Luxury chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale forest national park

Luxury chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale forest national park are organized for travelers that are interested in VIP treatment on their safaris. The luxury travelers we are talking about are those that want to stay in luxury accommodation facilities, travel by air transport or use good safari vehicles to the park, and lastly those that want activities done in a luxury way. Kibale forest national park is one of the national parks to take your luxury chimpanzee safari because it is worth the money.

Kibale forest national park is the primate capital of the world in the western part of Uganda in Fort Portal and Kasese districts. The national park is the best area for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda with the highest population found there. Kibale forest national park has more than 1500 with over 13 chimpanzee families and this makes it the best chimpanzee trekking safari destination.

Luxury travelers choosing Kibale forest national park for luxury trekking safaris is the best choice to do. The national park is one of those that can be accessed by air transport, it has one of the best accommodation facilities and tourists will be able to see the highest number of chimpanzees in a group. At Africa adventure vacations we are able to help you in organizing a luxury chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale forest national park.

Luxury chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale forest national park

Chimpanzee trekking is the most done activity in Kibale forest national park. 1 chimpanzee family has been habituated for chimpanzee trekking activities and it can be trekked by over 72 people a day. Chimpanzee trekking is done twice a day in the morning and evening and it’s the tourists who choose which session to trek.

On the day of chimpanzee trekking, tourists must wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then move to Kanyanchu visitor’s center where they will gather with other trekkers. All tourists are briefed about the rules and regulations of the chimpanzee trekking activity and later grouped not exceeding 8 people. Armed ranger guides are given to each group and a chimpanzee family to trek is allocated.

The armed ranger guides lead the trekkers in the jungle and they start searching for where the chimpanzees could be. Searching for the chimpanzees takes 2-6 hours and during this time the trekkers are able to meet different park mammals, primates, and birds. When the chimpanzee family allocated is found, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the apes and this period allows them to learn about their habits, take photos and watch them do daily activities such as feeding, hunting, playing, coupling and much more.

What luxury travelers to Kibale forest national park need to pack?

Luxury travelers visiting Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking should pack a light backpack, long-sleeved shorts, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, a sweater, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, waterproof hiking shoes, a light backpack, insect repellents, sunscreen, a pair of binoculars, a camera, drinking water bottle and energy giving snacks among others.

How much are chimpanzee trekking permits for luxury travelers in Kibale

The price of chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale forest national park is the same to all categories of people. A luxury traveler and a budget traveler will get the chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale forest national park at the same price. Each chimpanzee trekking permit is sold at $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 East African citizens.

Luxury travelers to Kibale forest national park can even opt for chimpanzee habituation and this can be possible if they buy chimpanzee habituation permits. Each chimpanzee habituation permit costs $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX200,000 East African citizens.

The chimpanzee trekking permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and on a first come first serve basis. Luxury travelers who are intending to visit Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking are advised to book their permits directly from UWA or through a trusted local tour operator early in advance of 3-4 months or more.

Transport to the park

Luxury travelers can access Kibale forest national park using any type of transport of their choice. They can use road transport or air transport to get to the park and this takes a single day. By air transport, tourists will need to inform their local tour operator so that they book with the airline companies for flights to the park. Flights to Kibale are organized by Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda from Kajjansi airstrip and Entebbe international airport to Kasese airstrip.

By road transport, luxury travelers can use good safari cars which are 4×4 to get to Kibale forest national park and the 300km journey takes 5-6 hours. Travelers coming from Kampala/Entebbe will go through Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Kasese to the park. Others from Kampala/Entebbe can go through Mityana, Mubende, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal to the park.

Accommodation for luxury travelers in Kibale forest national park

Luxury travelers on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale forest national park have a lot of accommodation facilities where they can stay. There are lodges that offer very good services and they include Ndali Lodge, Crystal Safari Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge, Primate Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, and Kibale Forest Lodge among others.

Best time to visit Kibale forest national park

Luxury travelers can visit Kibale forest national park at any time of the year but the dry season is the best. The dry season happens from June to September and December to February when the park is receiving little or no rainfall. During that time, the trekking trails are dry and easily passable, vegetation is short and scattered with good views of chimpanzees, and roads leading to the park are passable.

Luxury travelers can again visit Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking in the rainy season that happens from March to May and October to November. This is a period when the lodges are discounted because a few travelers are with in the park so luxury travelers will benefit from this. The rainy season has a lot of rainfall which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thick with poor views of chimpanzees, and the roads leading to the park are impassable.