3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking | Kibale Forest National Park

3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Highlights

• Day #1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale National Park
• Day #2: Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest and an afternoon Bigodi wetland nature walk
• Day #3: Return drive from Kibale National Park to Kampala

A Detailed 3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale National Park

From your place of residence or hotel in Kampala, your driver-guide will meet you for a briefing and transfer drive to Kibale National Park. You will enjoy the road trip as you go past different regions and cultures. Arrive at Kibale National Park in the evening and have dinner and refreshments at a booked hotel. Dinner and overnight at desired hotel either luxury, mid-range, or budget.

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest and an afternoon Bigodi wetland nature walk

After breakfast at your lodge get ready for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Carry along with your backpack with some drinking water and head out to the park for chimp tracking. The trek starts with a briefing on the trekking etiquette then heads out to the jungle. After the trek, you return to your lodge for lunch and then later transfer to Bigodi wetland for an evening nature walk.

Bigodi wetland is host to an array of biodiversity including primates and bird species. Some of the bird species include the Great Blue Turaco, White-collared Olive back, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Superb Sunbird, and many more. After the nature walk at Bigodi, you then return to your lodging facility where you relax, refresh and have dinner. Accommodation as of the previous night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Return drive from Kibale Forest National Park to Kampala

On the last day of your 3-day chimpanzee trek in Uganda, you will have breakfast at the hotel and then embark on a drive back to Kampala. Have en route lunch before arriving in Kampala in the evening for a drop-off at your hotel or place of residence.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of the 3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Experience Kibale Forest National Park

Experience the Kanyanchu Primate Walk – Kibale’s Premier Wildlife Adventure

As the crown jewel of Kibale National Park, the Kanyanchu Primate Walk showcases the incredible variety of primate species found there. Diurnal monkeys like the red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, and grey-cheeked mangabey are common sights in the forest canopy, and visitors to this immersion walk have a rare opportunity to experience thirteen different primate species. But seeing the Kibale chimpanzees, one of the most impressive wildlife attractions in Uganda, is without a doubt the most exciting part of this walk.

Because of the extensive monitoring and socialisation of the Kanyanchu chimpanzee population that began in 1993, the likelihood of sightings has increased dramatically. Visitors are practically assured of a once-in-a-lifetime experience with these sophisticated monkeys in their native habitat, as the sighting success rate exceeds 90%.

Guided Chimpanzee Tracking Walks

The Kanyanchu Visitor Centre is the meeting point for daily guided chimpanzee tracking treks at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM. Depending on the chimpanzees’ whereabouts and other variables like weather and terrain, these expeditions can last anywhere from two to five hours at the most. The chimpanzees’ social interactions, playfulness, and feeding patterns can be observed for one hour once they are located, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about these interesting animals.

All guests must be 16 or older, and there can be no more than six people in any tracking group for the sake of sustainability and intimacy. It is highly recommended to arrive early for registration and a pre-trek briefing. The rangers will deliver crucial instructions on how to behave among chimpanzees and how to stay safe. To reserve a spot for this in-demand event, advance ticketing is essential.

Kibale’s Remarkable Biodiversity

The incredible variety of life in Kibale National Park extends far beyond the park’s famous monkeys. In addition to olive baboons, duikers, bush pigs, forest elephants, and rare antelope species, the park is home to more than 120 different kinds of mammals. Kibale is home to some 370 bird species, including 23 endemics to the Albertine Rift, which is sure to please birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.

• The ground-dwelling Nahan’s francolin is a bird that is in danger all around the world.
• The swift-moving Cassin’s spinetail flits among the trees
• The brilliantly coloured blue-headed bee-eater is a common sight along forest boundaries.
• The lowland masked apalis is a warbler that is difficult to spot in thick foliage.

Kibale’s Thriving Chimpanzee Population

Over 1,500 individuals, spread out among 12 separate communities, make up Kibale’s wild chimpanzee population, making it one of the biggest in Uganda. The Kanyantale chimpanzee colony is the most well-known for monitoring tourists and researchers, but four of these populations have become acclimated to human presence. One of the world’s longest-running chimpanzee tracking initiatives, this group has been welcoming visitors every day since 1993.

Visitors looking for something more immersive can participate in Kibale’s Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, where they tag along with a troop of semi-habituated chimpanzees as they go about their daily lives for a considerable amount of time.

Wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers continue to flock to Kibale National Park in Africa for its unparalleled primate diversity, stunning scenery, and diverse ecosystems. This is the place to go if you want to see the untamed beauty of Uganda up close and personal.