Situated in the western region, Kibale national park is the leading chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. The park is a wealth of attractions blossoming with one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Lying near the Fort Portal area, Kibale national park is approximately 308.2 km from Kampala, roughly four hours drive from Uganda’s capital.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The park is also located close to the tranquil Ndali- kasenda crater area and it boasts of wildlife ranging from 375 birds to 351 plant species, primates, and other mammals. Kibale national park is home to a total of 70 mammal species but most famously 13 species of primates including man’s distant cousin- the chimpanzee. Kibale National Park is by far East Africa’s leading chimpanzee destination as well as Uganda’s prime primate capital.
The park has the highest chimpanzee population of about 1500 chimps compared to any other East Africa Primate destination. Experience an air of expectancy in Kibale as you discover its magical wonders which have been untouched by mass tourism.
Chimpanzees Tracking Overview
Chimpanzees are species of the great ape, native to the forests and savannah of tropical Africa. Physically, a chimpanzee is covered in coarse black hair, a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.
The arms of the chimps are longer than the legs and can reach below the knees. Over the years, research has proved that chimpanzees have a 98% DNA similar to human beings.
This discovery has made chimpanzee trekking safaris an intriguing experience for visitors standing in close proximity to man’s distant cousins. An adult chimpanzee on average weighs between 40-60 kg for males and 27-50 kg for females.
Gestation in chimpanzees lasts for 8 months after which a female brings forth a new offspring. Socially like other species of primates, chimps live in groups that a quite large in size ranging between 15-150 members. Every chimpanzee troop is led by an Alpha male in what is called a ‘strict male-dominated hierarchy. One interesting fact about chimpanzees is their ability to settle disputes without violence.
What is chimpanzee trekking?
Chimpanzee trekking is an activity where visitors walk through the forest in search of the chimpanzees. Once the chimp troop is identified, visitors are allowed one-hour interaction with man’s distant cousins in their natural habitat after which they move back to the park.
Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale national park is the most rewarding chimpanzee safari in East Africa which exposes guests to the delights and routines of chimps, not like our own. The trekking adventure through the forest in search of our distant cousins is a rare opportunity filled with many of nature’s wonders as one gets in to the heart of the forest.
Trekking chimpanzees is an activity that can run from minutes to hours depending on the movement of the chimpanzees in the forest, it opens the visitor’s eye to his or her magnificent surroundings of the tall evergreen trees in one of Uganda’s oldest tropical forests.
In Kibale national park, chimpanzee trekking is done in two shifts- either morning or afternoon to allow visitors ample time to plan for this once in life experience. Enjoy a breathtaking encounter with a chimpanzee troop which will put up an amazing show at its sight humans. This chimpanzee trekking experience is like no other and is only found in Uganda’s Kibale national park.
How chimpanzee trekking is conducted at Kibale national park
Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale national park begins with a briefing of visitors at the park’s headquarters. During the briefing, the visitors are taken through the dos and don’ts before, during, and after chimp trekking.
Each chimpanzee trek is guided by two rangers; one who leads the group and one who is stationed at the back. The excitement all begins when rangers lead visitors through long or short hikes along forest trails on a quest to track a particular chimpanzee troop. Unlike other chimpanzee destinations in Uganda, chimpanzee trekking at Kibale is conducted in shifts which are mainly the morning and afternoon shifts.
The morning trek which is the most popular and rewarding trek at the park begins between 6:00- 6:30 am. During this time, visitors stand a chance to watch the chimps as they leave their overnight nests before feeding. The trekking is climaxed once the chimpanzee troop of interest is sighted.
Here visitors are allowed one-hour interaction with man’s distant cousins in their natural habitat to learn about the chimps and capture iconic photographic moments. After contact time, visitors may move back to the park for other activities.
The major chimpanzee trekking trail in Kibale national park
The Kanyanchu primate trail is Kibale’s most popular primate trailhead consisting of thirteen species of primates especially diurnal monkeys, but the most sought-after being the chimpanzees. Kanyanchu lies at the center of Kibale and is popular for most forest treks.
It is a path where all magic in the forest begins, gains shape, and comes to life. The trail has over 90% excellent chances of viewing the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Guided walks along Kanyanchu begin at 8 am for the morning trek and at 2 pm for the afternoon trek.
Cost of trekking chimpanzees at Kibale national park
The cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit at Kibale national park is 150 USD currently per individual trekker. It is important to remember that this cost is for trekking one chimp troop at the park.
Number of people allowed to trek a chimpanzee troop at Kibale national park
The maximum number of people allowed to trek chimpanzees at Kibale is eight which constitutes one group that is assigned a guide as they embark on chimp tracking.
Minimum age required to trek chimpanzees at Kibale national park
The minimum age required for chimpanzee trekkers at Kibale national park is 15 years. This is because any person below the age of 15 a visitor is considered to be a child and thus may not be physically fit to trek the chimpanzees.
Why you should trek chimpanzees at Kibale national park
Trekking chimpanzees at Kibale national park is such a mesmerizing experience that rewards a traveler with a first up-close encounter with the largest chimpanzee community in Uganda.
Being in company with our distant cousins who are believed to share 98% of DNA with humans is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure not to mention viewing these chimpanzees from a destination dubbed ‘the Primate capital’ in one of Africa’s oldest rain forests.
The experience of being just a few feet away from these wild creatures is not only thrilling but also remarkable as you view their intelligence, poses, expressions, and interactions that a human-like. You wouldn’t want to miss this adventure.
Although the price of a chimpanzee tracking permit is significantly higher than in other places in Uganda, Kibale national park chimpanzees put up a better show called it to chimp encounter than any other chimpanzee destination in the country.
Ranging from their incredible gestures to iconic photographic moments, it is no doubt that trekking chimpanzees at Kibale are worth every penny compared to other chimpanzee destinations in Uganda which are quite cheaper. In my opinion, the chimpanzee trekking at Kibale is a one-in-a-million moment of adventure.
There are plenty of en-route sceneries in Kibale along the forest trails which will capture a visitor’s attention, fill you will amusement and make your trek more memorable. Kibale national park is a haven for plenty of plant species, amazing wild creatures, as well as a variety of bird species.
Catch the sight of beautiful butterflies, kingfishers, and several bird species as they soar above in the tree canopies, forest elephants as they roam in the forest, some members of the cat family such as leopards, antelope species and so much more.
Unlike some mountain gorillas which stay in rugged terrain and require adequate physical strength to trek them, it is easier to trek chimpanzees in Kibale national park because they live in much easier terrain.
A visitor who treks chimpanzees at Kibale national park enjoys a variety of other activities both inside and outside the park. This is because Kibale national park is near other national parks; which is to say the park fits in a number of itineraries packages and thus would reward a visitor with a remarkable western Uganda safari holiday.
Here are some of the national parks that are close to Kibale; Queen Elizabeth, Semuliki, and Rwenzori mountains national parks which a guest may visit after chimpanzee trekking as he or she enjoys the beauty of Mother Nature. Alternatively, a visitor may enjoy a wide range of activities while at the park other than chimpanzee trekking including; incredible chimpanzee habituation, excellent birding adventures, thrilling nature walks, and many more.
What to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park
Just like gorilla trekking, a chimpanzee trekking safari at Kibale requires the necessary hiking essentials. Here is a list of some of the necessary items you will need to enjoy a successful chimp trek: water-resistant boots, raining gear, gloves, a water-resistant jacket, insect-repellant, long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of trousers, a camera, and back pack.
When to trek chimps in Kibale national park
The best time for chimpanzee trekking at Kibale national park is during the drier seasons usually between June to October and December to February. This is because during the dry season the chimpanzee trekking trails are drier and easy to trek. April to May and September to November usually are wet seasons but ideal if one wants to avoid crowds.
When to book a chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale national park
It is recommended to book a chimpanzee permit at least six months before the trekking day. Here a visitor can book a chimpanzee permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala either online or in person. You can as well book your chimp permit from a local tour operator by providing details of when you plan to track chimpanzees.