Chimpanzee Habituation in Uganda

Chimpanzee Habituation in Uganda

This is a great and memorable full day experience in one of Uganda's forests and National Park. The activity is mainly carried out in Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda. The park is well known for having at least 13 species of primates among which include the chimpanzees. Even though Chimpanzee tracking is the major activity in the Park, also chimpanzee habituation is done in the park. Some of the best Uganda safaris involve chimpanzee habituation experience.

When you are going for the chimpanzee habituation activity, you will follow forest guides (Park Rangers or habituators). There are designed troops which have almost 40-60 chimpanzees which enable you to get close to Chimpanzees. The habituation activity involves observation of the chimpanzees in their day to day daily life of how they feed, play, groom, fight, hunt other animals and how they make their nests and get to sleep. While with a Gorilla tour where one is only allowed to stay close to the Gorillas for 1 hour, chimpanzee habituation enables you to spend the whole day with these man's closest friends.

Chimpanzee Habituation activity also helps these primates to get used to human presence with out changing or altering their natural ways of life or environment.  The activity starts at 5:00am or 6:00am when the chimps are still in their nocturnal nests and ends at7:00pm when they do get to sleep.  The best months to do the activity are the low seasons from March to May and from October to November when the numbers of tourists to Kibale are few. Other mammals that can easily be seen in the forest besides primates include: Bush Duikers, Bush bucks, bush pig, African civet, Harvey's red duiker, blue duiker, genet and so on. Other mammals which are difficult to spot are the Elephants, Buffaloes, warthogs, giant forest hogs and so on.

Among the 13 primate species present in the forest besides Chimps include: Black and white Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkey, grey cheeked Mangabey, Varvet Monkeys, blue monkeys and so on.

While on the way to the chimps for habituation experience, the guides will be to show different tree and bird species with in the forest. The limited number of people for habituation each day is 6 and advance booking for the habituation permit at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or through a local tour operator is more important especially if you want to do the activity in the peak season. Like chimpanzee tracking activity, it also starts with a short briefing from the UWA officials at the Kanyanchu Visitor center.

Important to take with you is your packed lunch since it's a full day experience with in the tropical rain forest. Also you are encouraged to take Cameras with you. The chimpanzees are differentiated from one another by the markings they have on their bodies, sometimes scars and other unique features that makes them stand apart from rest.

As much as you enjoy your Uganda Gorilla tour experience, Chimpanzee habituation is also another memorable experience one should never miss on any of the Uganda safaris.

 

About the Author

Imelda

Connect Hemisphere Safaris Ltd