A baby Chimpanzee hanging by a tree photographed while on a chimpanzee trek.

3 Days Chimpanzee Habituation Safari – Kibale National Park

Duration

Overview

The chimpanzee habituation experience is an activity recently introduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows one to spend more time with the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best places to see the chimpanzees in Uganda and is one of Uganda’s most popular parks. Located in the beautiful western part of Uganda, the national park is rich in bio-diversity offering the visitor a wonderful experience amidst the evergreen moist forest.

Kibale Forest National Park hosts a number of primate species and has achieved the international recognized title “the primate capital of the world.” 13 primate species have been recorded in Kibale forest with some of these species being endangered and listed an important species that should be conserved by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Kibale Forest National Park is a diverse park that is worth visiting and truly lives up to its name of being the primate capital of the world!

Included/Excluded

Chimpanzee Habituation Permit
Safari car and fuel
English speaking tour and driver guide
Drinking water in the car
Meals
Accommodation for 1 night at a lodge near Kibale National Park
Activities as listed in the package

Optional Activities
International Flights
Tips and Laundry at the lodge
Uganda Visa charges
Insurance
Other personal expenses while on the tour

Tour Plan

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala and Transfer to Kibale National Park

The tour starts with pick up by your driver guide at 7:00am in the morning from your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe where you will have arrived the previous night. You then start the journey to Kibale National Park in western Uganda. The journey to the park is a 5 hours’ drive with a stopover in Fort portal town for lunch. The drive is scenic as it takes you through the ever green landscape of Uganda as you drive past busy local trading centers. Journey time: 5 hours Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Turaco Treetops (Mid-range) or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

The habituation experience is a full day activity that starts very early in the morning, as early as 6:00am. You get to watch the chimpanzee right from when they de-nest and start the day and then follow them throughout the day leaving the forest in the evening time. This gives you a glimpse into what a typical day for the chimpanzee in Kibale forest looks like. Chimpanzees are active and cheeky primates so spending a day with them will include following them around as you watch them. As you do this the park guides and researchers from Kibale National Park will take you through the behaviour of chimpanzees and how they exist in their communities. The researchers are also the one responsible for habituating the chimpanzees, habituation involves a process of studying the chimpanzees and slowly get them used to human interaction with minimal wild attacks. The habituation process can take up to five years before the park guides and researcher declare a chimpanzee community ready for visitors. The habituated chimpanzee families are the ones visitors spend time with while on a chimpanzee trek in Uganda. The chimp community that you spend time with on this day is still under habituation so the group is rather shy but since you will be with researchers who have spent a long time interacting with the chimps it will be much easier for them to open up to your presence. The entire day is spent with an armed park ranger guide for safety. After a wonderful day with the chimps you return to the lodge for overnight and dinner. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Travel back to Kampala

After the rewarding chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale you will start the journey back to Kampala arriving later in the day. Your guide will then drop you off at your hotel or the airport for your flight.

What to carry for your chimpanzee Habituation experience