What to do in Kibale after Chimpanzee Trekking
What to do in Kibale after Chimpanzee Trekking: Kibale forest national park is the leading primate destination in Uganda where chimpanzee trekking is conducted. It’s a famous hot spot for chimpanzee trekking located in western Uganda in districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kabarore and Kasese. Kibale forest national park is famously known for boasting the highest number of chimpanzees in Uganda and Africa at large. It is one of the unique primate destinations with exceptional primate species such as the endemic red-colobus monkey, L’hoest monkey among others.
The national park contains 13 primate species, 60 mammals, 372 birds, and 226 trees in its emerald woodland. Kibale Forest National Park has over 1,500 chimpanzees, making it one of the leading primate destinations in Africa, with one habituated family of over 100 individuals that allows 72 visitors daily for trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park is normally carried out during morning and evening hours to enable visitors have easy access to chimpanzees when doing their daily activities. Chimpanzee trekking exercise begins with a briefing at the Kanyanchu where visitors are assigned armed ranger guides to lead the chimpanzee search into the jungle.
Finding chimpanzees in the jungle takes about 2 to 6 hours since their mobility allows them to move freely around the park. Once chimpanzees are located, trekkers have 1 hour to see the chimps and learn about their habits and behaviour as they watch their daily activities, such as coupling, climbing, nurturing juveniles and infants, and feeding, as visitors take photos.
After chimpanzee trekking, there are many activities in Kibale Forest National Park. Tourists can engage in chimpanzee habituation, bird watching, nature walks, and community tours. This article will explain these interesting options available during free time or safaris.
What to do in Kibale Forest after chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee habituation
Chimpanzee habituation and trekking are different activities in Kibale Forest National Park. Chimpanzee trekking lasts 1 hour with a fully habituated family, while chimpanzee habituation involves a full day with semi-habituated chimpanzees in their natural environment. After the trekking experience, tourists can participate in chimpanzee habituation the following day, offering visitors an opportunity to habituate these wild chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee habituation involves a semi-habituated family, allowing tourists to engage in activities that help apes adjust to human presence. Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest: This process begins with a briefing before tourists enter the jungle with ranger guides, who lead the search for these intelligent chimpanzees.
After 2 to 6 hours of searching for semi-habituated chimpanzees, trekkers join a full-day habituation exercise. They can take photos, learn about chimpanzee behaviors, and watch their daily activities like nesting, hunting, coupling and feeding. Tourists help researchers with activities to acclimate the chimps to humans.
Bird watching
Bird lovers visiting Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking can also enjoy birdwatching afterward. Birdwatching safaris are available throughout the day with armed ranger guides in areas like Magombe and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for their rich birdlife.
Birdwatching in Kibale Forest National Park offers tourists a chance to see some of the 372 bird species recorded there. These include the Abyssinian ground thrush, alpine swift, black-billed turaco, yellow-rumped tinker, brown-chested alethe, papyrus canary, white-collared olive, Cameroon sombre greenbul, African pitta, blue-throated roller, zebra waxbill, and crowned eagle, among others.
Bigodi Experience
This is one of the things to do in Kibale after Chimpanzee Trekking, Bigodi tour offers two options: a wetland tour or a community tour. The wetland tour is for tourists interested in birds, primates, and some mammals. The community tour allows visitors to explore African culture. The wetland tour takes place in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
The Bigodi community tour takes tourists through Bigodi, featuring a coffee home, a winemaking home, and a medicine man. Visitors can learn about the coffee-making process, see how local beer and wine are produced, and discover how different plants are used for medicine.
Accommodation in Kibale National Park
You can choose from various lodges for your chimpanzee safari in Kibale Forest National Park. Options range from budget to luxury, such as Papaya Lake Lodge, Chimpanzee Safari Park, Rweetera Safari Park, Turaco Treetops, Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, and Primate Lodge, among others.
What is the best time to visit Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is open year-round, but the best time for chimpanzee trekking is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February. At this time, there is little rain, and the trails and roads are easier to use.
Budget travellers can visit Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee safaris during the rainy season, from March to May and October to November, to get big discounts on accommodations and tours. However, the rainy season complicates safaris due to muddy trails, poor visibility, and bad road conditions.
