Is Kibale forest the best place to see chimpanzees in the world

Is Kibale forest the best place to see chimpanzees in the world? Yes, Kibale Forest National Park is the best place in the world to see chimpanzees. This park was gazetted to protect the tropical rainforest and all the wildlife species living there at the time, especially the chimpanzees. The forest currently has the highest number of chimpanzees in the world, making it the best place to encounter these primates.

Kibale Forest National Park is located in Kabarole district where it covers over 321 sq.km of tropical rainforest. The forest is home to large troops of chimpanzees which can be visited in their natural habitat at any time of the year. Kibale forest is also the best place to see chimpanzees in the world because it has more than a 99% chance of meeting these apes.

Kibale Forest National Park is the best place to see chimpanzees in the whole world. The park has attracted thousands of tourists from different parts of the world who are interested in seeing these apes in their natural habitats. The park has the highest population of these animals in the whole world and tourists who visit the forest get an opportunity of seeing these chimpanzees at a very close range.

Seeing chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park

To see chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park, tourists need to have either a trekking or habituation permit. With a valid permit, trekkers of the day will have to travel to Kanyanchu Visitor’s Centre for a briefing from the rangers. These teach the dos and don’ts of the activity before grouping and letting trekkers go into the jungle.

From the briefing center, trekkers drive for a few minutes to the starting point of the trekking and here they are left with the armed ranger guides to go into the jungle and search for where these apes could be. Different trekking trails are used when searching for these chimpanzees and while going through them there are chances of seeing attractions of the park like mammals, primates, and birds.

To find any of the chimpanzee troops in Kibale Forest might take 2 to 3 hours and as soon as the trekkers spot them they are allowed to be around them for a given period of time. Trekking comes with one hour around these chimpanzees while habituation comes with 4 hours of being with apes making them get used to human presence around them.

While around chimpanzees, trekkers get an opportunity to learn about their habits, take photos, and record videos. Trekkers also get a chance to encounter them carrying out daily activities like playing, breastfeeding, hunting, mating, and nesting among others. Trekkers who are in habituation get an opportunity to take part in the activities that make these apes get used to the human presence around them.

The cost of chimpanzee permits in Kibale

To see chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park you need chimpanzee permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The forest has fully habituated chimpanzee troops that require trekking permits and semi-habituated chimpanzees that require habituation permits. A chimpanzee trekking permit costs $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX180,000 for citizens of East African Member states.

The chimpanzee habituation permits of Kibale Forest National Park cost $300 for foreign non-residents, $250 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East African member states. The chimpanzee permits come with paid park entrance fees, guide fees, and nature walks on the day of trekking.

The best time to see chimpanzees of Kibale

The driest months of the year June to September and December to February are the best times to see these chimpanzees. This is because the 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 and scattered with a good view of the apes and the roads are easier to drive through.

Tourists who get time during the rainy season from March to May and October to November can still trek chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park. The park is open however tourists should know that the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with unclear views of some chimpanzees and the roads are in a poor state.