Chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda – A life time memory
The chimpanzee habituation can only be done in Kibale forest National Park and Budongo forest in Murchison falls. It’s a full-day activity which occur in the chimpanzee communities that are undergoing habituation. This chimpanzee habituation activity starts with an early breakfast, packed lunch taken from your lodge, meet your guide and set off to where the chimpanzees built nests the night before.
You will experience a memorable day, as you watch an episode in a whole season of habituation for the chimpanzee group you are visiting, also have an opportunity to watch chimps leaving their overnight nests between 6:00 – 6:30am before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying until it is time to build new nests around 7pm.
Chimpanzee habituation purpose is to get the chimpanzees used to human presence and is a long process that can take up to two years before a group of chimpanzees can safely be considered habituated.
During chimpanzee habituation experience, you will be able to learn how to identify the different chimpanzees as individuals by their markings, like scars and other unique features that make them stand different from rest. Your eventful day finally comes to a close when the chimpanzees climb into their new nests for the overnight and you head back to your lodge with good memories, and the satisfaction of a day well spent.
Safari essentials while planning chimpanzee habituation experience are cameras, energy and patience, because during the activity, prepare to get very nice camera shots of chimpanzees performing various activities.
There is no better season for habituation experience, however, for convenience, it is best in the months of March, April, May and November, when there is less tourist congestion.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, this is a lifetime memory that allows accompany Kibale’s researchers and habituation at chimpanzee during their daily activities, thereby getting used to human presence without changing their natural.
Don’t for habituation experience
- Avoid eating near the chimpanzees.
- Children below the age of 12 are prohibited from entering the park.
- Guide is the only one to help get access to the forest.
- No provoking Chimps once you enter the park.
- Flash photography are not allowed in the park.
- The number of chimpanzee trekking permits for each day is restricted, you are greatly advised to book in advance to your safari date.
Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest in Murchison Falls national park, and Kyambura gorge-Queen Elizabeth National park, are some of the places where you can see chimps in Uganda. All season, you might come across a chimpanzee outside a national park such areas of the Buniga forest, the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary, and the Bwindi impenetrable forest.
Kibale forest offers both chimpanzee tacking and habituation experiences. With chimpanzee trekking, you track the chimpanzees up to where they have settled in the forest.
The best places to have a chimpanzee tracking experience or a habituation experience is in the parks. Habituated chimpanzees are accustomed to human presence and will not run off when they sense or see you approach, but will stay apart and you can see them as you take pictures from a distance.
Chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo Forest
It’s in Murchison falls National Park is a nother place to go chimpanzee tracking on your safari in Uganda. Budongo forest is only 4 hours from Kampala and is the nearest of the chimpanzee tracking destination hence making it possible for one day chimpanzee trekking experience and habituation in the forest.
You just have to leave Kampala at about 6am, and you will probably be back in your room by 7 pm. Although you can also choose to make it a two, three or four day safari depending on the period of time. This gives you time to explore the rest of the park, perhaps visit the rhino sanctuary and go rhino tracking.