Trek chimpanzees of Kibale from the United States of America

Trek chimpanzees of Kibale from the United States of America: Are you in the United States of America and would want to visit the famous national park for chimpanzees in the world? Well, we are talking about Kibale forest national park located in the western part of Uganda. This article is going to help you on some of the information you need to have a safari in Kibale forest national park.

Kibale national park is the primate capital of the world having over 1500 chimpanzees and more 12 species of primates. The national park is also home to over 372 bird species and 60 primates but chimpanzee trekking is the most done activity here. The activity is done by all kinds of travelers from different parts of the world including those from the United States of America as long as they have a chimpanzee permit.

Trek chimpanzees of Kibale from the United States of America

Chimpanzee permits for Kibale

Tourists from the United States of America need chimpanzee trekking permits to be part of the chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park. The chimpanzee permits are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority which is managing and controlling park activities. Tourists can always obtain the chimpanzee permits direct from UWA or use a local tour operator.

It’s always advised to book these chimpanzee trekking permits 3-4 months or more earlier in advance and this is to help in avoiding last minute booking disappointments. To book a chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale forest national park from the United States of America, you always need the dates of the month and year you want to trek and you send this to your tour operator or UWA.

The information is always used to check for the availability of the chimpanzee trekking permits on those dates and once they are available, you are sent different banking details where you send money. After you do send a scanned copy for the proof of payment and your permit is booked. When you arrive in the country, you will find the permit with your tour operator or you can pick it up directly at UWA offices in Kampala.

For travelers coming from the United States of America and would want to know how much the chimpanzee permit is? Well, a single chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 east African citizens. Those that want to spend more time with the chimpanzees pay $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX200,000 east African citizens.

The chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale from the United States of America

On the day of the chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, tourists from the United States of America will have to wake up for early morning breakfast at their lodges and later get their trekking permit and head to Kanyanchu visitor’s center. Here you meet other trekkers and then get a briefing from the park wardens who teach the rules and regulations of the activity. After that, trekkers are grouped not exceeding 8 people, given an armed ranger guide, and then driven to the starting point of the trekking.

At the starting point of the trek, the armed ranger guide leads the trek and the trekkers must follow him while searching for where the chimpanzees could be. You do visit different trees where these chimpanzees normally hang or eat fruits. The search for chimps takes 2-6 hours and while searching, you meet different wildlife within the jungle.

The moment you meet the chimpanzees, you are given 1 hour to be around them. This 1 hour given enables you to learn about the behaviors of chimpanzees, take photos, and record views. You will be able to see the chimpanzees do daily activities among which include nesting, hunting, coupling, resting, grooming, patrolling, breastfeeding, and eating among others.

What to pack

To have a successful chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale forest national park when you are coming from the United States of America kindly pack waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, long sleeves shorts, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, sweater, a light backpack, sunscreen, insect repellents, energy giving snacks, drinking water bottle, a pair of binoculars and a camera.

Accommodation

On your visit to Kibale forest national park from the United States of America, you can’t fail to get where to stay because several lodges are found inside and around Kibale. These lodges are of budget, mid-range, and luxury options with where to stay depending on the traveler’s budget. The lodges include Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Crater Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, and Rweterea Safari Park among others.

The most appropriate time to trek chimpanzees of Kibale from the United States of America

Travers coming from the United States of America can trek chimpanzees at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry month that occurs from June to September and December to February are the best to visit Kibale for chimpanzee trekking and this is because the park is receiving little or no rainfall, the trekking trails are dry and easier to navigate, vegetation is short with clear views of chimpanzees and roads connecting to the park are in very good conditions.

Travelers from the United States of America can still visit Kibale for chimpanzee trekking during the rainy season but this favors budget travelers. The rainy season attracts a few people and what lodge owners and tour operators normally do is reduce the prices. The rainy season ain’t the best for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale because the too much rainfall makes the trekking trails slippery, vegetation is tall with unclear views of wildlife, and roads leading to the park are impassable.