Introduction
Kibale Forest National Park is a prime habitat of the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Uganda, harboring about 1500 chimpanzee individuals out of the 5,000 found in the whole country. Down in the dark rainforests of Kibale Forest National Park, the chimpanzees hold 90% of a man’s DNA, fastening the habituation process of the chimpanzees.
The chimpanzee is an endangered species of primates since they were so much hunted down by wild hunters for bush meat, reducing their number gradually to critically endangered. This story was later changed by Dr. Goodall who pioneered the conservation of these lovely apes.
What is chimpanzee trekking?
Chimpanzee trekking is the process of moving through the thick rain forests in search of the habituated chimpanzees and spending an hour watching the chimpanzee behaviors. Chimpanzee trekking can mainly be carried out at Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kalinzu Forest of Bushenyi, however, Kibale Forest National Park is the best of them all since it has the highest concentration of the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best thought-after activities by tourists on safaris and yet the most involving and awarding activities, spending time with the profound apes. Kibale Forest was designated in 1995 as a forest reserve and park majorly to put an end to illegal lumbering. Trees recovered their original nature which attracted the chimpanzees to gazette the 795 square kilometers of land covered by over 351 tree species, becoming the most common tourist attraction inspiring Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA to habituate the chimpanzees and make them used to human presence since they are wild. The habituation process for the start was successful introducing chimpanzee trekking in the primate capital.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park begins with a briefing at the Kanyanchu guest information center. Here you will be briefed about the chimpanzee trekking etiquette, and the dos and don’ts while tracking these primates. You will have a ranger guide who will help you locate the chimpanzee group that you have been assigned to track through the thick forests. Tracking commences at 8:00 am East African time with a pre-tracking briefing before heading out to the forest.
The chimpanzees are very easy to find due to the loud noise they make while they are playing in the forests. You will find them playing with their young ones swinging from one tree branch to another and having some good fun. When found, you will spend an hour with the chimpanzees as you watch them play, feed their young ones, and jump from one tree to another. Fighting in the life of the chimpanzees is very common as the males always want to show dominance.
The chimpanzees can communicate with humans using sign language and very much make permanent homes to stay in during the day as they move and after the tiresome day, they return and rest. After the 2-4 hours of chimpanzee trekking, you can return to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide. He will then transfer you back to your lodge for relaxation. While returning, you will enjoy the gallery after viewing colorful butterfly species in the forests and several birds echoing with the chimpanzees.
How much are the chimpanzee trekking permits?
Chimpanzee trekking permits vary per chimpanzee trekking area and based on Kibale Forest National Park, foreign non-residents pay 300 USD per person, foreign residents pay 250 USD per person then all East African citizens pay 250,000 UGX per person.
When is the best time for chimpanzee trekking?
The best time for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park is the dry season when the trails are dry with short grass easing the chimpanzee trekking activity through the forests. The park is however a rainforest area offering chances of rain even in the dry season so as you go for trekking ensure to carry a jacket with you.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park can be combined with game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park or gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This will always give you a complete package where you will have an experience of wildlife and primates as well. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park is always combined with a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland or a Bigodi community walk where you have to visit the local community members and interact with them.
On the other hand, Kibale National Park is a birder’s paradise hosting over 375 bird species and this makes the park one of the birding destinations that Uganda boasts to have.