Western Uganda, Uganda
Kibale Forest, Uganda
0.467°, 30.383°
At a glance
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling (UGX)
- UK visa
- eVisa required, up to 90 days
- Language
- English, Swahili
- Plug
- Type G, 240V / 50Hz
- Drives on
- the left
- Best entry
- EBB
- Safety
- Bwindi and Kibale are well-policed. FCDO advises against travel to parts of the north and the DRC border.
When to go
Month by month →Best months: January, February, June.
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
29°
22mm
Feb
30°
21mm
Mar
28°
85mm
Apr
27°
115mm
May
27°
85mm
Jun
27°
48mm
Jul
28°
37mm
Aug
27°
82mm
Sep
27°
124mm
Oct
27°
138mm
Nov
26°
136mm
Dec
27°
71mm
What people who've been say
“Guided chimp treks at Kibale leave from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 0800, 1100 and 1400, with groups capped at six and a minimum age of 15. The Kanyanchu community has been monitored since 1993 and the sighting success rate is above 90%. Treks last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on chimp movement, then you get one hour with the family once contact is made. Standard permit...”
“Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth NP via the Ishasha sector takes around 5 to 6 hours; continuing on to Kibale via Kasese and Fort Portal is another 6 to 7 hours from Bwindi end-to-end. From Mweya in Queen Elizabeth, Kibale is roughly a further 2 to 3 hours. Road conditions through Ishasha deteriorate in the rains, and bridges occasionally wash out, sometimes forcing a detour.”
“The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP is roughly 1.5 hours south of the main Bush Lodge area, and tree-climbing lions can sometimes be found within ten minutes of the Ishasha gate, lounging in the big fig trees through the heat of the day. The writers had spent two unsuccessful mornings searching the Kasenyi plains in the north before relocating to Ishasha, where they finally found a family of...”
Trips through Kibale Forest
1Verified
Travellers who actually went, and shared the plan.
- Read plan →
Uganda, gorilla trekking and chimps
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest → Queen Elizabeth National Park → Kibale Forest → Lake Bunyonyi
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit Kibale Forest?
- January through June. Days run 17 to 30°C with rainfall under 48mm, the cleanest read of the year. Full month-by-month at /best-time/kibale.
- How many days do I need in Kibale Forest?
- Kibale Forest fits in a 3-day window if you're just hitting the high points. 5 to 7 days if you're using it as a base for the wider region.
- Do I need a visa for Kibale Forest on a UK passport?
- Apply for an e-visa online before you fly. Print the approval; some carriers won't board you without it.
- Is Kibale Forest safe?
- Bwindi and Kibale are well-policed. FCDO advises against travel to parts of the north and the DRC border.
- What's the currency in Kibale Forest?
- Ugandan shilling (UGX). 240V / 50Hz. Plug type G.
Similar destinations
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