Six Hours with a Chimpanzee Troop in the Kibale Forest Fly-in Luxury Safari
More time with the Chimps on this 3-Day Luxury Fly-In Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari-Kibale Forest
Be more than an observer, but participate in the Habituation process on this 3-Day Luxury Fly-In Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari-Kibale Foresti, home to about 1,500 Chimpanzees. You can spend the day with the Chimpanzees, Researchers, Trackers, and Uganda Wildlife Rangers.
This CHEX-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari is a one-of-a-kind experiential Primate Adventure. Unlike normal Chimpanzee Trekking, there is a limited number of visitors allowed, plus you are with the chimpanzees longer than a regular trek.
A moderate fitness level and willingness to be on your feet for the day are needed. Unlike them, chimpanzees, though close cousins of Gorillas, are always on the move. You are not dealing with a Gorilla Family of 7 to 20 but a Chimpanzee Troop, the size of which can be 50 to 100 or more.
The CHEX – Chimpanzee Habituation Experience means that you are an active participant in the Habituation Experience process. Your presence matters, and it allows the Chimpanzees to become used to the presence of Human Beings.
3-Day Luxury Fly-In Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari-Kibale Forest Highlights
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: This is a six-hour-long activity where you spend more time with a chimpanzee troop.
- Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary: Hike through a Jungle swamp on mostly boar walks.
- Nocturnal Forest Walk: See the creatures of the night on this guided forest walk.
- Top of the World Hike: Hike along the crater lakes to the top of the world, where you see the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth Park, and the surrounding area on a clear day.
- Stay at Crater Lake Safari Lodge, Located near Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
- Choice of flying or driving: You can fly to Kibale Forest or take a long drive.
- Toyota Land-Cruiser: With your driver guide.
3-Day Luxury Fly-In Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari-Kibale Forest in Detail.
Day 1 – Kibale Forest:
Fly to Kibale Forest:
Your driver-guide will pick you up at your hotel in Entebbe at 5:45 for your 7:00 flight to Kibale Forest. You are allowed 15 kilos for your luggage, and we suggest you wear a hiking shoes-jacket for the flight. You can have your chimpanzee habituation experience.
A duffel bag is best for a flying safari. However, a suitcase will be fine; we can store your additional luggage. Excess baggage incurs a charge of six dollars per kilo.
Your flight takes you over some of the most scenic from-air areas of Southwest Uganda. You have a brief stop in Kihihi and Kisoro before you land in Kasese, where your driver guide meets you and takes you to the Crater Lake Safari Lodge.
Plelase note: This safari can be done as a drive-in safari. Driver Times are 4 hours plus.
Drive to Kibale Forest:
Your 3-Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari begins as we depart Kampala or Entebbe at 7:00 am on your Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, predominantly out of a vehicle adventure. This is a 4-hour-plus drive through scenic Uganda.
Your vehicle has WiFi, bottled water, and fruit snacks you can enjoy during the journey to Kibale Forest.
Cultural Option: Break the Journey and stop to see that traditional culture is still practiced today. It is on a plateau, and its traditions go back hundreds of years in the history of Uganda. Today, traditional beliefs are actively practiced here.
It would help if you arrived at Crater Lake Safari Lodge around Lunchtime, allowing time for afternoon activities.
Crater Lake Safari Lodge
The Lodge is located on an explosion crater Lake, which is common in this area. You will be staying in a Lake View Cottage. The plus is that you will remain in the closest luxury lodge to the forest, allowing you to take the nocturnal forest walk without much added drive time. The club has been featured in Vogue and a Huffington Post article.
Meals are thoughtfully prepared for you, and Vegans and Vegetarians can be readily accommodated. The food is locally grown, producing various fusion dishes with an African-Ugandan flavor.
The staff goes out of their way to accommodate guests’ needs, making your stay even more comfortable.
Please Note: WiFi is available only at the main lodge, which is typical for most clubs. If you need continuous WiFi access, let us know, and we will arrange for you to have WiFi access available in the area.
Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary:
3 pm – Afternoon guided walk in the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, where you are taken into the world of a jungle swamp, a unique experience. Much of the trail uses wooden planks over walkways, so you are above the marsh. Hiking boots are excellent for most, and you can rent rubber boots.
This is a three-hour walk and a must for bird lovers, those who want something totally out of the ordinary – a jungle swamp, and those who enjoy monkeys and primates. There are primates such as Red Colobus Monkeys, Gray Cheeked Mangabey, L’Hoest Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Baboons, Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, and the occasional Chimpanzees.
Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is also home to many mammals, including the rare and elusive semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelopes (they have webbed toes), who make their home here. There are also Bush Pigs, Bush Bucks, Otters, and Mongooses.
One hundred thirty-eight plus species of birds have been spotted here, and of course, Bigodi Wetlands is best known for being home to the Great Blue Turaco. Often, you will spot wide varieties of birds, such as Papyrus Gonoleks, Hornbills, Waxbills, Weavers, Cuckoos, Kingfishers, and Flycatchers, to name just a few of the many species of birds found here.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 2 – Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX:
An early breakfast – and it is time for your Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX. You participate in an
orientation, and you are off into the deep forest to meet the group that is being habituated. You will be with researchers, trackers, and others in the Habituation Process, making Chimpanzees feel comfortable with humans near them. This process takes two years or longer; today, you are part of that process.
CHEX is a learning experience since you observe their habits and ways not just for one hour in the presence of a chimpanzee group but for four hours or longer. Your guide will also receive plenty of input since he informs you of what is happening before you.
The chimpanzees will not be the only primates or wildlife you will spot, but this is home to 12 other primates, the 350-plus species of birds, 200-plus primates, and mammals found in the park.
Kibale is a tropical rainforest in Uganda where the jungles of West and Central Africa meet. Kibale National Park is 795 km² and includes 351 species of trees, 375 species of birds, 70 mammal species, and most famously, 13 species of primate, some Nocturnal, including the chimpanzee.
Chimpanzee Trekking Gear – You will need a daypack, poncho or rain jacket, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, hat, boots, packed lunch, 2 liters of water, a packed lunch, and some snacks.
Nocturnal Forest Walk:
A Nocturnal Forest Walk with Rangers and solar-powered spotlights leads the way. This is something out of the ordinary for most; this is not just a nocturnal forest walk but a nighttime walk in a Rainforest Jungle.
The Nocturnal Forest begins at 7:30 pm, about 45 minutes after sunset. You will see Kibale during the day tomorrow, but this evening is your encounter with the night creatures.
You’re most likely to see pottos, galagos, bush babies, tree hyrax, and, at rare times, even tree-climbing pangolins. There are the birds of the Night, such as owls and Nightjars, not to mention insects such as giant moths, glow-in-the-dark spiders, colorful caterpillars, and shiny millipedes with endless legs.
Dress for the Occasion: Boots, thick socks, tuck trousers into socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a day pack, a long-sleeved shirt a light Rain Jacket, and spray yourself liberally with a good Insect Repellent.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Top of World Hike – return to Kampala:
Breakfast at Kibale Forest Camp, and we are off to the top of the world nature walk – the hike moves through villages and tea plantations. Still, crater lakes to the viewpoint where you see from above crater lakes, the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon, communities, and in the distance, Queen Elizabeth Park.
During this hike, having a daypack and a liter of water, a few granola bars, and hiking boots is best.
Lunch
Return to Kampala – Entebbe and arrive by early evening.
Fly back to Entebbe: If you have chosen to make this a flying Safari, you can fly out in the morning or afternoon from Kasese to Entebbe, depending on when your flight departs from Uganda.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch (Lunch depends on your schedule)
Please Note: We used to recommend the Chimpanzee Habituation over the regular Chimpanzee Trek. The chimpanzee habituation experience was an all-day trek that was very enjoyable. Changes were made to make it a six-hour activity plus. Most importantly, the present chimpanzee troop is habituated too far from the starting trailhead, making it a more iffy trek. You may not see any chimpanzees. We recommend a morning and afternoon chimpanzee trek with sure sightings until the situation improves. Read more here.
What this Safari includes: 
This Safari includes all activities listed, including chimpanzee permits. It has flights with AeroLink if you make this a fly-in Safari.
You have your own Toyota Land Cruiser with WiFi and bottled water provided.
A knowledgeable and experienced driver guide. Stay full-board at Crater Lake Safari Lodge. The AMREF-Flying Doctors emergency medivac insurance covers you in case of a rare medical emergency. We highly recommend securing Travel Insurance to protect your time in Africa.
What is not included in your Safari:
Drinks, laundry at lodges. Tips are not included in the Safari: personal purchases, visas, or international flights.
Enquire about this Luxury 3-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience at Safari.
