Kibale National Park

Chimptastic!

Most famous for its population of chimpanzees, Kibale Forest is known as "the primate capital of the world" for its 13 types of primates including nocturnal bushbabies.

Nothing will prepare you for the cacophony if chimps sense danger. The "buttress drumming" of tree trunks and noisy "pant hoots" may alert you to the group chasing down and hunting a black-and-white Colobus monkey. The same drama could simply mean an excited youngster has found a fruiting fig tree. You can never predict how your hour with man's closest relative will pan out.

Although Uganda you can track chimps in numerous forests (most established are Kyambura, Budongo and Kalinzu), Kibale has the highest number of permits daily. Close encounters with chimps are de rigeur (the downside is that during busy seasons, you may find dozens of other visitors in the forest with you). Regular tracking allows one hour with the primates after you have tramped through the forest to find them. For a more immersive few hours, join researchers for the chimpanzee habituation experience. Chimp tracking in Kibale Forest combines well with swamp walks in nearby Bigodi (KAFRED directly benefits the local community) and Sunbird Hill, a private forest-edge site run by the NGO In the Shadow of Chimpanzees.

Kibale's 120 mammals include shy forest elephants, occasionally seen on the main road that bisects the park. Rarely seen - but recently caught on a camera trap - are serval and golden cats. Uganda's forests have an astonishing range of butterflies and moths and Kibale's butterflies number over 250. A trained guide can help you add the elusive green-breasted pitta to your life list.