Chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions
Chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions takes you to two great national parks within the country. The first is Kibale forest national park which is famous for chimpanzee activities and the other is queen Elizabeth national park famous for wildlife viewing activities. These two national parks are popular for the different wildlife species they have and Queen has an additional Kazinga channel that joins Lake Edward to Lake George
Chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions
This safari can start from Kibale forest national park and later drive to Queen Elizabeth national park which is about 130km away. The total time taken to connect to queen Elizabeth national park is 2 hours during the dry season but in the rainy season, it can take longer because the roads tend to be muddy and slippery because of the heavy rainfall.
To have the best of this safari is simple, you just need a good local tour operator who knows what is doing. Africa Adventure Vacations can organize this safari perfectly for you and you get have the best out of it. We can do the booking of the accommodation facilities, chimpanzee permits, and transport, and get you the best safari guides.
This safari requires 3-5 days and the total number of days can depend on your travel budget and even the number of days you have on your safari. The more the days the more the safari activities that can be done. Travelers that are looking forward to doing this safari need to book early in advance especially if they are planning to come in the high season.
Top activities to do on this safari
Chimpanzee trekking
On this safari, chimpanzee trekking can only be done in Kibale forest national park home to over 1500 chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking activities will be done only if you have a chimpanzee trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. There is only one chimpanzee family habituated in Kibale and each day it’s visited by a maximum of 72 tourists.
The day of chimpanzee trekking on this safari starts with a briefing at Kanyanchu visitor’s center where tourists are taught the different rules and regulations of the trekking activity. Groups not exceeding 8 trekkers are made and given armed ranger guides. Tourists are driven to the starting point where the armed ranger guides lead them into the jungle using different trekking trails.
The search for chimpanzees takes trekkers to different places where chimpanzees normally hand like fruiting fruits. Searching the chimps takes 2-6 hours and while searching, trekkers do get an opportunity to see different wildlife species like mammals, primates, birds, and plants. The moment chimpanzees are spotted, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around them and this enables them to learn about their habits, take photos and videos and also watch them doing daily activities.
Encountering tree climbing lions
Encountering tree climbing lions is one of the reasons for this safari and tourists can only see them in one area in Uganda. The tree climbing lions on this safari are seen in Queen Elizabeth national park which is located about 140km from Kibale forest national park. Tree climbing lions are very rare in the world and can only be seen in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Manyara.
Encountering tree climbing lions is possible when you take a game drive through the Ishasha sector. The morning game drive and evening game drive will give you an opportunity to see these tree climbing lions lazily hanging on acacia trees. Once you see the tree climbing lions, you are free to take as many pictures as you want but inside the car.
Tourists will get to know the different reasons as to why these lions have something different from others. Not all lions are able to climb trees but those of Ishasha can climb trees to their branches where they rest. Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector climb tree for different reasons among which include running away from biting insects, escaping the heat, and getting a perfect spot for their prey.
Other activities to do
Apart from chimpanzee trekking and encountering tree climbing lions in Ishasha there are several activities that can be done on this safari. The number of activities to do on this safari will depend on the time you have and your travel budget. Activities in this case include nature walks which can be done in both areas to explore nature on foot, community tours, bird watching, and a boat cruise.
When to have a chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions
A chimpanzee safari in Kibale forest national park ad tree climbing lion can be done at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry season months from June to September and December to February are the best time to have Kibale safari because they are characterized by little or no rainfall, the vegetation is short and thin with unclear views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are in good condition.
A chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions can be done during the rainy season from March to May and October to November because the parks are always open. The rainy season favors budget travelers because lodges and tour operators have discounts. The rainy season is not the best for this safari because the heavy rainfall makes trails, game track, and roads leading to the park are muddy. The vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the wildlife and unclear photography.
Accommodation
On a chimpanzee safari in Kibale and tree climbing lions, you have several accommodation facilities where you can stay if you want to spend a night or more in the park. These accommodation facilities are of budget, mid-range, and luxury options, and where to stay normally depends on the travelers’ budget.
The accommodation in Kibale forest national park includes Ndali Lodge, Turaco Treetops, primate lodge, chimpanzee forest lodge, Rweetera Safari Park, Kyaninga Lodge, crater safari lodge, Kibale River Camp, Kibale Forest Camp, Isunga Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, and Kibale Safari Lodge among others. Lodges to use Queen Elizabeth national park include Topi Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Mweya Safari Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, At the River Ishasha Lodge, and Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp among others.
