Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park 3 Day

3 Day Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee trekking Safari in Uganda Kibale National Park is an opportunity to be just meters away from the closest human relative in there natural habitant. Book a chimpanzee trekking permit first to be part of either the morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking sessions.

Kibale National Park being a tropical rain forest  is home to more other 12 primate species inclusive of olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, pottos, L’Hoest’s and others.

More than 325 bird species are residents of Kibale National Park some include Black Crowned Waxbills, Green-backed Twin Spot, Handsome Francolin, Grey-headed Olive back and others.

The chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park may also open chances to spotting a number of other animals the cross from Queen Elizabeth National park via the 18 kilometers long migration corridor in the southern part of Kibale Forest. You may encounter forest elephants, giant forest hogs, leopards and other.

What happens on 3 day Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 1 Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 2 Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 3 Departure

Meal plan: Full Board

Detailed 3 day itinerary for Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 1 Drive to Kibale National Park

Early morning, wake up for breakfast and our driver guide will pick you to start the journey to. Along the way, enjoy the fantastic scenery of the countryside. The route you may take is the Kampala to Mubende, Fort Portal road which is the northern route.

The distance from Kampala to Fort Portal is about 300 kilometers followed by 36 kilometers to Kanyanchu. Kanyanchu Visitor center is the main administrative point of Kibale National Park. An alternative route from Kampala is via Mbarara and Kamwenge which is the southern route.

Check into your Lodge

Kibale Accommodation : Primates Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, C.V.K

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Rise up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing. You are distributed into groups of maximum 6 tourists to visit the different chimpanzee troupes. Chimpanzee line in communities of about 100 members under the leadership of an alpha male but each say, the split into smaller groups to feed.

Follow the ranger guide in the forest using the trails constructed by regular visitors to Kibale National Park. On the way, you may encounter other primates like blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, black and white colobus to mention but a few.

Keen birders have a double opportunity of spotting a variety of bird species in Kibale forest like yellow spotted nicator, black eared ground thrush, Abyssinian ground thrush, black bee-eater, blue breasted kingfisher, crowned eagles and others

You may hear the chimpanzees before seeing them because they get to notice your presence and warn others by hooting, beating tree trunks and much more. You can also help trace the chimpanzees by following clues they leave behind like fresh dung, footprints, freshly chewed foliage and much more.

When you finally locate the chimpanzees maximize the one hour allowed with them to enjoy this once in lifetime adventure. Take as many photos as you can but use no flashlight as this scares these chimpanzees and other forest dwellers. Ensure you follow the rules of chimpanzee trekking so as not to fall out with these chimpanzees.

Slowly return to your lodge after the chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park.

In case you are not tired, engage in an optional walk to Bigodi wetland sanctuary with a wide range of wildlife including primates, birds, mongoose and so much more.

Return to the lodge to relax

Day 3 Departure  After Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Take breakfast and park your bags to drive to Kampala or Entebbe airport to catch up with your departure flight.

Note

In case you have extra time on Uganda holiday, you may engage in other Uganda safari activities like game drives, gorilla trekking or habituation experience, water activities, Uganda cultural experience, Uganda birding and others.

Use a professional to help draft the best itinerary that can cover your interests and within your holiday time frame.

How Much Is The Cost Of 3 Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Kibale National Park Uganda?

The cost of 3 day chimpanzee trekking tour to Kibale National park is influenced by the cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit. The current cost of Uganda Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit is $250 for foreign nonresidents, $200 for foreign residents and 300000 shs for East Africans. The cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National park includes park entrance fees.

Other items considered in the cost of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park include number of people travelling with, season, additional Uganda safari activities to combine with chimpanzee trekking and others.

Chimpanzee trekking safari packages in Uganda are categorized into upscale, mid-range and basic.

How Sure Can I Be To See The Chimpanzees In Kibale National Park?

Chimpanzees viewership in Kibale national Park has 98% chances. Kibale national Park has the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda that is 1500 chimpanzees and about 15 chimpanzee communities are fully habituated and opened to public visits.

All chimpanzee communities are first habituated a process that gets them familiar to human presence without altering the nature. The chimpanzee habituation process may take over 3 years until they are confirmed ready and later opened to the public.

Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up early to follow the chimpanzee communities from de-nesting time and establish there possible hangout points. Some of these clues are what ranger guides use to help locate the chimpanzees with tourists.

Chimpanzees feed from a particular location for sometime until food is proved insufficient to support all the community members then they relocate. As tourists, you follow the clues provided by the ranger guides as noticed from the chimpanzee’s former feeding area.

Seeing chimpanzees in Kibale National Park is a sure safari activity.

How Long Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park?

The duration of the chimpanzee trekking safari of Kibale National Park depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness like the food location, in case of a fight, death of a major community member and others. some tourists have located the chimpanzees in an hour or more

Along the way, look out for other forest dwellers like the blue monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, pottos, L’Hoest’s and others. The plethora of forest birds in Kibale forest is mind blowing for keen birders.

Upon finding the chimpanzees only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. Chimpanzees have to carry on with there daily life like feeding, disciplining, gathering food and much more. Human presence disrupts the activities of the chimpanzees in the wilderness.

What is chimpanzee trekking?

Chimpanzee trekking is an activity where a limited number of tourists is allowed to spend one hours with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop in the wilderness. Kibale National Park is one of the chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda but you need a chimpanzee permit first. You can do chimpanzee trekking in the morning or afternoon.

How Dangerous Are Chimpanzees In Kibale National Park?

Chimpanzees are not dangerous as long as you abide by the rules of chimpanzee trekking. These chimpanzees are first habituated to human presence so that they can be in position to withstand tourists when they walk in the forest.

Wild chimpanzees normally run into hiding upon spotting humans which is not the case with the habituated troops.

Try not to stare into the eyes of the chimpanzees because this makes them feel insecure and may push them into hiding.

Provoking the chimpanzees may push them into charging so donot even mimic them because you donot know what you are communicating.

Keep the distance of about 7 meters from the chimpanzees so that you are not in very close contact with them because they are wild animals that may spread an infection to you and you to them.

Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking To Kibale National Park Worth The Money And Time?

Chimpanzee trekking is an opportunity to be just meters away from the closest human cousins in the wild. Most of the chimpanzees elsewhere are kept in an environment similar to the forest but these are in there natural setting and have full control over there lives. In the zoos, the chimpanzees are limited by keepers and confines.

Walking in the wild as you search for the chimpanzees opens your mind to another life away from the daily chaos and work duties. You may keep wondering how the chimpanzees survive in the wild without a pay cheque or professional medical care. This make you appreciate the free gifts of nature.

Hiring a porter during chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park is one of the ways to directly give back to the local community. This provides revenue source for the locals to keep their interests focused on the long term protection of the chimpanzees other forest dwellers and the forest.

A portion from the money used to book a chimpanzee trekking permit is used to support the conservation of the chimpanzees and other forest dwellers. Part of the money collected from the annual sales from chimpanzee permits is given to the local community to run their day today lives.

Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park Difficult?

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park terrain is generally flat although there some high altitude areas. The trails of Kibale forest can be navigated on foot without having to hike. The Under growth of this forest is lower but may be the creeper that drape down the hug trees. The ranger guides use machetes to create visibility and enable tourists to see the chimpanzees more clearly.

When packing for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, do park the right gears to protect your body from harsh conditions in the wilderness.

What Is The Age Limit For Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park?

12 years and over is the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. This is to enable the tourists to walk through the jungle without delaying the rest. The chimpanzees trekking adventure requires some patience which children below 12 years may not be in position to abide with.

At first site, chimpanzees are intimidating and may be hard for children below 12 years to overcome there advances which may cause some commotion.

There is a children’s program in Kibale national park as parents go chimpanzee trekking. There are children’s ranger guides skilled in dealing with children that help them appreciate nature. This children program teaches children about the biosphere and ecosystems. Children take part in pond dipping, cyanotype, batik making and other activities.

What To Pack For Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park

A camera to take photos and keep memories of this once in a lifetime adventure with the chimpanzees

Safari foldable hat with a large brim to protect your head from buzzing insects in the jungle.

Safari convertible trousers and log sleeved shirt in wilderness friendly colors like tan and Khaki to use while in the jungle. Camouflage is not accepted in Uganda as this is related to military wear.

Warmers as it gets so cold in the morning and late afternoons so you need to keep warm.

Foldable waterproof bottle to carry with water in order to quench thirst

Waterproof backpack on wilderness friendly colors that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Safari waterproof boot to use when walking through the jungle which is quite slippery and soggy from the decomposing matter.

Garden gloves to hold a tighter grip on to the vines while walking along the trails

A pair of binocular to capture a better vision of the far ranging features in the jungle.

Rain coat in case it falls as these tropical rain forest may receive rains the entire day

Hard cash to use as a means of exchange when purchasing on ground items like souvenirs as credit cards are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

First aid kit with medication for emergency treatment.

Insect repellant to apply and keep away insects that may hurt you while in the jungle.

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from insects that buzz in the jungle.

Fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one run low.

Energy treats to munch on as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time you are in the jungle.

An adopter and charger in case you need to recharge your gargets.