Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KALINZU FOREST
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest is also another memorable experience.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is located near Queen Elizabeth National Park in Southwestern part
of Uganda Bushenyi district very close to queen Elizabeth national park. Kalinzu forest
reserve is a home for different species of primates like Chimpanzees, black and white colobus
monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and so on. It is about 382km drive from
Kampala city to Kalinzu forest reserve. This forest harbors over 320 chimpanzees and about
50 are habituated one and this makes it the best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve starts early in the morning. This starts with a
briefing about rules and regulations to follow throughout the trekking session. And thereafter,
you are allocated an experienced and well trained tour guide who is well conversant with
trails in the forest. The trekking takes about 1 to 4 hours depending on where the
chimpanzees are because they like also moving place to place while playing like swinging in
the tree branches, and looking for food. The long trek comes along with seeing other primate
species and the beautiful sceneries, the Rwenzori mountains and the lakes. Therefore, your
Chimpanzee trekking trip will never be boring because even after finding them, your fatigue
will automatically go away. Following the safety precautions provided by the tour guide,
when the chimpanzees are found you will be able to spend an hour with them in their habitat
which gives you an opportunity to learn and monitor their behaviors like hunting, feeding, Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve
breastfeeding, resting, playing and swinging, grooming their young ones. You will be
allowed to take memorable photos and filming with them for remembrance. Remember these
primates are so close to human DNA, so, they can get excited, angry and happy. You will be
requested and expected not to throw object to them like scaring them away because they
might fight back hence harming you.Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve, Shoebill Uganda carries out Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve accompanied by
experienced tour guides who will give you the best and adorable experience during our trip.
Here the guides give you the background on Kalinzu forest, chimpanzees such that by the
time you physically reach in the forest for Chimpanzee trekking, you are familiar with them.
This gives you the memorable experience.
How much is a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kalinzu forest national park, Uganda?
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kalinzu forest costs 50 USD per person for foreign non-
residents, 50 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East
African citizens. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve
How to book for a chimpanzee trekking permit
You can book direct through UWA where by you will be required to send some money and
the scanned copy of your passport then later, the Permit process will begin and be completed
when you have fully paid. Thereafter, you will be sent the scanned copy of the permit once it
is complete such that you can present it to your destination for chimpanzee trekking. You
can also use tour operator like Shoebill Uganda Tours and we book on your behalf. Booking
your chimpanzee trekking permit through a tour operator is the best option to use because we
will not only acquire for you a permit but also organise your entire Chimpanzee trekking trip,
accommodation, transportation and other activities you will be interested in. You are highly
recommended to book for your Chimpanzee trekking permit 3 to 6 months prior to the

trekking date because the permits are sold out quickly during peak season of June, July,
August, September, December and January to February. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve Therefore, in order to avoid
disappointments, you are advised to book in advance.
Best time for chimpanzee trekking
Trekking conditions are easier during the dry seasons of June, July, August, September,
December and January to February. The clear sunny weather makes your trek more enjoyable
but rain is still expected due to Uganda’s tropical climate. Therefore, you are expected to at
least carry a raincoat to help you in case it’s raining.
If you are comfortable with difficult trekking conditions, visiting during the rainy seasons can
reduce the cost of your trip because even Permits are cheaper and easier to get during the
rainy seasons due to the lower demand.
What you need to know about Chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve
1. Chimpanzees are usually found in the rain forests, woodlands, and grasslands of
Africa – specifically Central and West Africa.
2. On average, chimpanzees only stand about 4 feet high and weigh between 90 and 120
pounds. Females typically weigh between 60 and 100 pounds.
3. Female chimps only give birth about once every five or six years when they are in the
wild. Their offspring often stay with the mother for as long as 10 years after birth.
Their gestation period lasts between 8 and 9 months, much like a human’s.
4. When a female chimpanzee has her first baby, she is usually unsure about how to care
for it. But she watches other mothers and uses her own instincts to learn how to care
for her baby.
5. When a mother chimp dies, the older offspring often begin caring for the smaller
chimps. Also, some unrelated chimpanzees will “adopt” the younger chimps and take
care of them until they are old enough to care for themselves.
6. Chimpanzees and humans share as much as 98 percent of the same DNA. In terms of
biology, a chimpanzee’s DNA is closer to a human’s than it is to a gorilla’s.
7. Other than humans, chimpanzees use tools more often and for more purposes than any
other animal on earth.
8. In general, chimpanzees have been measured to be six to seven times stronger than
humans.
9. When in captivity, a chimpanzee can learn many things, including human sign
language. One chimp by the name of Washoe has learned more than 240 hand signs
for communicating with others. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve
10. Chimpanzees have been observed laughing when they play with others.
11. Chimpanzees do not take long-term sexual partners. As a result, there is no
competition when choosing another chimpanzee to mate with.
12. The mating ritual between chimpanzees only takes between 10 and 15 seconds. In
most cases, the chimps are also doing something else, such as eating, while engaging
in mating.
13. Chimpanzees can live as long as 50 years when they are in the wild. They can live up
to 60 years when they are in captivity.

14. Male chimpanzees almost never leave the community in which they were born.
Females, however, often venture out and migrate to other communities during their
adolescence.
15. Chimpanzees are social creatures. They spend much of their time grooming each
other, tickling each other, and hugging and kissing each other.
16. When boredom strikes, chimpanzees often make up games and activities to entertain
each other.
17. Chimpanzees prefer to walk on all fours, but they can walk on just their hind legs.
18. Chimpanzees mostly communicate with their lips without making any sounds.
However, they do have noises that they make that can be heard up to a mile away if
they need to call other members of the group.
19. The skin of a chimpanzee gets darker as it gets older.
20. One of the most dangerous predators for the chimpanzee is the leopard because they
are one of the few animals that can live both on the ground and in the trees, just like
the chimpanzee. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve
21. When chimpanzees feel sick, they know which plants to eat in order to treat
themselves
Book your trip to Kalinzu forest reserve for Chimpanzee trekking with shoebill Uganda
Tours for the best trekking experience.