Chimpanzee habituation start in the morning with the briefing of clients before they head out in forest. you will be divided in groups of 6 people per chimpanzee family. During the trek, you will also spot other primate species, animals and different bird species in the forest. some of the primates include; Mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkey, red tailed monkey, grey checked mangabey, red colobus monkey, l’hoest’s monkey, olive baboon.

Many tourists interested in primates come to Uganda mainly for the Chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking. However, Habituation experience a much more interesting activity in the park was added on to the list of many activities done in the park. This is the process of making wild primates get used to having human around them and also in preparation for trekking. Habituation can be done for both Chimps and Gorillas and takes about 2- 3 years to be completed. There are over 5000 Chimpanzees recorded to live in Uganda and about 1500 0f these live in the Kibale National Park alone. Kibale forest national park, is the only park in Uganda where you can do Chimpanzee Habituation. For one to be able to participate in chimpanzee habituation, you will need to purchase a chimp permit which costs; $250 per person for foreigners, $200 for foreign residence and UGX 200000 for East African Community. These however differ from those got for Chimpanzee tracking in terms of costs so unlike Chimp tracking, non-foreign residents pay $200 and the foreign residents pay $150 while the East Africans only pay UGX 150000.
Unlike chimpanzee trekking which allows them just an hour in presence of chimps, chimpanzee habituation lats for whole stay with the chimps in their natural habitat. For one to fully enjoy this habituation experience, permit bookings have to be done 3 months prior to the actual day and if be it possible in the months of March to April and November where there is notably less congestion.

A Whole Day of Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

On the day of chimpanzee habituation, you will start off with an early morning breakfast, get your lunch packed and head out to meet your guide that will lead you to the park headquarters for briefing then the guides will lead you in to the forest. Only a maximum of 4 people per group inclusive of the researchers and guides are permitted to go see these Chimps. You will start the trek seeking out where the chimpanzees laid their nests the previous day. Therefore, a typical Chimpanzee habituation begins at dawn between 6;00am -6:30 am. If you are lucky, you will meet others just rising up and some going about their daily activities like breastfeeding for the little ones, feeding, patrolling, hunting, resting and later on at around 7 pm, building new nests where they are to stay during the night then you will exit the forest.

However, besides Chimpanzee habituation and chimpanzee trekking, the has got other activity you should be sure to do on this day because Kibale National Park is not only rich in primates but other things as well. Beside the 12 primate species in the park including; the Black and White Colobus Monkey, the Blue Monkey, the L’Hoest’s Monkey and the Ugandan Red Colobus Monkey there are other mammals sighted in the forest including; Red and Blue Duikers, the Sitatungas, the Giant Forest Hogs, the Bushbucks, the Bush pigs, the African Buffalo and Common Warthogs. Carnivores like the two otter species, the lions, African Golden cats, Leopards and different kinds of Mongooses. There is also prolific birdlife in the park with over 325 sited bird species like the Ground Thrush that is endemic to Kibale National Park, the Western Tinker bird, the African Grey parrot and the Olive long-tailed Cuckoo among others. Also present in the park are elephants.

All this gives you more a reason to visit kibale forest national park for Chimpanzee Habituation and chimpanzee trekking because it is an exhilarating, educational and adventurous experience you wouldn’t want to miss out when in Uganda.

Look in to our website for safari tour packages for exhilaration chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale forest national park including; the 3 days kibale forest chimpanzee habituation experience, 6 days kibale tracking tours among others.