Chimpanzee tracking and Habituation in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking and Habituation are popular things to do in the Kibale forest national park, the Kanyanchu primate walk is done by most travelers that come to visit there are 13 species of primates that have been recorded here to date (Chimpanzee, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, pottos, bush babies, blue monkeys, white cheeked monkeys, tracking chimpanzees has been done in the conservation area from the 1993 and the primates here have been observed for over 25 years. The forest covers the largest part of Kabarole district with tree species that rise up to 55m high conveyed to form a beautiful canopy under which are growing plants, flowers and animals.
The biodiverse ecosystem is habitat for over 120 mammal species, there are forest elephants, giant forest hogs, antelopes present in the park although these are rare to see, and 370 species of birds 20 of which are endemics of the Albertine rift valley region. Chimpanzee tracking is the main activity of the forest, it takes place beginning at the kanyanchu visitor center a briefing is conducted by the Uganda wildlife game rangers on how to conduct yourself while in the forest after which you will be transferred through to track the primates. Chimpanzee are characterized by their social behavior, intelligence, and the ability to use tools, it is at rare occasions that they have been seen using tools. The tracking time takes 2-3 hours depending on where the animals are on that day. A maximum number of 6 tourists is allowed at a time.
The tracking is done is sessions, in the morning at 8:00am, and afternoon at 2:30pm, clients normally choose on when they would like to do the tracking, there are 1,500 species of chimpanzee living in the park, the groups have been exposed to human presence hence they do their day to day duties without minding the presence of humans, they next in the trees and are loud with their charter sounds, the primates are quite messy eaters which makes it even much more easier to locate them in the forest.
Chimpanzee habituation involves all day being with the Chimpanzee, this happens to communities that are being made used to be around, together with a group of researchers and students, guests hit the forest at 6:30 am it is a great experience for photographers as you will have time to take all the pictures you need patiently, in order to participate in both activities one will require to have a permit which is permitted by the Uganda wildlife authority team.
Other things to do in Kibale forest national park include guided nature walks through the well distributed trails discover the forest hidden beauty with an encounter of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, night walks offer a chance to see nocturnal species like the bush babies, tree hyrax to mention a few, it is an important birding area more so in the Bigodi swamp area, expect to see birds like the francolin, great blue turaco, sun birds to mention a few. Community visits to the locals which enhances a deep indulgent with the people of the Kibale.
