Chimpanzee trekking in kibale forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking in kibale forest national park, Chimpanzee trekking is a thrilling activity when individuals venture into the forests to locate habituated chimpanzee groups before spending one hour observing them in their native environment. Following the experience of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, chimp trekking emerges as the second most sought-after safari tour in Uganda.Uganda harbors an estimated population of 5000 chimpanzees, distributed among various national parks and game reserves. These include Kibale Forest National Park, Toro-Semuliki Game Reserve, Budongo Forest National Park in Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve in Bushenyi District.
Kibale National Park, situated in western Uganda, is renowned as a prominent destination for chimp trekking, boasting a population of over 1500 chimpanzees.This park is renowned as the “Primate Capital” because to its diverse range of 13 primate species, including chimps, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, l’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, bush babies, and pottos. The activity of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park is divided into two sessions: one commencing at 8:00 a.m. and the other at 3:00 p.m.
The exploration of Kibale National Park commences with an orientation session at the Kanyachu Information Centre. Subsequently, visitors are organized into groups of six individuals, with each group assigned to hike alongside a specific chimp family that has become accustomed to human presence. After receiving the briefing, you will commence your hike in the forest accompanied by a park guide. The guide will demonstrate the chimp pathways to be followed and provide information about the endangered chimps. The duration of the forest trek is typically 2 to 3 hours. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will get the opportunity to spend one hour observing and photographing them in their natural habitat, while also gaining insights into their lifestyle, rituals, and behavior. Visitors desiring to extend their time with the chimpanzees can make use of the chimp habituation experience offered in Kibale National Park. Chimpanzee habituation refers to the process of training chimpanzees to become familiar and comfortable with the presence of humans. The procedure is executed by a team consisting of researchers, guides, trackers, and other individuals. A full day chimpanzee encounter allows a maximum of four people to spend four hours with the chimpanzees throughout their habituation process, in contrast to the one hour allotted during a regular trekking activity.
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) is a full-day program that involves working with a group of chimpanzees that are currently experiencing the process of habituation. Visitors can observe chimpanzees emerging from their nighttime nests between 6:00 – 6:30am. After that, the chimpanzees engage in activities such as feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling, and exhibiting until approximately 7pm when they start building new nests.
The park’s population of elephants migrates between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Additional land-dwelling mammals present in Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivorous animals present in the area consist of African leopards, African golden cats, servals, various species of mongooses, and two otter species. Furthermore, lions occasionally visit the park. The park features a diverse array of avian species, such as the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird, African and green-breasted pittas, and the African grey parrot.
When is the best time to for chimpanzee trekking in kibale forest national park
The optimal time to visit Kibale Forest National Park is throughout the year. It is important to consider the specific season you intend to visit this park, as it has two distinct seasons. The climate in this region consists of two distinct seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season, which is generally preferred, occurs from June to September and December to February. The wet or rainy season begins in March and lasts until May, with a second period occurring from October to November. The rainy or wet season is typically distinguished by copious precipitation, which makes it an exceptional time for observing avian species.
How much is chimpanzee permit in kibale forest national park
A chimpanzee trekking permit is an official authorization issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to tourists who are at least twelve years old. This permit grants them access to a habituated chimp family and permits them to spend one hour observing and interacting with the chimps in their natural environment. The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda varies based on the specific location. The cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest national park is $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX 150,000 for East African citizens. On the other hand, a chimp habituation permit in Kibale forest national park costs $250 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents, and UGX 200,000 for East African citizens.
The cost of a chimpanzee habituation permit is $50 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens in Kyambura gorge. In Budongo forest, the cost is $90 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents. In Kalinzu forest, the cost is $50 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents. In Toro-Semuliki, the cost is $30 for foreign residents and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens.