Primate Experience Safari starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. This magical safari promises you the most adventurous and magical wildlife, primate, and cultural experiences filled with back-to-back fun. This adventurous Uganda safari was planned to give you an unforgettable wildlife experience and an ultimate primate experience, such as meeting eye-to-eye with the amazing gorillas and chimpanzees fully in their natural habitat, getting a close encounter with other diverse African wildlife species such as leopards, lions, elephants, and cape buffaloes, several primate species, many antelope species, beautiful landscapes, visiting several ancestral places such as the Igongo cultural center for amazing African culture, and if you are a keen bird lover, this is an ideal Uganda safari to spot several African bird species. The 5-day Uganda safari involves a visit to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for Mountain Gorilla trekking. This is an ideal tour to fully enjoy nature and to explore the abundance of wildlife species, beautiful scenery, and numerous primate species such as the miraculous mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, among others. After the gorilla trekking, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi where you will spend a night and have a canoeing experience, and later drive to Kigali International Airport.

Uganda Wildlife and Primate Encounter Safari (8days)

The 8-day Uganda Wildlife and Primate Encounter Safari starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. This 8-day Uganda safari will give you the best of African jungle experiences that are made up of remarkable wildlife diversity, ranging from the African great primates to plenty of wildlife species of the African savanna that are perfectly distributed across various national parks to be visited on this 7-day African safari. This 7-day Uganda safari involves visiting destinations with exclusive attractions that ensure you capture the uniqueness of the African jungle in a magical style, such as meeting eye-to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, which are the top highlights that are highly recommended by almost all visitors to Uganda, and general wildlife encounters like lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, caped buffaloes, and many others, boat cruises, and visiting some local communities for cultural experiences. It will take you to visit the most adventurous places in Uganda, such as the Ziwa rhino sanctuary for the white rhino tracking experience, Murchison Falls national park to visit magnificent Murchison Falls for the breathtaking scenic views of the Falls, boat cruise experience on the river Nile and game drive safaris for animal sightings, Kibale forest national park, “the primate capital of the world,” for the Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi community experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park, “a medley of wonders,” for wildlife encounters, a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, and a game drive to search for tree-climbing lions, Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park for mountain gorilla trekking experience and conclude your safari with a visit to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and boat riding on this beautiful lake. This is the best African safari for unique primate experiences, exploring many of the African wildlife species, including elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and Caped Buffaloes, going through the most scenic places like the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands, big tea plantations, experiencing African culture, and many other experiences. We carefully selected the best activities to make this package eye-catching and for you to enjoy each minute you spend with us on this safari in the true African wilderness.

Uganda Wildlife and Primate Encounter Safari

The 10-Day Uganda wildlife and primate encounter safari starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. This 10-day Uganda safari will give you the best of African jungle experiences that are made of remarkable wildlife diversity, ranging from the African great primates to plenty of wildlife species of the African savanna that are perfectly distributed across various national parks to be visited on this 10-day African safari. This 10-day Uganda safari involves visiting destinations with exclusive attractions that ensure you capture the uniqueness of the African jungle in a magical style, such as meeting eye-to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, which are the top highlights that are highly recommended by almost all visitors to Uganda, and general wildlife encounters like lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, caped buffaloes, and many others, boat cruises, jungle walking safari and visiting local communities to experience the unique African culture. It will take you to visit the most adventurous places in Uganda, such as the Ziwa rhino sanctuary for the white rhino tracking experience, Murchison Falls national park to visit the magnificent Murchison Falls for the breathtaking views of the Murchison Falls, boat cruise experience on the river Nile and game drive safaris for animal encounters, Kibale forest national park, “the primate capital of the world,” for the Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi community experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park, “a medley of wonders,” for wildlife encounters, a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park for mountain gorilla trekking experience and conclude your adventurous safari with a visit to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and boat riding on this beautiful lake, and Lake Mburo National Park for a night game drive safari to explore the jungle at night and a jungle walking safari to walk with zebras and giraffes. This is the best African safari for unique primate experiences, exploring many African wildlife species, such as elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and Caped Buffaloes, going through the most scenic places like the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands, big tea plantations, experiencing African culture, and many other experiences. We carefully selected the best activities to make this package eye-catching each minute you spend on it.

Best of Uganda Wildlife and Primate Safari

The 15-days Uganda wildlife and photography safari will start and end at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. This is a magical safari that promises you the most African adventurous and expensive wildlife experiences that are filled with back-to-back fun, such as meeting eye-to-eye with the amazing mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, getting a close encounter with many African big games, such as rhinos, elephants, caped buffalo, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippopotamus, and many others, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes. If you are a bird lover, this is an ideal safari to enjoy most and many other interesting and adventurous experiences. 15-days Uganda wildlife and photography safari will take you to visit the most adventurous and beautiful places, such as Ziwa rhino sanctuary for the white rhino tracking experience, Murchison Falls national park to visit magnificent Murchison Falls for the breathtaking scenic views of the Murchison Falls, boat cruise experience on the river Nile and game drive safaris for animal encounters, Kibale forest national park, “the primate capital of the world,” for the for the tea plantation tour, Chimpanzee habituation experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park, “a medley of wonders,” for wildlife encounters, a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, and a game drive to search for tree-climbing lions, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for mountain gorilla trekking experience and lake Mburo National Park for night game drive and morning wildlife photography of animals on foot. This is the best African safari for unique primate experiences, exploring many of the African wildlife species, going through the most scenic places like the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands, big tea plantations, experiencing African culture, and many other experiences. We carefully selected the best activities to make this package eye-catching each minute you spend on it.

Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife and Primate Encounter Safari

The 10-day Uganda and Rwanda Uganda wildlife, primates and culture encounter safari starts at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and ends at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. This 10-day Uganda safari will give you the best of African jungle experiences that are made of remarkable wildlife diversity, ranging from the African great primates to plenty of wildlife species of the African savanna that are perfectly distributed across various national parks to be visited on this 10-day African safari. This 10-day Uganda and Rwanda safari involves visiting destinations with exclusive attractions that ensure you capture the uniqueness of the African jungle in a magical style, such as meeting eye-to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, which are the top highlights that are highly recommended by almost all visitors to Uganda, general wildlife encounters like lions, leopards, elephants, caped buffaloes, and many others, boat cruises, and visiting some communities to experience African culture. It will take you to visit the most adventurous places in Uganda, such as the Kibale Forest National Park, “the primate’s capital of the world,” for the Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi community experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park, “a medley of wonders,” for wildlife encounters, a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, and a game drive to search for tree-climbing lions, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for the mountain gorilla trekking experience, visit Lake Bunyonyi for the boat riding on this beautiful lake, and visit some of its islands and the Batwa pygmy cultural experience. Later, cross over to Rwanda, also known as the country of a thousand hills, to enjoy more African jungle safari experiences. So, while in Rwanda, you will visit Volcanoes National Park, where you may decide to do the golden monkey trekking or Mt. Bisoke volcano hike, visit Lake Kivu Gishenyi for leisure and boat riding, and conclude your safari with a visit to Nyungwe National Park for the cappy walk experience. This is the best African safari for unique primate experiences, exploring many of the African wildlife species, including elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and Caped Buffaloes, going through the most scenic places like the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands, big tea plantations, experiencing African culture, and many other experiences. We carefully selected the best activities to make this exciting and memorable.

Why Visit Kibale?

Kibale isn’t just about chimpanzees—though it certainly excels at that. It’s a rare destination where primates thrive, birdlife dazzles, and conservation and community come together to offer a truly immersive forest experience.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Tracking chimpanzees in Kibale is one of the most reliable primate encounters in Africa. With habituated groups and experienced trackers, you’re likely to spend an unforgettable hour observing social behaviors, calls, and movement up close.

Primates Everywhere

While chimps take center stage, Kibale’s forests are alive with other species: red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and olive baboons, to name a few. It’s a living primate encyclopedia.

Accessible Yet Wild

Just a short drive from Fort Portal, Kibale offers well-managed trails and well-equipped lodges—without losing the feeling of being deep in the wild.

Great Add-On to Gorilla Trekking

For those already trekking gorillas in Bwindi, adding Kibale brings balance to your journey. From the deep, silent stares of a gorilla to the energetic chatter of chimpanzees, the contrast is powerful.

Community-Focused Tourism

Kibale’s tourism model supports local villages, schools, and conservation initiatives. Many lodges and experiences directly benefit nearby communities, giving travelers a chance to connect with the people who call the forest home. Many lodges and excursions support local villages and conservation.

When to Visit

June – September & December – February:

Best trekking conditions, drier trails

March – May & October – November:

Lush forest, fewer tourists; trails can be slippery

Note

Chimpanzees are resident year-round, and permits are limited—book in advance.

What You’ll See

Chimpanzees (90%+ sighting success)
Red colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons
Forest elephants and duikers (rare)
Over 375 bird species
Butterflies, orchids, and ancient fig trees

Signature Experiences

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Spend up to 4 hours with chimps being slowly introduced to humans.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk

A community-run trail system famous for birding and monkey sightings.

Tea Plantation Visits

Explore local tea estates and learn about traditional processing methods.

Crater Lake Excursions

Hike to scenic viewpoints or canoe through volcanic lakes.

Where to Stay

Safari Styles Available

Morning chimp treks

Full-day chimp habituation experiences

Nature walks & birdwatching

Wetland and cultural community tours

Multi-park circuits combining gorillas, lions, and more

Practical Information

Getting There: 5–6 hrs by road from Kampala or Entebbe

Chimp Trekking Permit: ~$200 USD per person (half-day)

Habituation Experience: ~$250–300 USD per person

Health: Yellow fever certificate required; malaria precautions essential

Packing Tips: Rain jacket, sturdy shoes, gloves, long-sleeves, hydration pack

Suggested Add-On Trips

Queen Elizabeth NP

Big game and Kazinga Channel boat safaris

Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Gorilla trekking extension

Lake Bunyonyi

Post-trek lake relaxation

Fort Portal

Charming town with markets and crater walks

The Best Place to Meet Chimps in the Wild.

From half-day treks to full immersion, let’s build your ideal Kibale Forest experience.
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Every journey with Jungle Dwellers is more than a trip—it's a deep dive into Africa's untamed beauty, guided by those who know it best.

Why Travel with Jungle Dwellers?

  • Locally based and deeply experienced in Uganda travel
  • Permit booking, lodge coordination, and expert guides
  • Flexible itineraries for short or long stays
  • Conservation-minded, community-linked operations
  • IATA-accredited for full safari and flight arrangements

Plan Your Safari

Whether you’re dreaming of chimps, birds, or simply the peace of the forest, we’ll help you make the most of Kibale.

Start Planning Now