Double Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Double Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park: It is a popular activity in Uganda, particularly in Kibale Forest National Park, home to the world’s highest number of chimpanzees. Covering 776 sq.km in Fort Portal, the park attracts tourists from around the world. Double chimpanzee trekking is allowed in Kibale as long as two permits are secured. This unique experience attracts tourists who want to see the chimpanzees more than once, making it a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts.
In Kibale Forest National Park, active tourists who are prepared to enter the jungle twice a day may choose to double trek on the same day. Others who reserve trekking permits on separate days can trek with chimpanzees twice. Spending extra time with the chimpanzees through double trekking may allow for more photos and films, a better understanding of their daily routines, and much more.
Double Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Kibale Forest
One must obtain two trekking permits to double-trek the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sells these certificates to travelers who want to see these primates in their natural habitats. Double chimpanzee trekking can be done once a day for two days, or in the morning and afternoon.
Kanyanchu and Braiga are two habituated troops in Kibale Forest National Park that are open for daily visitation. The process of hiking any of these chimpanzee groups begins early in the morning with a briefing from the Kanyanchu park headquarters, when trekking permits are checked and the activity’s rules and regulations are explained.
Trekkers are divided into groups following a briefing, and armed ranger guides are tasked with leading the groups through the jungle. Trekkers are driven to the jungle’s beginning sites by driver guides, after which they are dropped off with armed ranger guides. In the process of searching for the chimpanzees, some of the forest’s attractions, such as monkeys, birds, forest elephants, and unusual flora, can be spotted along the many hiking pathways.
After exploring for a duration of 1-4 hours, trekkers find the chimpanzees going about their everyday lives, and rangers allow them to spend an hour with them. You can observe them playing, hunting, nesting, feeding, nursing, or simply relaxing during this period. It is permitted for trekkers to take pictures and movies for their records. After the allotted time has passed, hikers depart from the chimpanzee troop and return to the starting location to meet their driver guide.
Even on their second trip into the jungle to look for these chimps, trekkers who are participating in double chimp trekking will follow the same steps. Every trekker needs to receive a briefing since it helps them understand what to do and what not to do when trekking with chimpanzees. One pony might decide to trek the same troop of chimpanzees, while another would decide to trip various troops.
What is the cost of double chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda’s Kibale Forest?
Two trekking permits, each for an alternate duration, are required to double trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. They may be for the morning and the afternoon, or for the first and second days. For foreign residents, each trekking permit costs $200, for foreign non-residents, $250, and for nationals of East African Member States, UGX180,000.
Best time to do a double chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park
Double trekking in Kibale Forest National Park is best done during the driest months of the year. It is good to visit these chimpanzees in their natural setting between June and September and between December and February. Because the grass is sparse, everyone can see the chimpanzees clearly. Trekkers can easily find the chimps because the hiking routes are less muddy and easier to navigate.
Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park can also be visited during the rainy season. This occurs throughout March through May and October through November, which are marked by an abundance of rain and a dearth of sunshine. Because of the dense vegetation and muddy, slippery trekking pathways, it can be difficult to take clear pictures of the sights.
How to get to Kibale National Park
Accessible by road, Kibale Forest National Park is situated in Kabarole district in western Uganda, near the foothills of Mount Rwenzori, covering over 26km southeast of Fort Portal Town. The park spans across Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kasese, and Kabarole districts. Using road transportation, visitors can arrive at the forest in five to six hours from Entebbe and Kampala. The park is located at Fort Portal, after passing through Kampala, Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, and Kyenjojo districts. Tourists can witness crater lakes and tea plantations during the journey’s intermediate stops.
What to carry during chimpanzee trekking?
One must have some essentials for the activity to enjoy an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park. These include long-sleeved shirts, a trimmed hat, long pants, waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton socks, a pair of gaiters, a waterproof jacket, garden gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap, extra batteries, binoculars, a camera, energising snacks, and a bottle of water.
Accommodation
Tourists can choose from a wide variety of lodging alternatives on a chimpanzee trekking safari, ranging from affordable to luxurious. Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Chimpundu Forest Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Rubalika Farm Lodge, Turaco Tree Tops, Kibale Tourist Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, Guereza Canopy Lodge, and others.
