Kibale National Park Uganda; Accommodation in Bigodi Region (South)

Safari Lodges in the Bigodi Region (South)

Kibale Safari Lodge

Like their slogan “the comfort money can’t buy” the lodge is one of the best locations in Kibale National Park to spend a night or two, or three. It is located near the park’s Kanyanchu center and is on the way to Bigodi village. It features attractive facilities and services like a well-stocked bar, splendid dining, many lounging areas and very friendly and well trained staff members. Kibale Safari lodge accommodates its guests in five (5) luxury cottages and two (2) rooms on the main building. The accommodation units have private toilets and water for both cold and warm showers. Meals are available at the lodge including all-time access to juice coffee and tea. From where the lodge is located, tourist can enjoy amazing views of Kibale National Park and the legendary mountains of the moon (the Rwenzori)

Chimps’ Nest

Chimps’ NestChimp’s Nest is located near the Nyabubale village which lies between Nkingo and Bigodi. With a mere fifteen (15) minutes’ drive from the Park’s center in Kanyanchu, the guests who spend their nights at Chimps Nest can be assured of location neighboring Uganda’s wildlife. This location accord guests the opportunity to see some of the visiting primate and bird species even before embarking on the primate tracking safari. Guest accommodations include self-contained budget rooms and a family cottage near the restaurant which can house between four (4) and six (6). All the accommodation centers are self-contained and lit by solar energy.Kibale Forest Camp

Kibale Forest Camp is just ten (10) minutes from Kanyanchu where the UWA’s (Uganda Wildlife Authority) primate trekking activity kick-starts. It is situated just outside the southern part of the Park and is adjacent to the Magombe swamp which forms part of the Bigodi wetland Sanctuary. The camp offers nonchalant accommodation in ten (10) African Safari style tents which efficiently serve their purported importance; offering luxury to Safari travellers. Apart from the Safari tents, tourists can also be accommodated in the budget alternative of the camping area where they can set up their own tents. Meals are also available at the lodge and are served in a comfortable open kitchen which provides gorgeous views of this beautiful country in a every bite that is taken.

Rates in US$ per room

ROOM TYPE	B&B	HB	FB
Safari Tent Single	90	105	115
Safari Tent Double	115	145	165
Extra Bed	25	40	50
Tent Single	30	45	55
Tent Double	45	75	95

Mantana Tented Camp

 

The camp offers accommodation in the country inform of seven (7) full furnished expansive tents. The tents have two (2) twin bedrooms, a dressing area, en-suite washroom facilities including clean toilets and showers. Meals are served at the camp in the restaurant and drinks can be sourced from the onsite bar. Mantana Ten ted Camp is located about 2kms from National Park office Kanyanchu; near the start-off point for primate tracking activities in Kibale National Park.

Safari Hotel Bigodi

The hotel is located along the Bigodi – Kamwenge road and is the perfect place for Kibale’s visitors in search of a budget accommodation option and those who wish to be more experiential. It has ideally the right place for backpackers and campers. Guest accommodations include single rooms, double rooms, four (4) bandas and a camping are where campers can set up their own tents. Meals are also served at the hotel but not included in the rates. The camp has hot showers and clean pit latrines. Affordable laundry services are also offered on request. The hotel provides an area where guests can set up a campfire.

Tourist Attractions in Kibale Forest National Park Uganda

Primate Species, Kibale National Park is deserves the tagline “primate planet” a major reason why tourists should direct their safaris to this life-filled destination. The park has thirteen (13) species of primates including the vervet monkeys, the black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey cheeked Mangabey, the threatened red colobus monkey, blue monkeys, the red tailed monkeys, and the olive baboons. Adding to these, tourists can also see a number of night-time primates like the bush babies and the pottos. Kibale has an insurmountable 1,450 chimpanzees which if combined with the other primates make Kibale one of Africa’s most populated and diverse primate destination.

Other wildlife species, The park is known more for its primate population, a reason it has gained itself the tagline “primate planet”, but it is not limited to primates alone. There are a number of ground dwelling mammal species in Kibale National Park including some which migrate between Kibale and Queen Elizabeth and others which have a permanent home in Kibale. The park has a number of hippopotamuses, an estimated 500 forest elephants, the marsh mongooses, Alexander’s Cusimanse, the Golden Cat, bush pigs, African Palm Civet, leopards, lions, Ichneumon, Harvey’s and Peter’s duikers, buffalos, Serval cat, Ratel (Honey Badger), the giant hog and a number of bush pigs. Other mammals can be seen in the swamps like the swamp otter. Just outside the park tourists can see the Sitatunga in the adjacent Bigodi wetland. The park is not limited to reptiles and amphibians; these can be seen along the trails and around the wetlands.

Bird and Butterfly Species, Kibale National Park has a long list of bird species and these include the Afep Pigeon, White-naped Pigeon, Brown-chested Alethe, Little Green Bul, Abyssinian Ground-thrush, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Red-chested Owlet, Green-breasted Pitta, the Yellow Spotted Nicator, Brown Illadopsis, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Collared Apalis, Warbler Scaly-breasted Illadopsis , the Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Little Greenbul, Black-capped Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Nahans francolin, White-naped Pigeon, Red-chested fluff tail, Blue-headed Sunbird and the Blue-breasted Kingfisher. These are just a piece of the 375 individually unique bird species which can be found in this park. Tourists also have an opportunity to see and take pictures of a number of colorful bird species. So far 250 butterfly species have been identified.

Floral Species, At the time when Kibale was still managed as a forest reserve, many of her tree species were logged, resulting into the extinction of a great number of plant and tree species. However over the years, there have been campaigns to carry out reforestation in order to revive some of those unique tree species. Furthermore, a number of exotic tree species like the beautiful pine trees and eucalyptus have also been introduced in the park’s forest. Today the park boasts of over 250 tree species, with the largest part of the park being covered by a moist evergreen semi-deciduous forest. These tree species continue to attract tourists and researchers who are interested in botany.

Ndali – Kasenda crater lakes, This is a spot for everyone to visit. The Ndali – Kasenda crater lakes are situated about 30km south of Fort Portal town. This area forms a stretch of 60 stable and seasonal freshwater lakes which are in the areas of Rweetera, Kasenda, Kabata and Rwaihamba. The lakes at Kasenda are famous for their magical history. The local people narrate that after losing his throne to Wamala his son; the ruler of the Bachwezi called Ndahura, left his kingdom and formed the lakes we see today at Kasenda. But it is not only for their history that they are worthy visiting but also the beauty that they present especially in the vegetation that surrounds them. At this point tourists can see colorful butteries, the harmonious bird species, and the jubilant monkeys. The place offers awesome views of the expansive tea estates of Kabarole district, the beautiful snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains; and to the south tourists can see Lake George and the Rift Valley plains.

Tourist Activities in Kibale Forest National Park Uganda

Chimpanzee tracking/trekking and habituation,It is profoundly easy to see the chimpanzees of Kibale National Park, and these dominate the animals which are sighted when in the Kanyanchu walk. The starting times for the Kanyancu walk are 7am and 2pm lasting about three (3) hours on average; exposing life in varied forms along the way. Tourists who wish to see the chimps doing their private obligations like copulation, breast feeding, resting patrolling and exhibiting; have to get up earlier to view the chimps between 6:00 and 6:30am until the time the chimps build their new nests at around 7:00pm. There is also an opportunity for tourists to take part in the Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) which takes a full day. The tourists will be assigned to chimpanzee communities which are under habituation and this is such a rewarding experience to explore the cleverness of these animals. Prior booking is however recommended for those who wish to participate in this activity.

Nature walks and hiking in Kibale National Park, The day nature walk is surely something to look out for, as it will unveil a number of flora and fauna species. Since the walks are done through the jungle, it is advisable that tourists travel with a ranger guide for their security but also for easier identification of species. Tourists who wish to add to their list of sightings can decide to embark on a guided night nature walk where they will stand a chance of seeing nocturnal animals like the bush babies, hyraxes, nightjar, crickets’ pottos and the rarely seen serval cat. This is facilitated by the use of bright shining flashlights.

Birding in Kibale National Park, Kibale National Park has up to 138 bird species which may be seen during the guided nature walks along the viewing platforms and the boardwalk trail. This abundance of bird species ensures that birders find this to be their own haven where they can see species like the White-breasted Negrofinch, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black Bishop, the Grey-winged Robin-chat and the Western Nicator. The birding tour starts from a place called Kanyanchu at 7:00am. Birders can find more bird species just outside the park at a place called the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Cultural encounters, Tourists also have the opportunity to meet with the Batooro and the Bakiga who are the Park’s main neighbors. While with these people tourists can enjoy learning a great deal about how these people do their daily work in a traditional way including the making and selling of crafts, traditional healing, music dance and drama and furthermore to just be immersed in the traditional lives of the Batooro and the Bakiga. This walk will take tourists to the Bigodi community where the local communities have grouped themselves under the KAFRED umbrella (Kibale Association for Rural Environment Development). This ecotourism establishment has greatly supported the livelihoods of these people through direct and indirect benefits from tourism.

Getting to Kibale Forest National Park Uganda – How to Access Kibale national park

There a daily public bus services between Kampala and Kibale National Park. Although the roads are relatively fine, tourists are still advised to use FWD power vehicles to reach the park (if they prefer to use private means).

Uganda Safari Parks – Uganda Safari Destinations

As of now, Uganda features a count of 10 national parks including Mount Elgon National Park in the east, Kidepo Valley National Park in the north east, Murchison Falls National Park in the north west, Kibale National Park, Semliki National Park and Rwenzori National Park in the west, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Lake Mburo National Park in the south west.
Right from the colonial era, a range of national parks have been gazetted in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo over time and the independent national governments have continued with the initiative.

Uganda is a land gifted by nature. Uganda stands among the many on the continent as the Pearl of Africa teaming with a count of ten National Parks that are spread all over Uganda. The range of biodiversity thrives in these protected areas from which they find their natural protection to push their existence to posterity.The Uganda National Parks present opportunity for a myriad of tourist activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, the forest hiking, birding, classic wild game viewing among other activities explored on safaris in Uganda.

Uganda Gorilla Safari Tours – Uganda Gorilla trekking Safaris

Uganda Gorilla Safaris comes with an exceptional experience that is not only got from encountering the Mountain gorillas but also a tour to different wildlife safari destination of Queen Elizabeth national park alive with tree climbing lions, Kazinga Channel, undertaking an ultimate primate trekking encounter and wetland nature walk in Kibale forest park or visiting the different cultural sites spread in different parts of Uganda.

These together with their unique rich cultural heritage combine to trigger or offer an utmost Uganda Gorilla safari experience.