Are you in Kigali and wondering whether you can do a chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda? YES, you can spend extended time with chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park via Kigali Rwanda. Just like in mountain gorillas, travelers in Kigali can cross over to Uganda through Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in kisoro proceeding to Kibale forest home to the chimpanzees. A drive from Kigali to Kibale forest is 393.9 kilometers taking 6 hours and 20 minutes drive via Kabale Mbarara road. Travelers can, therefore, set off from Kigali in the late morning reaching Kibale forest in the evening to be with the chimpanzees the next day. Kibale forest is the only destination that offers travelers with chimpanzee habituation experience in the whole world. This tropical rain forest in western Uganda is home to over 1500 chimpanzees hence a premier chimpanzee trekking destination. The park is also home to 13 primates, which include chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, white Colobus monkeys, black and white Colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, Pottos, and Red Colobus among others. The national park is also called the national capital for primates in Africa, which no traveler should miss on his/her African safari to Uganda.
About chimpanzee Habituation experience
The experience is all about spending half day with wild chimpanzees in the jungle. Here travelers along with researchers, chimpanzee doctors, and researchers take part in training wild chimpanzees to make them used to human presence. Unlike in chimpanzee trekking where travelers only observe, chimpanzee habituation allows travelers to be actual participants, which make it more enjoyable. The experience starts from kanyanchu information center after a short briefing by the park rangers.
Chimpanzee habituation permit
Like in trekking, all travelers to do habituation experience are required to have valid habituation permits. A single permit to habituate chimpanzees costs $220 issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Travelers are advised to book for permits as early as six months prior to the actual date. Upon booking, travelers are requested o pay 30% as booking fee which help to secure these permits and avoid disappointments.
How is the day like?
This day starts in the early morning. Get up early, have breakfast and with packed lunch set off for the experience transfer to Kyanyanchu information center for a short briefing after which together with the habituation team you hike into the jungle. The actual time to spend in the forest is not predicted. The long or short time to take before meeting chimpanzees depends on where they are located and the hiking speed of your group. Upon reaching chimpanzees, you spend four hours learning, training and enjoying the company of the human’s closest relatives.
How many people are allowed?
Just like in gorilla habituation, only four travelers are allowed to take part in chimpanzee habituation experience. These travelers are joined by a team of primate doctors, conservationists, rangers, and researchers to be part of this once in a lifetime experience.
Chances to see other attractions
On this day, travelers are advised to keep their eyes wide open. There are high chances of meeting and seeing other attractions like forest elephants, Okapis, forest hogs, colubuses, butterflies, baboons, buffalos and bush pigs among others. Also, you will see a variety of bird species like black crowned waxbill, Yellow-billed Barbet, White Spotted Flufftail, Brown throated wattle-eye, superb Sunbird, western Nectar, Black bishop and White-breasted negrofinch among others.
Appropriate itinerary
A 3 days chimpanzee habituation tour is the best itinerary to do this memorable adventure. The first day for arrival and transfer to Kibale forest national park, second day for chimpanzee habituation experience and last day for departure. Any if you have ample time, you can include other activities in other parks of Uganda like gorilla tracking in Bwindi forest, and game viewing and Kazinga channel boat cruise to make a complete package.
Rules and regulations
Travelers are urged and reminded to follow habituation rules and regulations as told in the pre habituation briefing. These include
• Keep a distance of seven meters away from chimpanzees
• Avoid flash light cameras
• Do not litter in the park
• Speak at low tone
• Do not feed the chimpanzees
• Keep within your group (Do not walk alone in the jungle)
• Do not visit chimpanzees when sick
• Travelers aged below 15 year are not allowed
The dos and don’ts are put to ensure peaceful encounter and the wellness of chimpanzees and travelers.
Difference between chimpanzee trekking and Habituation
Most people have mistaken the two terms to be the same. Habituation experience is the fist stage, which chimpanzees go through before they are declared free for trekking. The differences as follows:
Habituation
• Four people allowed
• Permit costs $2200
• Only done in Kibale forest national park
Trekking
• 8 people allowed
• 1 hour interaction
• Permit costs $150
• Done in kibale forest, Kalinzu forest, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo forest and Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest national park.
In general, you can do chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda from Kigali. Book a chimpanzee habituation tour to kibale forest, spend ample time with the apes in the jingle and enjoy this remarkable unforgettable experience.
