Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale from Europe
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale from Europe: Chimpanzee trekking is the most done activity in Kibale forest national park and it attracts thousands of tourists from different parts of the world. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale has attracted a lot of tourists from 44 European countries that include Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Croatia, Belgium, France, Austria, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Italy among others.
From Europe, you need to know that Kibale forest national park is located in western Uganda, and to encounter the chimpanzee you need a chimpanzee trekking permit. You need to be aged 12 years and above to be part of the team that treks chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park. Another thing you need to know that a maximum of 72 people do trek chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park every day.
To visit the habituated chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park from Europe, you need a chimpanzee trekking permit which is a document from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow you be part of the trekking activity. The chimpanzee trekking permits are sold to persons above the age of 12 years and these need to book the permit 3-4 months early in advance to avoid disappointments.
The price of Kibale chimpanzee permits from Europe
The cost of permits for Kibale when one is in Europe is the same as when one is in any other country. Uganda wildlife authority sets these prices and they work for a certain period of time before introducing new ones. A single chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 East African citizens.
How to book chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale from Europe?
From Europe, travelers can book chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale forest national park directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or using a local tour operator. The best option is to use a local tour operator and they must be from Uganda. Uganda has a lot of local tour operators and it’s our role to look for a trusted one. The best ones are usually licensed by UTB and they are members of different tourism associations within the country.
Africa Adventure Vacations is a good local tour operator to use while booking chimpanzee permits for Kibale from Europe. They are licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and are members of AUTO. To book with us, you need the dates of the month and year you will be in Kibale and contact us via email. We shall use the information to check for the availability of the permits with the reservations office at UWA.
Once the chimpanzee trekking permits are available, you will be asked your personal details and you will be sent different banking details for you to use when sending money for the safari or permit. Once money has been received, your permit shall be booked and you will find it with us on your arrival into the country.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale from Europe
To trek chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park from Europe, you need a chimpanzee trekking permit obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority. With your trekking permit, you will move to Kanyanchu visitor’s center in the morning or afternoon. Here you will meet other trekkers and join for a briefing from the park rangers. They do teach the rules and regulations of the trekking activity for the safety of trekkers and chimpanzees.
From Kanyanchu visitor’s center, you will drive to the starting point of the trek and an armed ranger guide shall lead you into the jungle where you will starting looking for chimpanzees. You will visit different trees where these chimpanzees normally hang and you will follow different trails where they might have passed.
The search takes 2-6 hours in Kibale forest national park and the good thing is that tourists keep meeting different forest animals and birds. After several hours of searching and meeting the chimpanzees, trekkers will be given 1 hour to be around the chimpanzees and this comes with opportunities such as learning about their behaviors, taking photos, and watching them do daily activities like nesting, playing, hunting, feeding, and much more.
What to pack for Kibale chimpanzee trekking from Europe?
Tourists that are coming to visit Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking from Canada need to come along with items such as long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shorts, water prof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, long cotton stocks, a rain jacket, a sweater, light backpack, drinking water bottle, energy giving snacks, a camera and a pair of binoculars.
When to visit Kibale for chimpanzee trekking from Europe
Travelers can visit Kibale forest national park from Europe at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry season when the park is receiving some good sunshine is the best time to visit Kibale from Europe, this is because there is little or no rainfall, the trekking trails are dry and easier to navigate, vegetation is short and thin with good views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are in good conditions.
Travelers can still visit Kibale from Europe during the rainy season but this period favors budget travelers because lodge owners and tour operators reduce on their prices. The rainy season from March to May and October to November is not the best for chimpanzee trekking from Europe and this is because the trekking trails are muddy and slipper, vegetation is tall with unclear views of wildlife, and roads leading to the park are in poor conditions.
Accessing Kibale from Europe
Travelers in Europe can access Kibale forest national park by flying to Entebbe international airport. From there, they can access the park using road transport or air transport in just a single day. By air transport, there are flights by Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip which is located near the park. From Kasese airstrip, tourists will use less than 2 hours to get to Kibale forest.
By road transport, it takes 6-7 hours to get to Kibale ad this time includes stopovers. From Entebbe, travelers from Europe will go through Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Kasese to the park. Another alternative is from Entebbe via Mityana, Mubende, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal to the park.
