How to spend more time with chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park
How to spend more time with chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park: Kibale Forest National Park is a chimpanzee destination located in Kabarole district in Uganda. It is the only place that allows tourists to spend more time with the chimpanzees by doing an activity called chimpanzee habituation. Chimpanzee habituation involves trekkers searching for the chimpanzees and being around the members for a maximum of 4 hours.
Tourists that are intending to spend more hours with the chimpanzees should know that Kibale Forest National Park is the only national park in Uganda with such activity. The park has the highest number of chimpanzees in the whole world making it the best chimpanzee destination. Some of the chimpanzees in Kibale have been habituated, others are going through habituation and the rest are still wild.
Tourists that are intending to visit Kibale to spend more hours with the chimpanzees simply need the chimpanzee habituation experience. To be part of this experience, one needs to purchase a habituation permit which comes with 4 hours around the semi-habituated chimpanzees. It’s sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority a government agency managing and controlling the park.
The cost of chimpanzee habituation permits?
To see chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park for longer hours, one must purchase chimpanzee habituation permits. These are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority a government agency managing and controlling park activities. Each chimpanzee habituation permit costs $300 for foreign non-residents, $250 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East African Member States.
Spending time with the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee habituation is the only way tourists can spend more time with chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. The activity takes trekkers to meet semi-habituated chimpanzees that are not yet used to human presence around them. The trekkers then take part in the activities that make these animals get used to the human presence around them.
Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale is done by a few people compared to trekking. Early in the morning of trekking, all trekkers gather at Kanyanchu Visitors Centre for a briefing from the rangers. The briefing teaches the trekkers the rules and regulations of the activity for the safety of the trekkers and the wildlife in the jungle.
After the briefing is done, trekkers are given a team of armed ranger guides, researchers, and doctors to head into the jungle and search for the semi-habituated chimpanzees. Searching goes through different trekking trails where trekkers get an opportunity to meet some of the forest mammals, primates, birds as well as vegetation.
After 2 to 3 hours of searching or even less, trekkers get to meet the chimpanzees and they are able to be around them for over 4 hours. In the 4 hours around the chimpanzees, trekkers get an opportunity to be part of the activities that make these chimpanzees get used to the human presence around them.
While making the chimpanzees get used to the human presence around them, trekkers do get an opportunity to learn about their habits, take photos, and record videos. These chimpanzees are said to be close relatives to human beings and during the visits, tourists get an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors.
After getting done with the chimpanzee habituation, trekkers are asked to move away from the troop to enable the members to carry out their daily activities. As trekkers get out of the jungle, they get an opportunity to meet some of the forest attractions which include the primates, mammals, and birds. After a successful habituation, trekkers are awarded certificates to show they saw the chimpanzees.
Best time to spend time with chimpanzees in Kibale forest
The driest months of the year June to September and December to February are the best to spend time with chimpanzees of Kibale forest. These months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which is the best weather for the activity. The trekking trails are dry and easier to walk through, the vegetation is short with nice views of chimpanzees, and the roads to the park are passable.
Tourists who are interested in chimpanzee habituation can still visit Kibale during the rainy season. The park is open however they should know that the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, and the vegetation is tall with unclear views of some chimpanzees. The period favors tourists who like less crowded places because few tourists travel during this period.
Where to spend a night before or after chimpanzee habituation in Kibale forest?
Kibale Forest National Park is surrounded by a number of accommodation facilities where tourists can spend a night or more during the habituation safari. These accommodation facilities range from budget to mid-range to luxury and they include Ndali Lodge, Kibale Lodge, Rubalika Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge, and Primate Lodge among others.
