15 Frequently Asked Questions About Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Kibale National Park

Find 15 Frequently asked questions about Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park. The chimpanzee habituation experience is the act of escorting the researchers and habituators as they follow a community of chimpanzees in the forest without altering their natural behavior (not dictionary definition). They look out for daily chimpanzee activities, and behavior, and get them to familiarize with the presence of humans. The habituators aim not to alter the natural life of chimpanzees.

The chimpanzee habituators start their day as early as 0530hours to 0630hiurs as the chimpanzees de-nest, following them until nesting time in the late evening hours. Chimpanzee habituation in Kibales National Park is mainly conducted in the shoulder seasons that is March to May and November when there fewer tourists visits in the field.

Kibale Forest National park in Uganda is home to the largest number of habituated chimpanzees even in Africa.

Chimpanzees have a DNA of about 98% human so you need to be alert when in the forest because they operate a spy network just in case intruders come into their vicinity. In case you do something suspicious, they beat the tree trunks to alert others.

Where Is Kibale National Park

Kabale National Park is a tropical rainforest in western Uganda. Its varied vegetation cover makes it a biosphere reserve where over 13 primate species including chimpanzees find a home.

Since the forest shares a border with Queen Elizabeth National Park, some wild animals enjoy the park treats. Some of the wild animals you may get to see include forest elephants, Giant Forest Hogs, duikers, warthogs, water bucks, bush bucks and so many others.

The park is found in Kibale District, Kabalore district, and Fort Portal city.

How To Book Chimpanzee Habituation Permits In Kibale National Park

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for selling the chimpanzee habituation permits. At times getting through the long queue of calls to secure a chimpanzee trekking permit is disturbing so at Encounter Africa Safaris, we book these permits on behalf of our clients.

For conservation reasons, there is a limit to the number of chimpanzee habituation permits issued so that the forest is not overcrowded. If many people are admitted into the forest to do chimpanzee habituation, they may trample on vegetation which is food for the chimpanzees.

Even chimpanzees are still under supervision in order to get accustomed to human presence. Bombarding them with crowds will retard the habituation process.

What Is The Cost Of A Chimpanzee habituation Permit In Kibale National Park?

As of now the chimpanzee trekking permit of Kibale National Park costs $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and 150000 shs for East African Residents. You need to have dates and the number of people traveling with.

At Encounter Africa Safaris we book chimpanzee habituation permits on behalf of our clients. We request you to forward us some details later.

How To Do Chimpanzee habituation In Kibale National Park

Converge at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing from the ranger guide together with other researchers and other habituators. You go through the rules of chimpanzee habituation before heading for the big follow-up.

Rangers give you guidelines of chimpanzee trekking like no dumping in the forest, leave a distance of about 8 meters from the Chimpanzees when you locate them, no feeding the chimpanzees and so much more.

Look out for others primates like L’Hoest’, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, bush baby and so much more.

A plethora of birds lives in the forest too so look out for them especially keen birders. Even some Albertine endemics may present themselves to you

When you locate the chimpanzees, look out for their feeding behavior, the way they relate with each other and so much more as you wish to see. Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you meet them. Take photographs as memories of your chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National park

Which Accommodation To Book For Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park

Kibale National park has accommodations ranging from Luxury accommodations to Moderate Accommodations to Budget accommodations. The choice of where to overnight depends on one’s budget.

Some of these facilities can be found in the park, on the outskirts of the park, and in Fort Portal City. Some of the accommodations include:

Kyaninga Lodge, Primates Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kibale Safari Lodge, Chimps Nest, Mountains Of the Moon Hotel.

How Difficult Is Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale National Park

The topography of Kibale forest National Park is fairly flat so no need to hike any ridges or hills. Kibale Forest is highest at the Park’s northern tip standing at an altitude of about 1590 meters above sea level.

Kibale forest may be a tropical forest but its rains have particular seasons that is March to May and September to November. The forest may be wet during these seasons but trails are passable. The area receives average annual rainfall of about 1700mm with average temperature range of about 14 to 27 degrees centigrade.

Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park in wet seasons requires you to have a pair of binoculars because chimpanzees feed from trees branches other than close to the wet ground.

How To Get To Kibale National Park For Chimpanzee Habituation

Two routes are available from Kampala city or Entebbe Airport to Kibale national park for chimpanzee habituation

By Road

Kampala to Mubende to Fortportal

This road trip is the northern route taking about 300km of Tarmac road to go through Fort Portal City then proceed on murram road to Sebitori Forest Camp

Kampala to Mbarara to Kamwenge

This is the southern route heading to Kanyanchu.

By Air

Each day scheduled domestic flights to depart Entebbe Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kasese airport. You need to hire a transfer vehicle from the Airstrip to Kibale National Park.

Charter flight arrangements can be made upon request. Advance booking must be made prior to travelling for chimpanzee habituation.

What Is The Age Limit For Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale National Park

Age 12 above is allowed to do chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National park. This is because this age is expected to be fit enough to take on the long or short walk to locate the chimpanzees. Even chimpanzees have teasing behavior that may scare children below this age. The forest is rough sometimes which requires patience before locating the chimpanzees.

What Activities Can Children do In Kibale National Park

Children below 12 years have activities in the park that are suitable for their delicate age like learning about the ecosystem and its inhabitants through short interesting walks, taking part in games like cyanotype, photography, pond dipping and so much more.

The parents may go for chimpanzee habituation and leave the children in the hands of the professional children ranger to take them through this educative time for about 1 hour to 2 hours.

How Long Is Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale National Park

The chimpanzees are mobile especially the still under habituation chimpanzees so more patience is required. Locating them may take between 2 hours to 4 hours depending on the forest conditions.

How many People are allowed To Do Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale National Park

Only 4 tourists are allowed to do chimpanzee habituation with researchers so they are not overwhelmed by human presence.

Are There Discounted Chimpanzee Habituation Permits For Kibale National Park

No discount is given on Chimpanzee habituation permits for Kibale National Park

What Do Chimpanzees Feed On

Chimpanzees are vegetarian but in times of drought, they can feed on monkeys. They eat ants to supplement there diet.

What To Pack For Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale National Park

A pair of binoculars that will help you get a clearer picture of the chimpanzees in case they are up in the trees or hiding in the bushes.

A Flash-less camera to take photos when told to do so by the researchers.

Long sleeved shirt and trousers in wilderness friendly colors like Khaki to wear while in the field. They protect your skin from the harsh conditions of the forest.

Insect repellant to keep away stinging insect from your body.

A cap or large brim hat to protect your hair from dripping water off the leaves.

An extra fully charged camera battery to alternate with when one runs low.

A torch to use in the night when lights go out at your lodge

Toiletries just in case your lodge doesn’t provide them.

Note book or journal and pen to note down every activity that the chimpanzees do while following them with Researchers.

Water bottle to carry drinking water that you need while in the forest

Some hard cash in case you need to do any domestic transactions since credit cards are rarely used in the countryside.

What Are Chimpanzee Habituation Rules For Kibale National Park

Must be fully immunized of Covid-19 or any other communicable infections before the day of chimpanzee habituation. This must be backed by a certificate for confirmation.

Do not liter the forest with any wraps as these alter the forest nature yet it is the sole food basket for the chimpanzees.

Do not eat while in front of the chimpanzees because they may be forced to grab it from you. Besides they are wild animals that should look for their own food.

In case you want to defecate, ask your ranger guide to dig a hole of about 30 meters deep and cover it well beyond recognition. This is to keep proper forest hygiene and prevent chimpanzees from getting curious about what is buried.

Never provoke the chimpanzees because they can charge just like humans snap.

Children below 12 years are not allowed to do chimpanzee habituation.

When you locate the chimpanzees try to keep a gap of about 8 meters from them for clearer observation and also reduce on the chances of transmitting any possible infection to them.

Do not enter the forest for habituation without a ranger guide because they are more familiar with the forest and they understand the behavior of these chimpanzees better.

Why Encounter Africa Safaris

Encounter Africa safaris is one of the most trusted Destination Management outfits for Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have been in the business of organizing memorable safaris for the last 20 years and we know what it means. We have a team of well-trained safari consultants and safari guides who will make sure that whatever you request is attended to. For more information about 15 frequently asked questions about chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National park, do not hesitate to get in touch.