Chimpanzee Habituation Experience  in Uganda

The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Uganda (CHEX) offers the chance to spend a half-day or full-day in the presence of the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest.

Habituation is the process of slowly introduction chimpanzees to humans so that they become more comfortable with their presence.

What is chimpanzee habituation?

Chimpanzee habituation experience is an incredible safari adventure besides the normal chimpanzee trekking where visitors are allowed to stay with chimpanzees for an hour.

The Uganda wildlife Authority introduced a chimpanzee habituation trekking that offers a great opportunity for tourists to spend more time with the Habituated Chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee habituation is a fully immersive experience. You can join the researchers of the habituation team for a half or full day excursion deep into the forest. These chimps are less used to human presence and so the experience is more unpredictable.

Whilst it can be challenging to follow the lead of these agile primates, the experience is thoroughly rewarding.

The main difference between the standard chimp treks and the habituation experience is how long you spend with the chimps. The habituation experience allows you to spend much longer in the company of the chimps.  

All-Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience 

On your Chimpanzee habituation safari, we recommend that you start off with an early morning breakfast, get your lunch packed, and head out to meet your guide that will lead you into the forest. Only a maximum of 4 people per group inclusive of the researchers and guides are permitted to go see these Chimps.

You are then taken to see the place where the primates built their nests the previous night. If you are lucky and awoke early, you are sure to find them just getting up.

Thus typical Chimpanzee habituation begins in the hours at dawn between 6-6:30 am. Other activities you will see them taking part in are copulating, breastfeeding for the little ones, feeding, patrolling, hunting, resting, and later on at around 7 pm, building new nests where they are to stay during the night. The experience is really authentic with first–hand information.

What to bring and wear for the Habituation Experience

You will need a daypack, inside two liters of water, a packed lunch from the lunch, some snacks like dried fruit or granola bars.  Clothing: waterproof hiking boots, a hat, light rain jacket, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, insect repellent, binoculars, and anything else you might. Gorilla Consultant safaris are at your service.

Frequently asked questions

Are chimpanzees violent?

Are you wondering whether trekking Chimpanzees is safe? The massive primates are typically aggressive and sometimes predatory behavior toward children because the animals are more fearful of larger human adults, especially men, according to National Geographic.

Chimps have also snatched and killed human babies. While on your chimpanzee trekking safari, we, therefore, recommend our clients to take extra caution and possibly observe the set guidelines.

What do chimpanzees eat?

Chimpanzees are basically herbivores and live in thick forests where they can access plenty of their favorite food. The top ten of the chimpanzee feeds include; Figs, Fruit, Nuts & Seeds, Blossoms & Leaves, Insects, Honey, Meat and Eggs, Palm Wine

Where to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Kibale National Park

 The National Park is home to over 1500 out of the 4950 Chimpanzees ever recorded to live in Uganda. The National Park is found in the district of Kabarole and is the only place in Uganda where Chimpanzee Habituation takes place nonetheless, one needs a permit to be accepted to go see these primates