Chimpanzee Tracking in East Africa

 

Chimpanzee Tracking in East Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

Chimpanzees are species of great ape native to the forest and the savannah tropical Africa. These are usually covered in black hair however it has a bare face, fingers, toes and palms of the hand and soles of the feet. These usually weigh about 70kgs for the males and 50kgs for the females. These are intelligent in nature from the ability to remember signs, tool use, cooperation and culture among themselves. This can be seen when a member among them dies, they usually act frenzy (uncontrolled wild behavior) with vocalizations and aggression while they touch the corpse. They also use tools like grass, leaves and rocks when foraging for termites and ants, nuts, honey etc. this displays a high intelligent level for these gentle creatures that is why everyone should take part in the chimpanzee tracking experience to have an exciting adventure in east Africa.

Precautions

Chimpanzee tracking being a very exciting activity offered in the areas of east Africa, this activity involves the search of chimpanzee in their habitants across different heavily forested areas. However, this activity has got quite a number of rules and regulations for the person to take part of the experience and these rules are drafted by the par’s authorities for the safety of both the tourists and the chimpanzees.

  • Do not eat or drink in the presence of the chimpanzees since there is a high chance of disease transmission from the droplets of food
  • Ill tourists are not to participate in the chimpanzee tracking to avoid disease transition. These chimpanzees can contact any kind of disease from humans hence putting their lives at stake.
  • Strictly six people are allowed to track at a go and on the other hand, tourists below the age of 12 years are prohibited from tracking.
  • Do not take any pictures with the flash light on while near the chimpanzees or they might act wild
  • Only tourists with the chimpanzee permits are allowed to participate in the tracking and they are only allowed strictly one hour with a given chimpanzee group.
  • You are prohibited from tracking the chimpanzees without a guide because these tracks are usually done in thick forests.
  • Do not talk out loud or provoke the chimpanzees, and keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees
  • Book your chimpanzee permit earlier especially during the peak seasons

Where to go chimpanzee tracking in east Africa

Uganda the pearl of Africa

This is one of the unique countries in east Africa where you will find about 13 types of primates of which some of these are not found anywhere around the world. Uganda is also a home of a number of mammal species and different bird species which can be seen during the chimpanzee tracking experience. This kind of tracking can be done in Queen Elizabeth national park; this park being the second largest park in Uganda and it offers over10 primates of habituated chimpanzees. Second is Bwindi impenetrable national park which gives you the best of the chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and bushbucks etc. which are about 120 mammals.

Budongo forest is also another habitat for the chimpanzees. It lies in an area of 825 square kilometers providing the best home for them

The Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has got the deepest and the second largest river, Congo river with the second largest forest in the world after amazon forest hence its name; Africa’s amazon.

Odzala-Kokoua national park provides you with a number of species besides the chimpanzees. For instance;

  • the lowland gorillas
  • forest elephants
  • over 444 bird species

Second is Virunga national park, the oldest national park in Africa. It has a dense forest, lava lakes and savannah plains. During chimpanzee tracking, a tourist will get the best time ever in the heart of Africa.

Rwanda

Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills offers the best chimpanzee tracking experience on its volcanic peaks. The trekking occurs in places like volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest national park. The latter lies on the ridge between the Nile and the Congo rivers. Additionally, this gives a chance to a tourist to enjoy other activities like white water rafting on these rivers. The country is also a home of other species, for instance the Ruwenzori colobus and the L’hoest’s monkey.

Costs.

First of all, anyone who is going trekking requires a permit to track the chimpanzees and the costs differ according to different specific countries.

The permit in Uganda costs 150USD to 50USD however tracking the habituated groups costs 220USD.
On the other hand, Rwanda costs 100USD .

What to pack for the trip?

  • Long sleeved shirt
  • Warming jacket
  • Long trousers
  • Hiking books preferably water proofs
  • Gardening gloves
  • Insect repellants
  • Rain jacket and a porter if there is need

Note: A porter is a person who carries daypacks for the tourist. This lies under extra help for the tourists since tracking may get a bit tiring. It attracts a cost of about 20USD depending on the country and the trekking location.

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