Why chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is one hour? Visitors to a completely habituated chimpanzee family in Kibale Forest National Park are permitted to spend precisely one hour with the chimpanzees, despite the fact that they must wait two to six hours before they may interact with them. One of the guidelines at Kibale Forest National Park is to spend no more than an hour among chimpanzees.
In this post, we’ll examine some of the explanations for why chimp trekking takes precisely one hour, a question that many tourists frequently ask. Visitors should be aware that chimpanzees are a threatened species of primates that require protection.
Why chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is one hour
There is a threat to chimpanzees.
Chimpanzees have been listed as endangered, and much work is required to boost their population, which is believed to be around 5000 in Uganda. Scientists are worried that chimpanzees would go extinct if conservation efforts are not made. The number of these chimpanzees is growing year, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority is making excellent use of its armed ranger guides.
Over 98% of human DNA is shared by chimpanzees, making them close cousins of humans. This indicates that they get any illness or infection from others. Since humans may infect chimpanzees with illnesses like the flu and cough, trekkers are only permitted to spend one hour with chimps to lower the chance of human infections spreading.
The necessity of conservation
Since chimpanzees are considered endangered and hence require conservation efforts, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale lasts just one hour. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, which oversees tourism in the nation, has limited visitors’ interactions with fully habituated chimpanzees to one hour due to conservation efforts on this endangered species.
Chimpanzees require time and space to do all of their daily tasks since they are completely acclimated but remain wild. In order to engage in as many activities as they like during the day, they require time off while people are present. A fully habituated chimpanzee family does become uncomfortable and occasionally anxious when people spend too much time with them.
The need of allowing chimpanzees to carry on with their regular activities
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park is limited to one hour in order to allow the primates to carry on with their daily routines. Chimpanzees have routines that they adhere to since they get up at six in the morning and begin their activities until the sun sets.
Long-term interactions with endangered chimpanzees may cause them to perform less efficiently, thus visitors are required to spend one hour with the animals so they can resume their activities. Chimpanzees engage in a variety of everyday activities, including as hunting, eating, nursing, nesting, playing, coupling, sleeping, and much more.
Chimpanzee habituation is an option for those who wish to spend longer than an hour with chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. The process of acclimating wild chimpanzees to human presence is known as chimpanzee habituation. Only one chimpanzee family is available for habituation activities in Kibale Forest National Park, and visitors can spend the entire day there.
For two to three years, the chimpanzees are subjected to the habituation exercise daily until they are completely acclimated to the human presence in their environment. All you need to participate in the activity is a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which costs UGX250,000 for East African nationals and $300 for foreign non-residents and $250 for foreign residents.
How much does an hour-long visit to Kibale Forest National Park cost to view chimpanzees?
A chimpanzee permit is required in order to spend an hour with fully habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. For those over 12, a single chimpanzee journey costs $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX180,000 for African nationals.
The fact that Kibale Forest National Park only has 72 chimpanzee trekking permits indicates how few there are in relation to the number of hikers who wish to go. To prevent last-minute disappointments, it is thus recommended that travelers reserve their chimpanzee trekking permit three to four months in advance.
What time of year is ideal for trekking chimpanzees?
Given that Kibale Forest National Park has two wet seasons and two dry seasons, are you thinking when would be the perfect time to go chimpanzee trekking? Chimpanzee trekking is most effective during the two dry seasons, which are December to February and June to September. The roads going to the park are in good shape, the foliage is sparse with fantastic views of chimpanzees, the trekking routes are dry and simpler to negotiate, and there is little to no rainfall during the dry season.
During the two rainy seasons, which are March to May and October to November, visitors may still see Kibale chimpanzees; however, this is an excellent time of year for those on a tight budget because lodging and tour companies lower their rates. The greatest time of year is during the rainy season because of the heavy rains, the muddy and slick hiking routes, the dense foliage that makes it difficult to see the wildlife, and the poor condition of the roads that lead to the park.