Uganda chimpanzee habituation takes place at Kibale Forest National Park since it harbors over 1,500 chimpanzees and is the main chimpanzee tracking destination in Uganda. Kibale Forest National Park is situated in southwestern Uganda in the tropical rain forest, which can be easily accessed from Kampala or Entebbe. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris 

 Kibale Forest National Park has the biggest number of chimpanzee populations compared to other chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda; synonymous chimpanzee sighting chances are at 90% or more, although Kibale forest national park accommodates other 12 primate species besides chimpanzees, which makes it easy to combine your safari with other experiences. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour

Kibale forest national park chimpanzee tracking excursions have two sessions, of which the first session starts at 08:00 and the last session begins at 14:00. The morning sessions are busier compared to the afternoon sessions since most itineraries are combined with an afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary visit.

Kibale forest national park is the only national park offering chimpanzee habituation experiences where travelers can spend at least four hours with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Travelers are escorted by researchers, park rangers, and guides.

Kibale Forest National Park is the best place to track chimpanzees in Uganda and offers the most remarkable primate experience on the continent. Although there are other three chimpanzee tracking destinations, namely, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Semliki National Park, and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park,

The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is among the most popular tourist activities in Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is special because it is one of the fewer destinations where travelers can do both the standard chimpanzee tracking or opt for the Chimpanzee habituation experience. Chimpanzee habituation is the process of making the wild chimpanzee get used to human presences. chimpanzee habituation process takes approximately 2 years.

The standard Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest allows travelers only to have one hour with the chimps after spotting them in their natural environment. During the chimpanzee habituation process, travelers spend the whole day with the chimpanzee troop. Chimpanzee habituation experience and trekking takes place throughout the year.

However, the best time to do chimpanzee trekking is during the wet season. Although in the dry season, chimpanzee tend to move deeper into the tropical rain forests searching for food. During the rainy months there is plenty of food which helps in reducing the mobility of the chimpanzee communities.

Chimpanzee Habituation experience allows travelers to easily locate the chimpanzees without trekking for long distances. It is always important that travelers book their chimpanzee habituation permits months before. Uganda’s Kibale forest national park offers limited chimpanzee habituation trekking permits per day. There are only maximum of 4 chimpanzee habituation permits per day.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Uganda allows travelers to be escorted by armed park rangers/guards, professional park guides. The rangers are always there to take care of tourists and to scare off other wild animals such as Buffaloes, forest elephants that may cause danger to travelers by shooting in the air.

chimpanzee habituation in Uganda is best done in the dry months of June, July, August, and September, as well as in December to February. Because there is less rainfall in the Kibale National Park and Budongo forests in this season.