How many people/trekkers can go for chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale

Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park is done by a maximum of 4 people only per day, and these include researchers so that the chimpanzees are not overwhelmed by large crowds since the chimpanzees are still in the habituation process.

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Chimpanzee habituation refers to the process where the chimpanzees are observed and trained to get used to human presence so that they are ready for trekking and open to the public. When the 4 people start the exercise, they have 4 hours with the chimpanzees, and since the chimpanzees that are seen during the habituation process are semi-habituated, expect some weird behavior as they are not yet used to human presence. Some so many tourists are interested in the chimpanzee habituation but the first step is by purchasing the chimpanzee habituation permit through a trusted tour operator from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kibale National Park is the primate destination on the African continent with over 1500 chimpanzees and 13 different primate species in the park, including L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons and Ruwenzori monkeys, among others. Chimpanzee habituation is a bit different from chimpanzee trekking when it comes to the cost of the gorilla permit and the hours spent with the primates. Contact us for more information.

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation permits in Kibale

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation permit is a bit higher as compared to the standard chimpanzee trekking, and this is because, with the habituation experience, you get to spend more time with the chimpanzee in their natural habitat. The cost of the habituation permit is as below:

Foreign non-residents $300

EAC citizens UGX250, 000

Foreign residents $250.

The cost of the permit was increased in 2024 to improve the services rendered to tourists visiting Kibale National Park for chimpanzee habituation.

Booking and purchasing the chimpanzee habituation permit in Uganda

The first step is knowing the dates you wish to participate in the habituation process and this has to be communicated to the tour operator in advance. You also have to communicate the number of people you are purchasing for as the number is restricted to only 4 people.

After sending the inquiry with the dates and the permits to be purchased, the tour consultant will check for the availability of the permits and if the response is negative, you will be asked to change to available dates. Once the permits have been proven to be available, we request you to make the payments for the permits as soon as possible and make sure to inform your bank to cover the withdrawal charges so that the money sent is not less. After we confirm that the payments have been made, we will proceed and make the purchase on your behalf, and a scanned copy will be sent for record purposes and as proof of purchase.

When to book the chimpanzee habituation permit

Chimpanzee habituation is an all-year-round activity open to tourists in Kibale National Park, and the best time to book the permit is 3 to 6 months before the trek date and this is because there are few permits printed per day.

The dry season (June to September and December to February) receives less rainfall and since during the exercise you are going to be following the chimpanzees as they go about their daily activities, it is better to do the habituation exercise when there is less humidity in the forest and the trails easy to use when they are not slippery and wet. The dry season is also a good time to go for habituation exercises because chimpanzees can easily pick their food like leaves, fruits, and soft stems, among others.

The rainy season (March to May and October to November) is also a good time to go for habituation because you have fewer chances of being disturbed during the habituation process as there are few tourists in the national park during this period. You also have the best time to explore the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, take photos and record videos since there are few people in the park.

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation safari

The cost of the chimpanzee habituation safari in Uganda is affected by several factors, including the cost of the permit, which is $300 per person, the number of days spent on the safari, other activities added to the safari, the number of people in a group and the type of safari package chosen. Below is a detailed explanation of the factors that affect the cost of the safari.

The safari package: There are three safari packages offered in Kibale and these are luxury, mid-range and budget packages. The higher the safari package chosen, the better the services offered and more money spent and the lesser the package, the fewer services offered in the quotation.

The number of days: The more days you spend on your chimpanzee habituation safari, the more you get to spend on the services that are offered daily, including accommodation and transport. When you spend more days in Kibale National Park, the more you are going to spend and vice versa.

The number of people: The chimpanzee habituation safari is more affordable when you travel in groups because you get to share the costs of some services, including transport and accommodation. When you have a solo safari, it becomes expensive as all the services are paid for by one person.

The season of travel: There are two seasons of travel, and these are the dry season, which is also known as the peak season, and the rainy season, which is also known as the low season. The dry season has large crowds of tourists, and this leads to service providers increasing the cost of the services rendered, making it an expensive time to travel for the safari. The low season offers occasional discounts, especially on accommodation and other services.

Number of activities combined with chimpanzee habituation: When you come for a chimpanzee habituation exercise in Kibale, you can easily combine it with other safari activities, which include bird watching, guided nature walks, game drives and boat rides, among others. The more activities added to your safari, the more money you get to pay, and fewer activities mean a budget-friendly safari.

Chimpanzee habituation experience

On the day of the chimpanzee habituation experience, you will start off the day with breakfast early morning, and you need to get your lunch packed because you will need it since you do not know the time you are going to spend in the forest. After packing your food, you will head out to meet your guide, who will then lead you into the forest. You will be taken to the place where the chimpanzees set up their nests the previous night and if you wake up early, you will find the chimpanzees getting up from their nests and going about their day-to-day activities. There are several activities that you get to see the chimpanzees participating in, and these include hunting for food, resting, grooming the young ones and patrolling, among others.

Two groups are formed when going for chimpanzee habituation in Kibale and each group has to undergo a morning briefing. The briefing is to teach the different individuals about the rules and regulations to follow during the trek. Each of the two groups is given a guide, researchers and armed rangers at the start of the exercise, and they use different trails when following the chimpanzees around. The first to spot the chimpanzees communicate with the other group using radio calls.

The chimpanzee communities have many family members, and trekkers get the chance to be around different individuals, especially after they break away to form smaller groups, which makes it easy for them to search for food. After this, they reconvene in the evening as they set up their nests for the night. During the habituation process, the trekkers will be able to learn more about the chimpanzees, take videos and photos, and learn about the habits of the chimpanzees like hunting, resting, mating, feeding, nesting and grooming the young ones, among others. Note that each individual has unique characters that you can get to see when you spend more time with them.

Is chimpanzee habituation difficult?

No, chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest National Park is not difficult but you need to be patient and keep up with the ranger guides. There are some difficulties that you might face along the way, like thick bushes, rainfall, wet and slippery trek routes, and bug bites, among others. You need to be physically fit and carry long-sleeved shirts and trousers to keep your body safe from bug bites and scratches; you have to be extremely patient and expect anything because this is the wilderness.

Is chimpanzee habituation safe?

Yes, chimpanzee habituation exercise is safe because the government, UWA and other security agencies have come up with measures to make sure that the exercise is safe. The national park has 24/7 security provided by the army and the armed rangers who make sure that the chimpanzees are protected at all times. Some rules and regulations need to be followed when participating in the chimpanzee habituation process and these include the following:

• The maximum number of people to participate in the chimpanzee habituation exercise is 4 per trek.
• The trek age limit for participating in the habituation exercise is 12 years and above. There is no maximum age limit for as long as you are still physically fit.
• Avoid touching the chimpanzees to avoid transmitting infections to the chimpanzees
• You have to follow all the rules and guidelines given to you by the guides.
• Eating, drinking and smoking when with the chimpanzees is prohibited.
• Feeding the chimpanzees during the habituation process is prohibited
• If you are sick with viral infections like flu and cough, volunteer to stay back and not participate in the exercise to protect the chimpanzees.
• As you cough or sneeze when with the chimpanzees, turn away from them, cover your mouth and use your elbow to sneeze and cough.
• Always make sure that you stay closer to the habituation group so that you do not get lost in the wilderness. Kibale National Park is home to other wildlife species which you might want to avoid during the exercise.
• No one will be allowed to go for the exercise without a ranger guide, as you might encounter dangerous animals like forest elephants, hogs, and buffaloes, among others.
• Fecal matter is supposed to be buried in a 30cm hole which is supposed to be covered well so that the chimpanzees do not dig it up. Note that there are no toilets in the national park and this is why a hole is dug away from the group.
• Keep a distance of 8 meters from the chimpanzees, and never approach them, but in case they approach you, do what the guides tell you.
• When you get to the chimpanzees, avoid surrounding them as they feel trapped.

What to bring for your chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park

To be on the safe side, you need to pack right for the chimpanzee habituation safari in Kibale National Park. The list is endless, and you might want to pack everything, this is why we have come up with the best list for packing in Kibale National Park.

• Clothes should come in neutral colors like brown, green, grey and any other neutral colors. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers are the best for the safari because they protect you from the sun, bug bites and branch scratches from the trees.
• Hike boots which are ankle-length, comfortable and waterproof.
• Insect repellent to keep the bugs away
• Sunscreen and a sunhat
• Garden gloves
• Refillable water bottle
• Snacks
• Socks and gaiters
• Warm clothes like warm sweaters for when the weather changes.
• Waterproof rain jacket
• Waterproof backpack to carry all your essentials
• A camera and binoculars.

Get in touch with us for more information about chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest National Park.