Chimpanzee Tracking Vs Habituation: A Complete Guide For All

Either Chimpanzee tracking and habituation activity is a life time experience that is mostly not missed during a safari in Uganda. This normally takes place in the Kibale Forest National Park found in the western part of the country in Kamwenge and Kabarole district. This forest is one of the few remaining tropical rain forests and is home to 13 primate species, the most popular of the primates being the chimpanzee, or chimps as often referred and this is a major attraction that every traveler longs to witness. The primate trek is signature on the to do list or bucket list as you plan to visit Uganda, and the activity is authorized and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). This exclusive wild experience can be either a chimpanzee habituation experience or chimpanzee tracking or both.

Chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation may seem the same but all offer a different experience. They both require securing a permit and currently the chimpanzee tracking permit costs $250 for foreign nonresidents, $200 for foreign residents and UGX 180,000 shillings for East African citizens. The permit costs are however subject to review annually, while the chimpanzee habituation costs $300 for foreign nonresidents,$250 for foreign residents and UGX 200,000 shillings for East African citizens, the rates include a guide and park fees while in Kibale.

Chimpanzee tracking is the most done activity in the park, it is scheduled in sessions in the morning and afternoon hours beginning at 8:00 am and 2:00 pm East African time respectfully from the Kanyanchu visitor center, which is less than 10 minutes’ drive from Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge. The habituated families are already fully accustomed to the presence of humans, and the tracking takes between 2-3 hours in groups of 6. An hour is always allowed while with the primates taking pictures, recording, and watching them live through the day without being bothered. It is a relaxing experience and cheaper compared to the habituation. If you are having an afternoon session, it is possible to have it combined with an activity like the Bigodi Swamp walk; tracking is the best alternative.

While chimpanzee habituation takes places once a day beginning at dawn, it is a full day experience starting at the visitor center involving a group of researchers, guides, and trackers following chimpanzees that are not used to the human presence, visitors get the chance to involve in the process, help researchers, and watch as they record and observe the behavior of the primates in their natural environment it takes place for 4 – 6 hours and only offered in Kibale Forest.

Despite the differences between the tracking and habituation process there are similarities involved between the experiences like the rangers’ guide both activities through the well distributed trails of the forest, they both follow the rules and guidelines of the forest for example keeping a 10 meter distance rule, burying waste some good meters deep, guests with communicable diseases are not allowed near the chimps for the safety of both parties. How you eat around the primates is just the same; they are all observed feeding, playing, and jumping from one tree branch to another.

Besides chimpanzee tracking and habituation, the forest is home to approximately 350 species of birds that are great for a birding safari. They include: Forest, swamp and savannah birds some of these are endemics to the destination, example bird types include the great blue Turaco, African pita, African green pigeon, red throated bee eater, African fish eagle, piapiac to mention a few.

The Bigodi Sanctuary is a great point of the park, it is placed right outside the conservation area and is a compliment to activities that can be done when in Kibale Forest National Park, it is home to several primate species like the red checked mangabey, blue monkeys, red monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys to mention a few and over 200 species of birds have been recorded in this area.

Kibale Forest National Park can be accessed by road from the Entebbe International Airport for approximately 6 -7 hour’s drive, or chartered or scheduled flights 1-hour flights to Kasese Airstrip and with a 60 – 75 minutes’ drive to Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge, within Kibale National Park.