Destination: Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park, 320 kms/5 hrs from Kampala, Unarguably the primate capital of the world, her 776 km² of moist evergreen rain forest home to the highest concentration of primates in the world, Kibale Forest is home to 13 different primate species (14 if you count yourself!). This is one of the top spots in the world to track wild Chimpanzees. Should you find them you’ll marvel at the ways our closest relatives interact with each-other, and learn from your guide the secrets of this remarkable forest. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than its bush counterpart, moves seasonally into the park while other terrestrial mammals include buffalo, giant forest hog, leopard and half a dozen antelope species. Bird life is also prolific with 335 species including hornbills, pittas, turacos, the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush and African Grey Parrots.

Nearby Fort Portal serves up a vista of tranquil crater lakes and lush, green tea plantations. A mountaineering expedition in the nearby Rwenzori Mountain range; a unique journey and the experience of snow on the equator! But the park’s principal attraction remains the opportunity to track her 500 habituated Chimpanzees. These delightful apes, genetically the closest living relatives of man, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. Tracking usually takes about 4 hrs.

One other unique experience in Kibale: join the habituation team that goes out in the morning to study the chimpanzees and habituate them to humans.

Here you could: Track Wild Chimpanzees, Spot rare monkey species in Bigodi Swamp, Take a tour of a Vanilla Plantation, Climb the Rwenzori Mountain Range (separate expedition – approximately 7-days)