Kibale Forest National Park is set in south-western Uganda, occupying the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjonjo, Kyegegwa, and Kamwenge. Kibale Forest National Park is a tropical rain forest and a habitat for many forest wildlife species, such as over 1500 chimpanzees, tree species, bird species, butterfly species, reptiles, monkeys, mammals, and other wildlife. The road trip from Kampala to Entebbe takes approximately 4–5 hours. Kibale Forest National Park is under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Contact Devine African Safaris to tailor your cultural trip for a memorable experience within Kibale Forest National Park. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris

 

Kibale forest cultural encounter takes you to the Magombe Swamp Wetlands accompanied by a local guide on a walk to explore the local wildlife species, birds, and vegetation. The Batooro daily life Batooro can be unleashed during this village walk, which includes stopovers at the village’s primary school, traditional healers, and the church. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.

 

 Kibale Association for Rural Environment Development (KAFRED) is a local community-based organization that is promoting local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation through ecotourism within their local communities.

 During the Kibale cultural nature walk, the local guide takes you along the boardwalk within the Magombe swamp wetlands. You can spot many wildlife species at close range, including more than 200 species of birds, many butterfly species, and eight varieties of primates, along with swampy vegetation.

 

 The Batooro people's daily lives can be explored during the cultural village walks. Kibale cultural encounter tour takes you to different villages where you will make a stopover at the village’s primary school, traditional healers, and church. You will learn about the roles of Batooro women in the traditional ceremonies and in their local communities, and the history of Bigodi, where the two village tribes merged together. The two tribes include the Batooro joined by migrating Bakiga

 What are the cultural activities to do around Kibale National Park?.

 

Bigodi Wetland Walk

The Bigodi Wetland is situated in the environs of Kibale Forest National Park, which offers rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is a must-visit for tourists to Kibale Forest National Park. Bigodi wetland is a wonderful hub that shelters over 300 bird species, including hornbills, kingfishers, turacos, parrots, cranes, and many swamp endemics. Bigodi wetland also protects over eight primates’ species, such as the Black and White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Red Colobus, Vervet Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, and L’hoest Monkey.

Bigodi Swamp is also a hub for other mammals like otters, sitatungas, and bushbucks. Local and knowledgeable tour guides take tourists on an interpretive tour as they escort them through the lush vegetation. A tour of Bigodi wetland offers a perfect opportunity to spot wildlife species from the forest pathways, a top tree house, and boardwalks.

 

Bigodi Cultural Walk

The Bigodi cultural walk is among the cultural activities to do within Kibale Forest National Park. Tourists will discover the atmospheric village of Bigodi accompanied by professional English-speaking field guides. The Bigodi cultural walk takes up to 3 to 4 hours, depending on the speed of the group. Depending on their interests, travelers first visit a traditional healer who will happily share his knowledge about spirits, plants, herbs, and local medicines.

 

The Bigodi cultural walk tour also gives travelers a chance to visit the homes of elderly men and women who can tell you exciting stories about birth, marriage ceremonies, clans, and their old traditional lives. Learn more about the issues and history that they face as a developing rural community in Uganda. Along the way, tourists will also be given the opportunity to experience the Ugandan school system, Bigodi trading center, and a local church.

 

Visiting the Crater Lakes near Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park also lies within Kabarole district with more than 100 crater lakes, and many of them are situated on the outskirts of Kibale Forest. These crater lakes are another great attraction to many tourists who come to Fort Portal and Kibale Forest National Park. Crater lakes within Kibale Forest include Kigere Crater Lake, Ndali Crater, Bikere Crater Lake, Lake Saka Crater, Kyaninga Crater, and many others. These crater lakes offer a rich history locally, which may interest many tourists. Other activities around these crater lakes include canoeing, fishing, and swimming.

 

Tooro Kingdom and Palace Visit

Fort Portal City is the headquarter of the Tooro Kingdom, and it also neighbors Kibale Forest National Park. The natives of Fort Portal Town are called the Batooro tribe, who have a king that stays in the city center palace. The Palace is the key cultural attraction in the town; Fort Portal also offers the Toro Kingdom Parliament; the Karambi tombs, where the Toro royals are buried; and the Nyakasura caves, which offer great history. Tourists can also explore the culture, food, traditions, dances, and lifestyle of the batooro.

 

Visiting the Nyakasura Caves

The Amabeere Ga Nyina Wiru caves are situated in Nyakasura, 7 kilometers from Fort Portal Town on the Fort Portal-Bundibudgyo road in Kabarole District. The caves are located approximately 40 minutes away from Kibale National Park. The Amabeere Ga Nyina Wiru caves are very historical, and they are where the former leader of the Chwezi dynasty lived a long time ago. Tourists can film about the kings and the royals. This place is amazing. The local tour guide will take you to the caves with different stopping spots until you reach the soft, rocky caves with a beautiful waterfall. The Nyakasura caves lie between a couple of streams, waterfalls, and nice-looking volcanoes and are near the Rwenzori Mountains, which offer the best scenery.

 

Visiting Tea Plantations and Farms

The Tooro region, where Kibale National Park is located, also offers tea plantations and is one of the greatest distributors for the tea industry in Uganda. A lot of the tea plantations occupy the surrounding areas near Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. The local people also have banana plantations and animal farms that may interest you when you spend time around Kibale Forest National Park.