Kibale National Park

What to see in your Tour

Primates

Kibale National Forest has some of the highest abundances of species of primates in the area. There are many species of primates and these species persist in the less disturbed areas of the forest in their natural habitats. There are disturbances that are hindering some of these species. Logging effects have been studied specifically by a few people. Most studies find that logging seems to be having a negative effect on the species but there are some contradictions. Some species of primates occur less frequently in logged areas but others were unaffected.[6] Degraded lands occur when land is cleared for agriculture and then abandoned after a few years. These lands are coming back at different rates and some are showing no possibility of re-growth. The effect these lands have on primates is still slightly unknown but some studies have started weeding out answers. Most primates are evenly distributed throughout the entire forest, whether there was agriculture encroachment or not.[6] Different species have different diets and many of the species are folivorous. One study actually found that black-and-white colobus (Colobus guereza) eat younger leaves over older leaves (this is thought to happen because the leaves have more protein and are easier to digest).[7]

Flora

Kibale Forest National Park

There are approximately 229 species of trees found within the moist tropical forests of the park. Some endangered timber species of trees include Cordia millenii, Entandrophragma angolense, and Lovoa swynnertonnii. The forest understory is dominated by shade-tolerant shrubs and herbs, which include Palisota schweinfurthii and Pollia condensata, in addition to ferns and broad leaf grasses.[5]

CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE

 Visitors interested in primates come to Uganda mainly for the Chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking. However, something new and much more interesting was added on to the list and it is Habituation. This is the process of making wild primates get used to having human beings around and preparing them to be tracked later on. It can be done for both Chimps and Gorillas and it takes close to 3 years to be completed.

 There are over 4950 Chimpanzees ever recorded to live in Uganda and about 1500 0f these live in the Kibale National Park alone. This park found in the district of Kabarole is the only place in Uganda where Chimpanzee Habituation takes place nonetheless, one needs a permit to be accepted to go see these primates. These however differ from those got for Chimpanzee tracking in terms of costs so unlike the $150 paid for Chimp tracking, non-foreign residents pay $220 and the foreign residents pay $150 while the East Africans only pay $70.

This not only allows them just an hour in their presence but a whole day to spend all their time with these chimps. For one to fully enjoy this habituation experience, permit bookings have to be done 3 months prior to the actual day and if be it possible in the months of March to April and November where there is notably less congestion. One other thing to take note of is this experience is not for those feeble at heart.

DAY OF CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION.

On the day you will be going Chimpanzee habituating, you will 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 a 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.