Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

For many nature and wildlife lovers, the chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda is the ultimate primate tourism Circuit. Occupying about 460 chimp populations globally, Kibale Forest National Park is a favorite spot for researchers, especially primatologists, and eco-travelers given the exposure to wild primates, mainly the Chimps, our closest cousins.

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park lies in the south of the peninsula formed by the western branch of the East African Great Rift Valley in Uganda. Measuring 766 square kilometers in size, this is one of the oldest districts in Uganda and teeming with biodiversity. The park is a mixture of the tropical rainforest, savannah, and wetland to support 70+ mammals and 375 birds.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is undertaken guided and this starts in the morning at the park headquarters in either Sebitoli or Kanyanchu. This is where your guide will meet you and where there is additional information about the apes’ living conditions, their behavior, and ways of living in groups. It is known that chimpanzees have 98% human DNA; they are intelligent creatures that build complex societies; therefore, they are good subjects for observation.

The tracking experience will normally take 2-5 hours this is because you will be tracking deep into the forest sometimes in the upward incline of the forest canopy. Depending on the extent of your journey you will also get to see other primates including the colobus monkeys that are black and white, the red-tailed monkeys, and the grey-cheeked mangabeys as they feed, groom, and even play.

Alternatively, chimpanzees should be spotted and tracked in Kibale at a time between February and November the period which also is known as the dry season and the forest trails here are less slippery. In the case where the chimpanzees are particularly difficult to locate, the Park provides an alternative walk to other miracles of the forest such as crater dimples, birds, and many others.

The chimpanzee habituation experience is therefore equivalent to the chimpanzee tracking experience.

For those who want to spend more time with the chimpanzees, there is the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. This is a prolonged activity (4-6 hours) in which you accompany the park rangers in their daily endeavors of taming the chimpanzees to people. This activity must be booked in advance and up to six people can visit the nest per day making the experience very special and unique.

Effective Strategies and Suggestions

As much as the chimpanzee tracking activity would require hardware elements, other features would be important to consider as an overlay; planning and preparation fully enhance the appreciation of the activity. Here are some practical tips to consider:#

1. It is wise to plan your chimpanzee tracking in advance because many permits are issued and can run out, particularly when the season is high.

2. Choose a qualified local tour operator who has been offering services in the field of chimpanzee tracking and other wildlife viewing in Uganda. This will help you to avoid scams and save you time.

3. Prepare for the physicality of tracking: We have to wear comfortable appropriate footwear that can withstand the rough steep and slippery terrains. Long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, and a wide wide-brimmed hat are also very necessary to avoid bites by mosquitoes, tiches, and other scratches.

4. Ensure that you carry enough water and energy-rich foods and drinks for the time you are going to be in the experience as you will not find time to buy food and drinks.

5. It is mandatory to have enough travel insurance that will cover extra hazardous activities and health complications.

6. When with the chimpanzees please keep 8 meters distance from them and follow the instructions of your guide, also your guide will explain their behaviors and answer every threat you might see.

Conclusion

Chimpanzee tracking just like any other forest within Kibale Forest National Park provides tourists with an excellent chance of coming close to our closest cousins in the wild. By employing the service of a professional guide together with adequate prior planning, this amazing adventure should hopefully be able to give you the much-needed insight and understanding of the diverse wildlife and ecological attributes of Uganda.

The friendly attitude of the chimpanzees and the diverse vegetation in Kibale Forest National Park will always be etched in your memory as you walk/ride back home. Start this journey, and enjoy such splendid and unique experiences appreciating the need to conserve Uganda’s wildlife resources for posterity.