Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale offers a distinct opportunity for you to explore chimpanzees in their natural setting. Kibale National Park is inhabited by more than 1500 chimpanzees, which is the highest population of chimpanzees in Uganda. Kibale was officially declared as a National Park in 1995 mainly to protect the lush rainforest and the chimpanzees. Today, chimpanzee tracking is the key safari highlight in Kibale National Park.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national park introduces nature lovers to the scenic rainforest in search for chimpanzee communities. Kibale offers two phases of chimpanzee trekking, with the first one often conducted in the morning and the last phase begins in the afternoon. Chimpanzees are Kibale’s iconic attractions and they are also our closest relatives in the wild sharing more than 98% of their DNA with humans.
In Uganda, there are over 5000 chimpanzees distributed across different parts of the country. Over 15 chimpanzee communities exist in Kibale, but about 4 communities of them have been fully opened for tourism purposes. On a chimpanzee tour, expect to find a community of these large primates, each led by a mature male.
Chimpanzee tracking offers more than just chimp encounters. Other primates to encounter alongside chimpanzees include vervet monkeys, olive baboons, L’hoest monkeys, patas monkeys, Uganda mangabeys, bush babies, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many more.
Kibale also supports a great population of birds. Most of the birds are spotted during the guided chimpanzee tracking tour can be found in Bigodi swamp in Kibale. Top birds to expect to see in Kibale Forest include purple-breasted sunbirds, crowned eagle, black-capped apalis, yellow-spotted nicator, black bee-eaters, woodland warblers, African green-breasted pittas, blue-shouldered robin-chat, African emerald cuckoos, little greenbul, papyrus canary, African dusky flycatchers, and Cameroon Sombre greenbul and many others.
Comparison between chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking
Chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale national park is slightly different from the popular gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is conducted twice a day which is different from a single gorilla trekking session available for tourists on gorilla tour in Bwindi. In Kibale, a maximum of 6 visitors are accompanied by an experienced park ranger guide. Gorilla trekking takes up to 8 pax to explore one of the habituated gorilla groups.
Chimpanzee tracking permits are cheaper than gorilla permits at USD 250 per person, you can obtain a valid chimpanzee permit for Kibale National Park from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) main headquarters or through Bujuku eco tour operator. If you are interested in chimpanzee habituation, permits are open for booking at USD 300 for foreign nonresidents, foreign residents at USD 200 per person, and East African citizens currently pay UGX 180,000 per person. Trust Bujuku Eco Tours for all chimpanzee permit bookings and planning the entire chimpanzee tracking safari.
When to visit Kibale for chimpanzee tracking
Kibale National Park records two significant seasons that guide visitors when planning for chimpanzee tracking. That is the dry season and the wet season. The dry season is the best period for tracking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Kibale records the longest dry season from June to September, and the shortest phase begins from December to February. These dry months come with relatively low or no rainfall and favorable conditions for you to enjoy a successful chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale.
The wet or rainy season in Kibale starts from March to June, the months that mark the longest phase. The shorter wet season begins from October to November, but generally, all the rainy seasons are characterized by heavy rainfall. The heavy rain experienced in Kibale can disrupt chimpanzee tracking adventure.
Rules and regulations to follow on a chimpanzee tracking safari
- As per the park authorities, persons above 12 years can participate in chimpanzee tracking in Kibale. You must be physically fit to be able to enjoy a full session of chimpanzee tracking.
- A maximum of 6 tourists is allowed to track one habituated chimpanzee community per session.
- Always be attentive to the guide’s instructions at all times.
- During photography, the flashlight shouldn’t be on. You can turn it off before you begin taking pictures of chimpanzees.
- Eating, drinking, or smoking are prohibited practices during chimpanzee tracking. They should be avoided at all times.
- Keep Low voice tone to reduce any chances of chimpanzees charging at you or force them to move further distances.
Activities to do in Kibale National Park
Primate/nature walks
Kibale National Park is for excellent primates and nature walk excursions. Guided nature walks or primate treks introduce you deep in the jungle to see more primates. The additional primates to find in Kibale except chimpanzees include olive baboons, colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and more.
Over 375 species of birds are found in Kibale national park alone, making it one of the best places to enjoy birding excursions. The birds to explore here include cisticolas, little greenbul, hairy-breasted barbet, woodland kingfishers, lizard buzzard, blue-breasted kingfishers, and double-toothed barbet. Other interesting birds include the African grey parrot, red-headed bluebill, papyrus canary, chestnut-throated apalis, scarlet-chested sunbird, African pied wagtail, and others.
Walk around the Crater Lakes
Explore the various magnificent crater lakes located near Kibale National Park. The various Crater Lakes come with magnificent sceneries. The main areas of interest for crater tours in Kibale National Park include Lake Nyabikere, Lake Nkuruba, Lake Nyinambuga, and others.
Items to carry on your chimpanzee tracking tour to Kibale National Park
The main items to include on the packing list for Kibale chimpanzee tracking are a waterproof daypack, a pair of waterproof hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a pair of socks, and snacks, a sweater, a pair of binoculars, bottled drinking water, gardening gloves, a first-aid kit, a rain jacket, insect repellant and more.
Where to stay on your tour to Kibale national park
After/before tracking chimpanzees, visitors can stay in the budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation options present in or around Kibale National Park. The various accommodation choices to book include
- Primate Lodge –this is located in the heart of Kibale.
- Primate Lodge offers standard accommodation services and guests have easier access to the Kanyanchu Tourist Center.
- Crater Safari Lodge –This is an eco-lodge property set 7km from Kibale National Park. The lodge comprises about 21 rooms, and they are equipped with multiple facilities/properties, including a swimming pool, a fully stocked bar, and a classic restaurant.
- Kyaninga Lodge –This is a luxury accommodation option with about 9 luxurious private cottages. The lodge comprises of self-contained and other numerous amenities.
Other lodges to stay in Kibale National Park include Chimpundu Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops, Papaya Lake Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Isunga Lodge, and Kibale River Camp.
How to get to Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is accessible using two means of transport: by road or by air.
By road, a 4×4 safari vehicle is most preferred for visitor to access Kibale Forest National Park. Getting to Kibale involves driving from Entebbe or Kampala through Mityana to Mubende-Fort Portal Tourism City. From Fort Portal, take the Kamwenge route while appreciating the scenic views of the Crater Lakes.
By air, expect to start your flight from the Entebbe International Airport (EBB)/Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese. The domestic flights are run by AeroLink, and once you have landed at Kasese Airstrip, you can be picked up by our representative to be transferred to Kibale national park.
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