Chimpanzee Habituation experience : Primate-focused travelers flock to Uganda mostly to do gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari. However, a brand-new item that is far more fascinating was added to the list: habituation. This is the method used to acclimatise wild primates to human presence and have them ready to be trekked later. It can be done for both gorillas and chimpanzees, and it takes around three years to finish. Over 4950 chimpanzees have been identified as being in Uganda, with about 1500 of them residing just in Kibale National Park. The only location in Uganda where chimpanzees are trained to live in captivity is this park, located in the Kabarole area; nevertheless, visitors must get a permit in order to visit the animals. These, however, are different from those obtained for trekking chimpanzees in terms of expenses.
This gives them not just an hour in their company, but an entire day to spend exclusively with these chimpanzees. Permit reservations must be made three months in advance of the event date and, if at all feasible, during the months of March through April and November, when there is noticeably less congestion, in order for one to completely enjoy this habituation experience. You should also be aware that this encounter is not for the weak hearted.
Chimpanzee Habituation Day.
Your day of chimpanzee habituation will begin with an early breakfast, followed by packing your lunch and leaving to meet your guide who will take you into the forest. Each group, including the researchers and escorts, is limited to a maximum of four individuals when seeing these chimpanzees. The location of the primates’ overnight nest-building is then shown to you. If you’re lucky and got up early, you’ll find them right as they’re rising. Thus, a normal chimpanzee habituation starts between six and six thirty in the morning. Other behaviors you’ll notice them engaging in include copulation, feeding, patrolling, hunting, resting, and later, at around 7 p.m., building new nests where they’ll spend the night.
However, as Kibale National Park is home to numerous other species in addition to chimpanzees, you should make sure to do more than just become accustomed to them on this day. Other life groups present in the park include the mammals, which include the Red and Blue Duikers, the Sitatungas, the Giant Forest Hogs, the Bushbucks, the Bush pigs, the African Buffalo, and Common Warthogs. There are also 12 species of primates, including the Black and White Colobus Monkey, the Blue Monkey, the L’Hoest’s Monkey, and the Red tailed Colobus Monkey. Carnivores include the two otter species mentioned above as well as lions, leopards, African Golden cats, and various types of mongooses. Over 325 bird species have been identified in the area, including the Ground Thrush, an endemic to Kibale National area, as well as Western Tinkerbird, African Grey Parrot, and Olive Long-Tailed Cuckoo. Elephants can be found in the park as well.
All of this should convince you to participate in chimpanzee habituation safari, which is an exciting, instructive, and adventurous safari activity you shouldn’t pass up while in Uganda. Learn more about safaris and trips in Uganda.
