3 days Chimpanzee trip Kibale National Park

Trip overview

This 3 day Chimpanzee tour to Kibale National Park will give you a unique chance to see the chimpanzees – our closest relatives – in their natural habitat. Chimpanzees share 98.7% DNA with humans and are therefore exciting to watch. You will do the chimpanzee trekking adventure which will reward you with spending one full hour with the habituated chimpanzees from the time of finding them in Kibale forest. Alternatively you can choose to do the chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) which allows you to spend 4+ hours with the a community of chimpanzees in Kibale forest that is undergoing habituation.

Kibale national park is the number choice for chimpanzee tours in Uganda because it is home to the highest number of chimps among all the parks and protected reserves, with about 1500 chimps in the park. Kibale national park is also a primate haven, hosting a total of 13 species of primates hence giving you a chance to see several species monkeys in addition to the chimps.

Itinerary

Day 1 – transfer to Kibale, crater lakes tour

Our tour driver shall pick you from Kampala or Entebbe at 7am and depart for Kibale National park. This is a 5 – 6 hours journey. You will stop over in Fort Portal town for your lunch. Thereafter you shall continue for the craters lake tour en-route to Kibale National Park. Enjoy the breathtaking landscape of rolling hills and crater lakes. You will take a hike to a great view point (famously named “top of the world”) overlooking a beautiful crater lake.

Later you will continue to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation to choose from:

Budget: Kibale Forest Camp

Midrange: Turaco Treetops

Luxury: Primates Lodge Kibale / Kyaninga Lodge

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National park and afternoon Bigodi wetlands walk

You shall have early breakfast and transfer to the park office by 7am. Meet the park guides for quick briefing and set out for the chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale national park. You will be tracking a Kanyanchu chimpanzee community that is fully habituated. It may take 1 hour or 2 to find the chimpanzees which can be heard screaming from a distance. You will spend a maximum of 1 hour with the chimps and then return to the lodge or lunch.

After lunch you will go for a walk in the Bigodi wetlands. The Bigodi wetlands are situated on the edge of Kibale National Park. The wetlands harbor up to 8 species of primates and several other wildlife. After a wonderful nature experience in Bigodi wetlands you shall continue for a visit to the local communities near the wetlands and learn about their cultures and traditions

Optional chimp activity:

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX): You can do the chimpanzee habituation experience which allows up to 4 hours with the chimpanzees in a chimpanzee community that is still undergoing habituation. You set out as early as 5am to find the chimpanzees before they are out of their nests, watch them from the time they wake up and follow them for the rest of the day till afternoon when they are lazing around and relaxing after a busy morning. The CHEX gives more time to get into the lives of the chimpanzees and see their different ways of life and activities throughout the day. The CHEX is also good for photography as you have a lot of time with the chimps. Note that you can choose to end the experience when you feel you have had enough.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – transfer back to Kampala

After breakfast you shall drive back to Kampala

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch