About this Experience

The night walks offered in the Kibale Forest National Park, facilitated by Little Monkay Camp, transform the "Primate Capital of the World" into an atmospheric, unforgettable adventure for the world traveller. It’s an immersion into a secret world where the rainforest truly comes alive, an experience far removed from the typical daytime safari. This is not merely a walk; it is a meticulously guided expedition into the heart of the rainforest's nocturnal domain. Starting around 7:30 PM after a detailed briefing, the forest floor becomes a stage for an entirely different cast of creatures. • Atmospheric Immersion: Unlike the hustle of the day, the night walk introduces a profound sense of quiet, broken only by the chorus of insects, the rustle of leaves from unseen animals, and the distant, haunting calls of the wild. This sensory deprivation sharpens your hearing and instinct, making every sound and shadow a moment of discovery. • Expert Guidance: Visitors are accompanied by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers who are not only experts in the forest's ecology but also master trackers of nocturnal movements. They wield powerful spotlight torches, cutting through the pitch-black canopy to locate the glowing eyes of shy creatures high up in the trees. • A Glimpse of the Elusive: The most exhilarating part is the chance to witness the park's rare nocturnal residents—animals that are impossible to spot during the day. The success rate for spotting key nocturnal primates is remarkably high, offering a genuine reward for this post-sundown trek. • The Trail of Transformation: The 1.5 to 2-hour journey typically begins from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre area. As you move along the quiet trails, the rangers share insights into the forest's intricate ecosystem, its medicinal plants, and the adaptations of its night-dwelling inhabitants, turning the walk into a moving natural history lesson. Most Common Nocturnal Wildlife Encounters The Kibale Forest floor and canopy yield some extraordinary sightings under the cover of darkness, making this experience one of the most distinctive in African ecotourism: Nocturnal Primates: The Forest's Secret Keepers • Potto (Perodicticus potto): Often the star sighting. This slow-moving, woolly primate with large, reflective eyes and vestigial index fingers is incredibly difficult to find. Spotting a Potto silently gripping a branch is a highlight for any primate enthusiast. • Bushbaby / Galago (Demidoff's Galago, Thomas's Galago): Known for their large, forward-facing eyes, these small, agile primates are often seen leaping between branches. Their high-pitched calls are a common soundtrack to the walk. Other Nocturnal Mammals • Tree Hyrax (Dendrohyrax species): Though often heard with their chilling, shrieking calls that reverberate through the night, they can occasionally be spotted high in the trees, looking somewhat like a small, furry guinea pig. • African Civet (Civettictis civetta): A striking, solitary mammal resembling a cat with a black and white coat pattern and a banded tail. They are typically spotted foraging on the forest floor. • Serval Cat (Leptailurus serval): Although a challenging sight, a lucky few may catch the unmistakable glimpse of this elegant, spotted wild cat. • Giant Forest Hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni): The world's largest wild pig, these bulky, tusked animals are often more active at night. Nocturnal Birds: The Quiet Flyers • Nightjars (Caprimulgus species): These masters of camouflage are crepuscular (active at dusk/dawn) and nocturnal. They are often seen sitting perfectly still on the trails, only to silently flutter away when approached. • Owls: Various owl species, including the massive Verreaux's Eagle-Owl or smaller forest owls, are frequently spotted with their eyes illuminated by the flashlight beams, watching silently from the canopy. For the world traveller, the Kibale Night Walk is an essential piece of the Ugandan experience—an intimate, authentic, and awe-inspiring adventure that reveals the hidden lifeblood of one of Africa's most biodiverse rainforests. It’s a chance to truly connect with the jungle when its more famous inhabitants are asleep, and its most secretive residents take center stage.