3 days chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park
3 days chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park offers interactions with chimpanzees and twelve other primate species in one of Africa’s premier primate habitats. Kibale National Park is situated in the southern region of Uganda and encompasses an area of 795 square kilometers. The park mostly comprises tropical rainforest, extensive forests, and savannah. The rainforest is an extension of those located in central Africa, however time and human activity have significantly diminished its size.
Kibale National Park offers a 3 days chimpanzee trekking and is home to nearly 1,500 chimpanzees, 12 other primate species, 60 animal species, 375 bird species, and 351 tree species. Certain trees in the forest can reach heights of up to 55 meters, while others exceed 200 years in age. Prior to proceeding, it is essential to note that Kibale Forest is inhabited by forest elephants, leopards, lions (originating from Queen Elizabeth national park), warthogs, hippos, and enormous forest pigs. Kibale Forest is the premier location for tracking chimpanzees globally. Kibale’s lack of mountain gorillas is regrettable, as their presence would likely render it one of the most frequented national parks in Africa.
This excursion offers the option of participating in the chimpanzee habituation experience. The chimp habituation process entails monitoring researchers as they habituate wild chimpanzees. The experience is more extensive than a typical chimpanzee trekking and necessitates tracking the chimps throughout the day. Your likelihood of observing uncommon chimpanzee behavior, such as hunting other animals for sustenance, is significantly increased. Opting for the three-day chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest entails dedicating the entire day to the process of habituating chimpanzees. Chimpanzee habituation necessitates rising earlier than normal to encounter the chimpanzees prior to their departure from their nests. You then accompany the rangers and researchers for the duration of the day.
During this period, you observe the chimpanzees commencing their day, foraging, engaging in social interactions, and ultimately constructing their nests for the night.
3 Day Kibale Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari
This 3 days chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park, encompasses a primate walk in Kanyanchu, birdwatching and a visit to a local village. Participants in the full-day chimpanzee habituation experience must forfeit afternoon activities on the second day.
The fee for Chimpanzee permits in Kibale is $250 for international visitors and $200 for foreign residents. Nationals of East Africa are required to spend 180,000 for the permit. The chimpanzee habituation permit costs $300 for international travelers, $250 for foreign residents, and 250,000 Uganda Shillings for East African nationals. These expenses are solely to the permits. A traveler must also consider housing, transportation, and flights. The tour package pricing is comprehensive, indicating that the final amount provided include nearly all costs, excluding flights, visas, and personal expenses.
Day 1: Pickup and transfer to Kibale National Park - Nature excursion at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Guide from Gorilla Trekking in Africa will get you from the airport to commence your 4-hour journey to Kibale National Park. You will proceed to Fort Portal town via Mubende, where you will eat lunch. Fort Portal is among the most picturesque towns in Uganda. Subject to time constraints, the Guide will escort you to see the 3 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking Tour, the ‘Amabere ga nyina mwiru’ caverns, the King’s (Omukama’s) palace, and the royal graves at Karambi. Throughout your expedition, you will be captivated by the stunning landscapes of the crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains. Upon your arrival at the park, you will be escorted to your lodging for a guided nature walk in Bigodi Swamp. The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is among the premier locations for birdwatching in Uganda. It also harbors several primates and species such as the swamp antelope (Sitatunga), bushbucks, mongooses, bush pigs, and otters. The Bigodi Swamp hosts the Papyrus Gonolek, Hornbills, Weaver birds, Waxbills, Kingfishers, Cuckoos, Flycatchers, and the Great Blue Turaco.
Evening meal and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse for budget and mid-range lodging. The opulent accommodation will be Papaya Lake Lodge.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking (or chimpanzee habituation experience), primate observation in Kanyanchu, and bird Watching.
Wake up early and have a substantial breakfast in anticipation of a lengthy day of activity. Your primary task will be tracking chimpanzees during the Kanyanchu primate walk. The walk will last for three days. Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking Safari to observe the thirteen ape species inhabiting Kibale National Park, together with its exquisite rainforest, trees, and butterflies. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale commences with a briefing at the park office. Rangers will identify the group by tracking their hoots and calls. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is more reliable than in Nyungwe, Rwanda, or Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park. They are more readily accessible than in any other location in Uganda. Three substantial colonies of chimpanzees have been habituated in Kibale Forest. An advance team is dispatched to locate them prior to informing the lead ranger via radio communication. Chimpanzee trekking lasts between two to four hours, contingent upon the location of the designated group.
3 days chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park, Chimpanzee societies exhibit intricate social hierarchies, with dominant males serving as the group’s defenders. In contrast to mountain gorillas, the tenure of a dominant chimpanzee alpha male is brief due to the numerous hurdles he faces, particularly given the size of chimpanzee populations. Furthermore, chimpanzee societies typically fragment into smaller factions for foraging during periods of resource constraint. Throughout your one-hour interaction with the chimpanzees, you will observe their remarkable mobility as primates. They frequently exhibit mobility and do not remain grounded for extended periods, unlike mountain gorillas. You must be ready to pursue them for a period as they traverse from tree to tree. Chimpanzees are significantly more talkative and boisterous than mountain gorillas. In addition to the chimpanzees, the primate walk in Kanyanchu will introduce you to many primates in the park, including pottos, Grey Vervet Monkeys, baboons, Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, blue monkeys, and Red Tailed Monkeys.
3 days chimpanzee trekking in kibale national park , Following an hour spent with one chimpanzee family, you will observe additional monkeys in the park before returning to your accommodation for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the boardwalk route for bird observation. The Guide will provide information regarding the forest, its history, and the fauna that inhabit it. The afternoon boardwalk is only for individuals participating in chimpanzee trekking. If you are scheduled for the chimpanzee habituation experience, you will have no opportunity for birdwatching.
Evening meal and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse for budget and mid-range lodging options. The opulent accommodation will be Papaya Lake Lodge.
Day 3: Engage with the Community – return to Entebbe or Kampala
Wake up at your convenience and partake in breakfast. Prepare to embark on a village walk prior to commencing the return journey to Kampala in the afternoon. During your time with the community, you will acquire knowledge of their customs. Three-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Habituation Experience and Cultural Heritage. You can traverse the village or visit a residence to engage with the elders with extensive knowledge of the region and its history. You may also visit the church, school, and sample some local cuisine. The focus should not solely be on fauna. Ugandans exhibit exceptional friendliness towards foreigners. If you have not yet visited the Palace of the King of Toro or the Karambi tombs, now is the opportune moment to do so. Lunch will occur on route. The landscape surrounding Fort Portal and this region of Uganda is stunning. Be attentive to the steep hills, tea plantations, local Ankole cattle farms, and villagers tending to their crops. The driver will transport you to a designated place in Kampala or to the Airport.