This 3 Days Chimpanzee tracking Safari in Kibale national park takes you to one of Africa’s primate hubs for wonderful encounters with chimpanzees and other 12 primates. Kibale National park is located in the Western part of Uganda and covers an area of 795 square kilometres. The park consists of mainly tropical rain-forest with vast woodlands and Savannah. The rain-forest is an extension of those found in central Africa although time and human activity has reduced its size considerably.
Kibale National Park has a population of over 1,500 chimpanzees, 12 other primates, 60 mammals, 375 species of birds and 351 of trees. Some of the trees in the forest can grow up to 55 meters in height while others are over 200 years old. Before we go further, it is important to mention that Kibale forest is also home to forest elephants, leopards, lions (from Queen Elizabeth), warthogs, hippos and giant forest pigs.
This tour has an option of going for the chimpanzee habituation experience. Chimp habituation experience involves tracking the chimpanzees with researchers as they go about habituating wild chimpanzees. The experience is more comprehensive than standard chimpanzee trekking and requires following the chimps throughout the day. You have a greater chance of witnessing rare chimpanzee behaviour like hunting other animals for meat. If you choose to go for the 3 day chimpanzee habituation Experience in Kibale forest National Park, then you will spend the whole day taking part in the habituation of chimps. Chimpanzee habituation requires waking up earlier than usual to reach the chimps before they start moving out of their nests. You then follow them with the rangers and researchers throughout the day. During this time, you watch the chimps begin their day, feed, interact and finally make their nests for the night.
The 3 days chimpanzee trekking tour in Kibale includes a primates walk in Kanyanchu, birding and a visit to the local community.
DETAILED TOUR PLAN:
Day 1: Pickup and transfer to Kibale National Park – Nature walk at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
A driver Guide from Nsheka African Adventures will pick you up from the airport to start your 4-hour journey to Kibale National Park. You will continue to Fort Portal town via Mubende where your will have lunch. Fort Portal is one of the most beautiful towns in Uganda. If time allows, the Guide will take you to spot the ‘Amabere ga nyina mwiru’ caves, the King (Omukama’s) palace and the royal tombs in Karambi. During your journey, you will be impressed by the beautiful sites of cater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains. Once you arrive at the park, you will be taken to your place of accommodation for Check in. Later in the Afternoon take a guided nature walk in Bigodi swamp. Bigodi wetlands sanctuary is one of the best places to see birds in Uganda. It is also host to several primates and creatures like the swamp antelope (Sitatunga), Bush bucks, Mongooses, Bush pigs and Otters. The Bigodi Swamp is home to the Papyrus Gonolek, Hornbills, Weaver birds, Waxbills, Kingfishers, Cuckoos, Flycatchers and the Great Blue Turaco.
Dinner and overnight at
Luxury Accommodation: Primates Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake lodge. Mid-range accommodation: Turaco Treetops / Crater Safari Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking (or chimpanzee habituation experience), primates walk in Kanyanchu and birding excursion
Wake up early and ensure that you take heavy breakfast in preparation for a long day of activities. The key activity will be chimpanzee tracking during the Kanyanchu primates walk. The walk will expose you to the thirteen primates found in Kibale National park and beautiful rain-forest, trees and butterflies. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale starts with a briefing at the park office. The Rangers will locate the group by following their hoots and calls. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is more predictable compared to the ones in Nyungwe in Rwanda or Budongo forest in Murchison Falls National Park. They are easier to find than anywhere else in Uganda. 3 large communities of chimps have been habituated in Kibale forest. An advance team is sent to locate them before letting the lead ranger know using radio call. Chimpanzee trekking takes between two to four hours depending on the location of the particular group you are assigned.
During your one-hour encounter with the Chimps, you will notice that they are very mobile primates. They tend to move a lot and do not stay on the ground most of the time like mountain gorillas. You have to prepare to follow them for a while as they swing from tree to tree. Chimps are also very noisy and vocal compared to mountain gorillas. Apart from the chimps, the primates walk in Kanyanchu will expose you to all of the primates in the park including pottos, Grey Vervet Monkeys, baboons, Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey checked mangabey, blue monkeys and Red Tailed Monkeys.
After being with one chimp family for an hour, you will continue to see the other primates in the park before returning back to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go to the boardwalk trail for birding. The Guide will share with you information about the forest, its history and the creatures that call it home. The afternoon boardwalk is only for those who would be doing chimpanzee trekking. If you are booked for the chimpanzee habituation experience, then you will have no time for birding.
Enjoy your dinner and overnight at your mentioned lodge above.
Day 3: Visit the Community – transfer back to Entebbe or Kampala
Wake up at your leisure and take breakfast. Prepare to start your journey back to Kampala for your drop off location in Kampala or at the Airport.
End of Safari
The Tour above includes:
- Chimpanzee permits or Chimpanzee habituation permits
- Visiting the Bigodi Wetlands sanctuary
- Park entrance fees
- Driver/ Guide fees
- Transportation and fuel in a 4×4 Wheel drive vehicle
- Accommodation for 2 nights
- Meals and water throughout the trip
- Airport transfers
The above tour Excludes:
- Private Expenses like laundry, alcoholic drinks and tips Airplane Tickets and Visa Fees
- Hotels expenses for the night before and after the trip
What to wear on your Chimpanzee trekking tour
- Sturdy and water proof hiking boots to help you navigate through thick forest and slippery terrain.
- It is also important to have good hand gloves to help when grabbing thorny leaves and tree branches.
- Long sleeved shirts, trousers and socks to help protect against insects and sharp trees. The socks should be tucked in the trousers.
- Go prepared with a rain jacket and sweater especially during the wet season. An Insect repellent to keep off mosquitoes and many of the other tropical insects A hat to protect against the sun.
- If you are not used to the different jungle sounds, carry with you ear plugs
- It is important to carry enough drinking water and packed lunch when heading out to track chimpanzees.
- The activity can take longer than expected and leave you exhausted and hungry. Light snacks and water will give you energy
- Never forget to move with a good Camera and binoculars. Chimps love to swing on top of trees and without a good binocular, you may not see the primates well.
