Chimpanzee Tracking Rules and Regulations
Chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations are basically principles that visitors must observe when interacting with chimpanzees. Rules and regulations have been set for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda to ensure the safety of chimpanzees and humans. The chimpanzee tracking rules, also referred to as guidelines, have been put in place to help control mass tourism. To ensure that you have a successful and safe trek with chimpanzees in their natural environment, whether in Uganda or Rwanda, here are some of the rules and regulations to observe;
Top 15 Chimpanzee Tracking Rules and Regulations to Respect
- The acceptable minimum age range for chimpanzee tracking is 12-15 years. Anyone above this age bracket stands a chance to participate in chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. According to park authorities, persons above 12-15 aren’t carriers of sickness like flu and are more responsible when it comes to handling behaviors of chimpanzees, for instance, when they charge. Flu, cough, and other illnesses are common with children and also, they are easily frightened by chimpanzees.
- Distance from chimpanzees –visitors must observe at least 7 to 8 meters away from the chimpanzee community. This safe distance is recommended for visitors in order to limit any chances of disease transmission between chimps and humans.
- Conservation authorities only allow visitors free from flu, diarrhea, or cough to proceed with the trek to see chimpanzees. Those with contagious diseases won’t be allowed to embark on the trek see chimpanzees. It should be noted that chimpanzees, have 98% of their DNA is similar to that of humans, making them vulnerable to any infectious diseases.
- Carrying capacity –Unlike gorilla treks, chimpanzee tracking only allows up to 6pax to visit a habituated chimpanzee community. Large groups scare or disrupt the normal chimp ecological process.
- Littering the environment –this should be avoided 100%. Ensure that the chimp habitats are kept clean and safe to reduce any likelihood of disease spread.
- Keep your voice tone low –avoid shouting when on a chimpanzee track. Shouting when trekking with chimpanzees can make chimpanzees move away or get irritated. Visitors are free to interact and ask questions for clarity, but should use a minimal voice.
- Visitors must be guided by an experienced ranger guide. Don’t set off for a chimpanzee tracking alone. All chimpanzee tracking sessions must be done with the lead of an experienced ranger guide. The park ranger guide allocated to you come with vast knowledge and experience, plus abundant skills in handling all situations during the trek with chimpanzees.
- Ensure that you keep within the tracking group you went to search for chimpanzees with. Avoid any unnecessary movement that can lead you out of the group.
- Chimpanzee permits are mandatory for you to engage in the trek with chimpanzees in Uganda or Rwanda. The prices of chimp permits vary, whereby visitors interested in Kibale chimpanzee tracking pay USD 250 per person. Rwanda chimpanzee permits for Nyungwe are available for booking at USD 150 per person.
- Visitors are advised not to use flash cameras for taking pictures. In case the camera features a flashlight, it should be turned off before you start any photography action. When taking pictures, ensure that you avoid any disruptive movements. Unnecessary movements can disrupt chimpanzee’s ecological behavior.
- Try as much as you can to avoid any eye contact with chimpanzees. Your prolonged eye contact can be perceived by these apes as a threat. It is essential to observe the park ranger guide’s instructions.
- Visitor encounters with chimpanzees are also restricted to a maximum of 1 hour. This ecological restriction must be respected by all tourists on the chimpanzee tour. But during chimpanzee habituation, visitors have four (4) hours to spend with chimpanzees.
- Avoid harmful practices such as smoking, drinking, or eating close to chimpanzees. The practices such as these pose a risk for these apes to contract infectious diseases. By displaying your bites or drinks, they can be tempted to grab them away from you.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda or Rwanda should be carried out in an already habituated chimpanzee community. Rwanda and Uganda have multiple habituated chimp communities to enable you to start your chimpanzee trek.
- Do not provoke the chimpanzees by throwing sticks or stones at them, this may may trigger the chimpanzees into charging at you hence disruption of the activity. Endeavor to follow the rules or instructions given to you by the ranger guide to ensure safety of the tourist and the chimpanzees
Where to go for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda or Rwanda
Uganda and Rwanda are not only popular for gorilla encounters but also for thrilling chimpanzee tracking experiences. About 5,050 chimpanzees have been recorded in Uganda alone and are distributed in the various regions. The best places to visit to see chimps in Uganda include Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge. Chimpanzees in Rwanda can be tracked in Nyungwe or Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Kibale National Park
Kibale is popular for its extraordinary chimpanzee tracking experiences. A record of about 1500 chimpanzees live in Kibale Forest, with about 4 communities currently open for chimpanzee tracking. The chimpanzees in Kibale survive in the same habitat with hundreds of other primates, including the olive baboons, red-colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and others.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale starts from Kanyanchu Visitor’s Centre, located in the middle of the park. Kanyanchu can be accessed from Fort Portal City on the Kamwenge route, about an hour drive, while from the heart of Kampala or Entebbe, you can reach Kibale in about 6-8 hours.
Budongo
Budongo Forest forms part of the vast Murchison Falls National Park and offers nature lovers a chance to see chimpanzees in the wild. Budongo chimpanzee treks takes about 3 to 4 hours and include an hour with chimpanzees. Over 700-800 chimpanzees reside in Budongo forest and comprise of 6 communities, although about 3 of them have been designated for chimpanzee tracking. Visitors can explore Budongo and Murchison on a single Uganda tour. This is a great opportunity for you to experience both chimpanzee tracking and wildlife viewing in the savanna grassland.
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is another special location to consider exploring during a guided chimpanzee trek. Visitors on a wildlife tour in Queen Elizabeth Park can have a combination of a chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge and Big game viewing in the savanna grassland. A good population of chimps is open for tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu is one of the leading destinations to visit for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. Lying near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest offers an amazing chimp tracking experience. At Kalinzu, chimpanzees are spotted in their natural habitat, and only the habituated community is explored by visitors. Approximately 320 chimpanzees reside in the Kalinzu, with over 50 of them having undergone full habituation and already open for tourism.
Items to take for chimpanzee tracking
Some of the useful items to include on your packing list include long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, a sweater, long-trousers, a rain jackets, a pair of binoculars, a camera with no flashlight, long-sleeved shirts, waterproof hiking boots, and gardening gloves.
Conclusively, chimpanzee tracking rules are essential for a safe visitor-chimpanzee interaction. By properly observing these rules and regulations, you can have a remarkable encounter with your favorite primates while also playing a significant role in wildlife conservation. contact our company.
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