Overview.
A pleasant yet beautiful 3 days Kibale Forest chimp habituation experience is worth a visit to the western region of Uganda. Your trip will also offer a chance to explore the Bigodi Community. This offers opportunities to interact with the local community and learn plenty of things about their history, cultures and traditions.
A nature walk along the swamp trails of the pristine Bigodi wetland is an opportunity to spot plenty of bird species including the shoebill and great blue turaco. There are plenty of primates and mammals. The animals include black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys and sitatunga mong others.
You will be transported on a 4X4 safari land cruiser to and from Kibale Forest. This will give you a great opportunity to see the beautiful landscapes of Uganda as you move westwards. However, at Monteero Safaris, we can also transport you on drones, minivans, buses and saloon cars etc. The chimp habituation experience will start and end in Kampala / Entebbe.
Kibale Forest is situated in Kibale National Park in western Uganda. In terms of size, Kibale National Park is around 795 square kilometers. In the forest, there are close to 1,500 chimpanzees. With the greatest population of chimpanzees in Uganda, Kibale Forest is the best place to see chimpanzees in the wild.
Besides tracking already habituated chimpanzees, there are semi-habituated groups. These are offered for chimpanzee habituation experiences everyday. Chimpanzee habituation is the process of making these primates acclimatize to the presence of humans. However, the process should not lead to the alteration of their behavior in the wild. Researchers and rangers accompany the visitors on this captivating experience.
Trip highlights
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Road trips
- Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru tour
- Bigodi wetland tour
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Bigodi Community tour
On this day you will be met by our driver guide at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala. A quick but insightful brief will be done by the driver before transferring you to Kibale National Park. Kibale National Park is around 300 kilometers from Entebbe. This is a 5-6-hour scenic drive to the western region of Uganda.
You will reach Kibale Forest, where you will check in at your booked lodge. Freshen up and have a delicious lunch. You will then go for a Bigodi Wetland tour later in the afternoon. Interact with the local community, explore the pristine Bigodi wetland. Purchase locally made crafts for your souvenirs.
You will be driven back to your lodge for a delicious dinner. Then, you will have an overnight stay as you prepare for the highlight of this trip the next day.
Day 2: Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest
On this second day, you will have to wake up for an early morning breakfast at your lodge. Ensure that you are prepared a picnic lunch by the lodge staff. Your dedicated driver will meet you to ensure that you are at the Visitor Information Center by 7:00 AM. You will be briefed before entering deep into the forest along chimpanzee trails with researchers and ranger guides.
You will locate a chimpanzee group already undergoing habituation. Once you meet the lovely chimpanzee group, you will spend 4 hours close to them. This is an opportunity to learn about their behavior in the wild. The entire experience can take around a half a day or even a full day, depending on where they spent the night.
Return to the trailhead. Your driver will bring you back to your lodge. Freshen up and spend the rest of the evening interacting with fellow visitors and sharing stories about the authentic Ugandan experiences. You will have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru tour and return to Kampala/Entebbe
On this third day, you will wake up to an early morning breakfast. You will check out of your lodge. You will be taken to explore the legendary Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru, some distance from Fort Portal City. Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru is translated as the ‘breast of Nyina Mwiru.’ Take exciting photos and get insight about the folktales surrounding this geological formation.
You will proceed to Kampala/Entebbe International Airport with an enroute lunch. You will be taken to your hotel or dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. This marks the end of your 3 days Kibale Forest chimp habituation.
