Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park takes you to one of the frequently visited parks in Uganda. Kibale national park is located in the western part of Uganda in districts of Kamwenge, Kabarole and Bunyangabu covering an area of 795 square kilometers. The park has mainly tropical rain forest with vast woodlands and savannah and it was established in 1995 to protect the forest so as to stop illegal logging. For years, chimpanzees have found peace and rest in the forest making it a tourist attraction to many. Kibale national park is endowed with a population of over 1500 chimpanzees, 12 primates, 60 mammals such as golden cats, bushbucks, mongooses among others, 375 bird species including black capped Apalis, African pitta, woodland warbler, the black eared ground thrush, blue headed sunbirds, yellow spotted nictator among others and 351 tree species. Within Kibale national park there are also leopards, warthogs, hippos, forest pigs, forest elephants and lions from Queen Elizabeth national park.
Unlike mountain gorillas, chimps are man’s closest relatives considering the fact that they share over 98% of human DNA and each chimp family has a unique culture and way of doing things basing on their habitat and diet. The trek includes chimpanzee habituation experience; chimpanzee habituation is a process of making wild chimps comfortable with human presence. The habituation experience is very vital and it requires following the chimps the whole day. The chimp families are led by the dominant male who ensures that everything moves on smoothly and that everyone is safe.
Note: For one to engage in chimpanzee trekking, you must be 15 years and above but if below you can involve yourself in an educative forest walk
What to expect upon reaching Kibale national park
- Chimpanzee trekking in the park
- Hiking in the rain tropical forest
- Enjoying a beautiful scenery
- lovely community walks
- Learning more about the residents’ culture.
Chimpanzee encounter
Early morning after a cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast, with your packed lunch ready. Our driver guide will pick you up from your lodge to the park headquarters for briefings. The park rangers will give you information about the rain forest of Kibale and also guide you on what and what not to do. You will be allocated the chimpanzee community to track with the ranger guide as the leader and also granted an hour with the chimps as you observe and study their behavior in their natural habitats. The trek will take about 2-5 hours depending on the chimp movements.
It is always great joy after spotting the chimps, you will see the mother breast feeding as she takes care of her young ones, father looking after the family through hunting and spotting out intruders then young playing and jumping on tree branches. Here don’t forget to use your camera appropriately by taking as many photos with the chimps for memories. During this encounter other animals can also be seen such as; baboons, monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys and birds.
After this experience you can have your packed lunch so as to fuel up for the Bigodi village to witness the eye catching Bigodi swamp this swamp is known for having many butterflies, plants, animals and birdlife of over 200 bird species. After that experience, you will have community walks where you will come across vibrant natives who involve themselves in different activities including banana bear making, craft making and their traditional medicines. Then you will return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and a restful night full of memories.
When to visit kibale National Park for a chimp trek
Visiting is preferable in the dry season in the months of June to September or December to February. These periods make trekking easy due to the visibility of the animal trails.
What to pack for your chimp trek.
Sunglasses, sturdy boots, a bottle of water, camera with a good lens and a fleshless and a walking stick
Conclusion
A chimpanzee trekking in Kibale ends with experience and memories remaining as evidence to nature’s wonders and leaving an obligations to everyone to conserve wild life for the future.
For Chimpanzee trekking safari, contact
info@ugandatoursandtravel.com
+256784677767