Kibale is one of the few places in the world where you have the opportunity to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat. There are around 700 chimps in the park and the Uganda Wildlife Authority have worked with researchers to enable some groups of these chimps to become accustomed to seeing humans. These habituated groups are wonderful to watch, though it must be remembered they are not tame or captive animals.
There is more to the park, however, than just chimpanzees. The forest itself is a diverse range of lowland tropical rainforest and medium altitude rainforest with some great trails to walk. This provides a home to a remarkable 13 primate species, which is possibly the highest concentration of primate species of any African park. These including the very localised red colobus and L'Hoest's monkey, black-and-white colobus, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and olive baboons.
There are also forest elephants here which are smaller and hairier than the savannah elephants. You may also see buffalo, giant forest hog and several species of antelope.There is a rich diversity of birdlife, with 335 recorded species. This impressive bird list include two of Africa's most sought after birds, the green-breasted and African pittas. A nearby papyrus swamp holds 4 papyrus endemics and great blue turaco. Other species recorded here include Woodhouse's antpecker, African grey parrot, black-billed and great blue turacos, white-naped pigeon white-headed woodhoopoe, speckled tinkerbird, brown-eared and Elliot's woodpeckers, equatorial akalat, white-headed saw-wing, green crombec, white-breasted negrofinche, black-necked and yellow-mantled weavers, and blue-throated brown and superb sunbirds.