With Standard Safaris you can have an afternoon chimpanzee trek in the luxurious and biodiverse Kibale National Park in southwestern Uganda. With an approximate land size of 795 square kilometers and altitude ranging from 928 to 1,590 meters above sea level, Kibale National Park has different habitats. These vary from swamps, tropical forests, savannah woodland, and grassland. These habitats are key to the survival of over 1,400 individual chimpanzees, thus making Kibale National Park the place with the biggest number of these primates in Uganda. This makes tracking them in their natural homes relatively easier than other destinations. The best place to trek chimpanzees in Kibale National Park is the Kanyanchu trail at Kanyanchu Visitor’s Center.
An afternoon chimpanzee trek involves a guided hike into the dense forest to locate a habituated chimpanzee group. The trek starts at around 14:00 and takes around 2 to 5 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzee group and your fitness level. Upon encountering your chimpanzee group, you are allowed a solid one hour to have a close encounter with these playful primates in their natural home. You can take photos and study their unique lifestyles as they interact with each other and their environment. The number of visitors per chimpanzee group is limited to 8 people aged 16 and over. If you want a more intimate experience with the chimpanzees you must go for a chimpanzee habituation experience that takes about 4 hours.
Cost of chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park
An afternoon chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park requires you to acquire a chimpanzee permit. A chimpanzee permit is a legal document by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to authorize a person to track and spend an hour with chimpanzees at a specific chimpanzee destination. The chimpanzee permit costs USD 250 and caters to the gate entrance, a nature walk, and a guiding fee. However, reserving a permit, especially in the peak season is very difficult due to the high competition among travelers. Use the services of a reputable tour company like Standard Safaris to acquire a permit. Being a locally-based tour operator, we promise a hassle-free reservation of the permits. Additionally, we offer advice on the best travel time. We can tailor your tour package to cater for accommodation, transportation, meals, and additional tour activities.
Best time to go for a chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park
You can go for a chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park all year. If you prefer having a less challenging hiking tour in the forest, the dry season is the best time to travel for the afternoon chimpanzee trek. The chimpanzee trails are less muddy therefore hiking on them is relatively easier. The dry season also promises uninterrupted tour experiences due to the low possibility of precipitation. The average temperature conditions are usually around 27oC during the afternoon thus suitable for an outdoor adventure like chimpanzee trekking. The dry season in Kibale National Park runs from December to February and June to July.
How to reach Kibale National Park
From Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, Kibale National Park is approximately 360 kilometers by road via Masaka, Mbarara, and Fort Portal. Your scenic journey to Kibale National Park takes around 6 hours. Upon reaching Fort Portal, your way is completed with a 30-to-45-minute drive to the Kanyanchu trailhead. Standard Safaris offers car hire services and a diverse range of vehicles. These include 4-wheel safari cars, saloon cars, and minibusses. With highly knowledgeable driver guides, Standard Safaris offers a comfortable transfer to Kibale National Park and is full of insight and fun.
A faster transport option that also promises aerial views of Uganda’s physical features, air transportation is the perfect choice. There are domestic flights by Aerolink in the morning and afternoon (07:00 to 10:00, 13:00 to 14:30, and 10:15 to 12:05) from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip, the nearest to Kibale National Park. When you arrive at Kasese Airstrip, you will be welcomed by a representative from Standard Safaris, who will drive you to the Kanyanchu Visitor’s Center in Kibale National Park. This is approximately 62 kilometers away and the road trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the traffic and road conditions. Make reservations for air transportation through Standard Safaris for a seamless transfer experience. This should be done in advance to avoid any possible inconveniences.
Packing for a Chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park
- Pair of hiking shoes or boots
- Gaiters to cover the shoes, socks, and lower parts of trousers from water, mud, and stones
- Lightweight clothes consisting of trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Wide-brimmed hat or cap to cover your head from extreme sunshine
- Sunglasses to protect delicate eyes from extreme ultraviolet radiations from the sun
- Sunscreen for protection of delicate skin against the harmful impact of too much sunshine
- Protective garden gloves to prevent injuries in case you slip or touch a thorny plant
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Backpack
- Torch
- Raincoat or poncho to cater for rainfall that could make you wet
- First aid kit and personal medication
- Chimpanzee permit
- Travel documents
- Insect repellent especially against mosquito bites
- Refillable water bottle to carry as much drinking water as possible
