Facts about chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu

Chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest are mainly used for research purposes but can be opened to public viewing when chimpanzee trekking permits sell out in Kyambura Gorge, especially during the peak season. Kalinzu Forest lies on the periphery of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu forest is one of the best chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda hosting over 320 chimpanzees but at the moment about 50 chimpanzees are fully habituated and ready for visitors. 

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You need to purchase the chimpanzee permits and at the moment the cost of the permits is $100 per person per trek. Chimpanzees are the closest human relatives with about 98% human DNA. Their characters have some resemblance to humans like they are good care takers of there infants, groom, elect there leader the alpha male democratically and so much more.

During chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest, you may encounter other forest dwellers like black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others. Look for a variety of birds that linger in the forest and other forest dwellers.

When is the best time to do chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest?

The dry season which is June, July, August, September, December and January gives chimpanzees an opportunity to traverse the forest freely. Even other forest dwellers are full of life and can easily be traced. The trails of Kalinzu forest are easier to navigate in the dry season since there is less undergrowth to obstruct your way.

Demand for chimpanzee permits for Kalinzu forest is high in the peak season so you need to make advance booking since there is a limit to how many people can see the chimpanzees per session per day.

Prices for logistics that support chimpanzee trekking are quite high due to overwhelming demand worldwide. The accommodations you used for nights before chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest majority are shared with those on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

During the wet season which serves as the low tourism season, demand for chimpanzee safaris is lower giving opportunity for last minute tourists to have find permit availability. There are also other optional Uganda chimpanzee trekking destinations like Kibale National Park and Kyambura Gorge that you can visit.

Since there are fewer people booked for chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest during the low season, chances of going on a solo chimpanzee trek without the company of other tourists are more open in this season.

Where Can I Buy Chimpanzee Permits For Kalinzu Forest?

Chimpanzee permit for Kalinzu forest can be purchased on ground or pre ordered. You need to be eligible for chimpanzee trekking as the age limit is 15 years and over.

The current cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kalinzu Forest is $50 per person per session.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking covers chimpanzee conservation, ranger guide fees, security, government tax, and one hour with the chimpanzees.

Exclusion in the cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kalinzu forest are accommodation, porters, tips and other personal expenses.

How safe is chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest?

Kalinzu forest is very safe for chimpanzee trekking since there are well trained Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides to help protect the wildlife and visitors to this forest. Before each chimpanzee trekking session, you must attend a briefing to take you through the dos and don'ts of this adventure.

• Tourists are implored to stay in a tight group during chimpanzee trekking so as not to look suspicious before the chimpanzee troop which may cause them to run into hiding.
• Never provoke or mimic the chimpanzees because you do not know what you may be communicating.
• You must be in the company of a ranger guide as you proceed to find the chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest. Within the forest are other forest dwellers you may encounter and not habituated to be in the presence of humans.
• Wearing the right chimpanzee trekking gears like safari boots, insect repellant, safari hat, rainproof gears, camera to protect you from harsh surfaces you may encounter during the search for the chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest.
• On the security team are other Uganda security agencies that help to keep law and order in and around the Kalinzu forest. They coordinate with Uganda Wildlife Authority park ranger guides to provide safety to forest inhabitants and visitors. 

On a personal basis, you need to mind your safety by not walking in the forest without an escorting ranger guide. Do not deviate from the rest of the group while on the search for chimpanzees because you may be lost in the forest.

How Long Is Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest?

The duration of the chimpanzee trekking experience in Kalinzu forest is hard to determine but may take about 3 hours to 4 hours. Finding the chimpanzees depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness like having an attack from another chimpanzee community, death of an alpha male, proximity of feeding area, weather conditions prevailing in the day and other factors.

Some level of patience is required of tourists but you can also look out for other interesting forest dwellers like grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus and other interesting features in the wilderness.

Upon finding the chimpanzees of Kalinzu forest, only one hour is allowed with them.

What is the age limit For chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest?

15 years and over is the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest. Chimpanzee trekking involves walking in the wilderness where you may encounter some harsh conditions. Children below 15 years may not be in position to withstand these conditions and so may opt to stop moving yet there is no turning back when you start the chimpanzee search.

 At a glance, the chimpanzees are scaring and children below 15 years may react in a manner that may cause them to charge. Looking suspicious before the chimpanzees may cause a stampede in the wilderness.

While on chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest, the time of finding the chimpanzees is not easy to establish which a child may not be patience enough to bare.

Are chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest dangerous?

No, these chimpanzees are first habituated to human presence. Chimpanzee habituation is a process by which a wild chimpanzee community is helped by researchers and habituators to get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature.

Having a ranger guide is important before walking into the forest to search for the chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest. Normally atleast two rangers escort each tourist group one holding a machete while another carries a rifle. These tools are used for emergency plus a radio call which ranger guides use to communicate with those at base in case backup is needed.

Chimpanzees operate a spy network that helps warn other community members of any intruders in their environment. That is why you need to religiously respect the rules of chimpanzee trekking, or you cause chaos in the forest.

Despite the chimpanzees being habituated, they can also charge when provoked. When agitated, the chimpanzees hoot, beat tree trunks, pull grass around them and walk into hiding.

Do not panic upon noticing such odd behavior but wait for the ranger guides to establish the root cause of the matter. Sometimes, it is an attack from another community, a territorial fight, playtime, and so much more. Follow advice given by the ranger guide on how to go about the situation.

Is chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest Tiresome?

Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest is quite tedious as the location of the chimpanzees is not permanent. Chimpanzees are mobile primates that have no restrictions on where not to surpass. Along the trail is some undergrowth that sometimes protrudes to obstruct the way, but the ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim vines and create away. 

To avoid getting bored while on a chimpanzee trek, you need to look out for other interesting forest inhabitants like the monkey species, several birds, botany, physical features, and so much more.

You can munch on the energy treats you carry for the chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu forest in case you get so tired.

Hire a porter to help you carry your chimpanzee trekking gear so that you can walk freely with nothing to hold you back. A porter is a person who helps you carry your belongings as you walk in the wilderness. You can hire the porter at a friendly price. Hiring a porter is one of the ways to directly give back to the local people as the money they collect is used to run their daily lives.

How Sure Can I Be To See Chimpanzees In Kalinzu Forest?

Seeing the chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest is a sure deal. These chimpanzees are often monitored by the ranger guides to establish their feeding area and possible destination in case they have to move. These clues are what ranger guides accompanying tourists use to trace the chimpanzees. Tourists are asked to participate in searching for the chimpanzees by watching out for traces like footprints, freshly chewed-on foliage, listening to sounds, and so much more.

Chimpanzees live in communities that can only move when the need arises, but they do not move so far unless their peace is antagonized. As the ranger guide leads tourists, they follow the trailhead towards the location where the chimpanzees were last seen the previous day too.

When you fail to find the chimpanzees, the Uganda Wildlife Authority uses its refund policy terms and conditions apply.

What Are The Guidelines For Chimpanzee Trekking In Kalinzu Forest?

• No feeding the chimpanzees because wild animals must look for their own meals.
• Spitting on the vegetation is prohibited because this is food to primates in the forest.
• Dumping wraps or any other waste damages the natural setting of the forest so no dumping. Rwanda is also pro-ecotourism and very strict about throwing garbage in any way to keep the environment as clean as possible.
• In case you wish to ease yourself, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you about 30 meters deep and cover everything beyond recognition.
• Do not smoke or eat while in front of the chimpanzees. They may be tempted to grab it, yet they are wild animals that must search for their own meal.
• Only one hour is allowed to be with the chimpanzees so that they can be left free to eat.
• Try not to surround the chimpanzees because this makes them feel ambushed.
• In case you wish to sneeze or cough do it away from the chimpanzees in order not to spread any infections to them. Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch any infectious illness like flu or COVID-19 just before chimpanzee trekking.

What Is The Packing List For Chimpanzee Trekking In Kalinzu Forest?

• Insect repellants to protect your skin from biting nettles,
• Garden gloves in case you need to grip the creepers tightly.
• Safari boots are comfortable for a trek in the wilderness
• Camera to keep memories of your wild encounter with the chimpanzees.
• Safari hat with a larger brim to protect your hair from water that drips off the leaves.
• Raincoat in case it falls.
• Long trousers and shirt to cover your body. They must be in wilderness friendly colors like tan, khaki, forest green.
• Backpack to carry with your chimpanzees trekking gears
• A sweater or warmer because this area gets so cold in the morning and afternoon.
• A torch to use for night lighting in case lights run out
• Extra hard cash for on ground purchases in case you need to them. Credit cards are not a common means of exchange in Africa because of the lengthy process of acquiring money from them.
• Flip flops to wear after the chimpanzee trek.
• Light Shoe bag to keep in your dirty shoes so that they do not stain other clothes as you park.
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t offer them. 
• Sun glasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects in the jungle.
• Extra fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one runs low.

Contact us in case of further inquiries about chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu.