Safari Overview
Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda’s Kibale National Park stands out as one of the most fascinating experiences while on your Uganda safari. Kibale Forest National park is Africa’s top Primates hub giving you the best Chimpanzee tracking moments. The park covers over 795km2 of rainforests, rivers, swamps and some areas with grassland, nestled in the southern part of Uganda. Kibale Forest National park is an extension of the rain forests of Central Africa, although human activities and time contribute to the size reduction. With over 1450 chimpanzees inside, the park is a true gem for primate lovers. It also boasts other 12 primate species like monkeys, mammals like elephants, warthogs among others.
The 3 days’ chimpanzee double tracking safari gives you a chance to go for the CHEX (Chimpanzee Habituation Experience). The experience is very suitable for primatologists and researchers being more comprehensive than the standard chimpanzee trek. With CHEX, you get a longer stay and hand-length experience with the chimpanzees under guidance of a skilled ranger. On this same safari, you also have another day to visit another chimpanzee family on the standard Chimpanzee trek through the tropical rain forests.
Tour highlights
- Chimpanzee Habituation and Tracking in Kibale National Park
- Bigodi Swamp Community walk
- Crater walk
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Leave Kampala/ Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park for the Chimpanzee trekking with pick up from either your Hotel of stay or upon landing at the Airport. Drive to Fort portal via Mubende, enjoying the fascinating landscapes, among other physical attractions including many bird species leaving the forest. Have your lunch stopover in Fort Portal town (City) the tourism capital of Uganda. You may opt to check-in to your lodge and later to the craters or drive straight to the Crater lakes for an afternoon walk. The craters are nearby the Forest and a worthy place to visit while on your Chimpanzee tracking safari. On this first day, you may choose for a fly-in safari from Entebbe Airport to Kibale National park via Kasese Airstrip from where Ancient Africa Safaris’ guide picks you up. This is a shorter distance as compared to the 6 hours’ drive from Kampala.
When at your lodge, relax and wait for dinner as you prepare for the early morning rise for the Chimpanzee Habituation.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Habituation and Bigodi Swamp walk
On this day, start off with early breakfast, getting ready for your Chimpanzee habituation experience. Don’t forget your packed lunch as much of the day will be spent with the primates. Join your driver for transfer to the headquarters for a briefing and then to the forest with an experienced forest ranger and guide. The Habituation allows a maximum of 4 people per group, visiting the Chimpanzee families. This is inclusive of the guide and researchers. This experience gives you the chance to visit the place where the chimps set their nests the night before.
This arm length encounter with the chimps is a life-time moment as you get more time with the chimpanzees. You get chance to see them as they copulate, hunt, feed the young ones, patrol and prepare to rest while they build their nests for the coming night. On this day, you’ll see more animals like the L’Hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Forest Hogs which find the forest as their home.
In the late afternoon, suit up for a guided nature walk in the Bigodi Swamp. This is one of the top birding destinations in Uganda with a variety of birds like Hornbills, Black-headed Gonolek, Kingfishers, Weaver birds, Waxbills, Cuckoos, Flycatchers among others. Continue on a village walk taking you to some of the community projects like basket making, banana beer making and coffee making communities. After the nature walk, retire to your lodge.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and departure to Kampala/ Entebbe
In the early morning of your last day of the safari, prepare for the last Chimpanzee tracking, with a visit to another family of the primates. This time, you will get to see the chimps from a distance as these families may not easily be approached, like the habituated ones. This chimpanzee tracking is often done in groups of not more than 8 people, hence giving you a chance to meet more chimp enthusiasts. On completion of the 3-4 hours’ trek, prepare for transfer back to Kampala/ Entebbe, with lunch served en route.
END OF SAFARI
Accommodation (Full Board)
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp, Rwenzori View Guest House, Kibale Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, Bush Lodge, Turaco Treetops
Luxury: Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge
