Reasons to trek chimpanzees in Uganda
Reasons to trek chimpanzees in Uganda

Reasons to trek chimpanzees in Uganda.

Exploration, new experiences, and the rejuvenating power of nature are all waiting for us. Yes, following COVID-19, you should start planning your next trip, wonderful activities, and location. Have you ever gone on a trip with chimpanzees?

Has Uganda been on your travels before? After COVID-19, this is the optimal moment for you to come back. Among the fantastic things you may do following COVID-19 is to visit Uganda for the first time.

Airport and border closures, limits on international flights, travel bans, and lockdowns are just a few of the measures put in place by governments throughout the world in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that our guests from all corners of the globe are dealing with the aftermath of these restrictions.

In light of these developments, we are informing all of our customers via email and implementing a COVID-19 control mechanism by having our employees work remotely. We need to start making plans right now so that we may see the chimpanzees when we go on our trip. After COVID-19, we will travel regularly.

On March 21, 2020, Uganda reported its first case of COVID-19. Since then, 54 instances have been verified, with 4 individuals making a full recovery. As a precautionary step to restrict the spread of the virus, the airport and all Ugandan borders were blocked to incoming travel from that point on.

Primate tourism was also halted, and transportation was also put on hold until May 5, 2020. We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that this does not spread, and we are actively managing the issue. After COVID-19, taking personal responsibility is crucial for a fantastic healthy journey.

Regarding the Ugandan chimpanzee trekking industry.

With twenty primate species—the greatest number in all of Africa—contained inside Kibale National Park, Uganda is renowned as the primate capital. After mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are the most well-known primates.

To go chimpanzee trekking is to see these fascinating animals in their own habitat, where you’ll go on an exciting adventure and watch a habituated chimpanzee group going about their daily lives. Additionally, you could be lucky enough to see other monkeys, forest elephants (also depending on chance), snakes, birds, and other forest dwellers.

The only places in Rwanda where you can go hiking with chimpanzees are in the forest reserves of Kibale, Kalinzu, Kyambura, and Budongo. The Uganda Wildlife Authority oversees chimpanzee trekking. Beginning in the wee hours of the morning, with the assistance of park rangers and guides, visitors can make their way into the forest in search of chimpanzees.

The 30-to hour-long trek, which can be challenging due to the uneven and sometimes slippery terrain, is well worth the effort. You are limited to only one hour to see the chimpanzees in Uganda, yet your chances of seeing them are 99%. Because they share 95% of our DNA, chimpanzees are fascinating to observe because of the widespread belief that they are related to us.

Why continue chimpanzee trekking in Uganda after the COVID-19 pandemic?

After COVID-19, what are your plans? Here are a few arguments in favor of include chimpanzee trekking in your Uganda itinerary.

The chimpanzee hotspots in Uganda are easily accessible.
Both air and road transportation make it easy to reach the chimpanzee trekking sites in Uganda. Kasese Airstrip is the gateway to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you may take a flight to Kyambura and Kibale National Parks to go chimpanzee trekking.

From Kasese Airstrip, you may reach Kibale in under two hours, and the Kyambura Gorge is just thirty minutes’ driving. Another option is to take a four- or five-hour drive from Entebbe or Kampala to Kibale National Park or the Kyambura Gorge. For chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo Forest Reserve, you have two options: take a flight to Pakuba Airstrip in Murchison Falls National Park, or drive for about four or five hours.

The price of chimpanzee permits is low.
Chimpanzee licenses are more reasonably priced and accessible than gorilla permits in Uganda, which cost USD800 per person each hike. Non-Foreign Residents: 300 USD per person each hike in Kibale National Park; East African Residents: 250 USD per person; and East African Citizens: 250.000 Uganda shillings per person.

Non-Foreign Residents and East African Residents pay USD50 for chimpanzee permits to Kyambura Gorge, while East African Residents pay 30,000 Uganda shillings. The cost of chimpanzee permits in Murchison Falls National Park’s Budongo Forest Reserve is USD$100 for non-residents, USD$90 for residents, and USD$55 for East African citizens. We will provide you with scans of the receipt after the transaction so you have a record of it. The permits may be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Get in touch with them

Enhanced chimpanzee trekking vacation packages at reduced prices are now available via Katland Safaris. Even competing tour companies will certainly lower their prices to make up for the missed months. when COVID-19, our standard three-day chimpanzee trekking to Kibale trip costs $1,000 for one person and $800 for two.

However, when the virus has passed, the price drops to $800 for one person and $800 for two. After COVID-19, we will customize a trip to Uganda according to your interests and budget, so you may go chimpanzee trekking. Check out our website for more information.

Accommodation room prices at a reduced price
In an effort to make up for losses and cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels are offering discounts. One example is the luxurious Kyaninga Lodge, which has offered a USD100 per person stay to African residents and may reduce its rates even further. There is a wide price range of cheap and premium lodges in Kibale National Park, Budongo, Kalinzu, and the Kyambura Gorge. Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Isunga Lodge, and Kibale Homestay are just a few of the affordable alternatives.

Mid-range alternatives include Kibale Forest Camp and Turaco Treetops Lodge, while luxury options include Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, and Kyaninga Lodge, among others. Nightly costs vary from $90 to $100 per person. The cost per person for a night may vary from $300 to $400. For example, in Kyambura, there are a few affordable options: Elephant Hab lodge, Katara lodge, and Kyambura gorge lodge.

In Budongo forest reserve, there are a few more options: Budongo eco-lodge, Bakers lodge, and Murchison river lodge. All of these establishments probably provide the greatest deals to get guests to stay at their facilities when they visit Kibale Forest National Park.

Reasons to trek chimpanzees in Uganda

Methods for a successful chimpanzee trip in Uganda after the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization all issued health advice and guidance for tourists interested in chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.

Remember to bring your COVID-19 free certificate with you so you may show it at the airport and the park headquarters. Please read the “Chimpanzee Rules” brochure published by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and obey them while you are on your chimpanzee trekking adventure in Uganda.

You will be asked to wash your hands and sanitize before beginning the trip to the forest in the post-COVID-19 chimpanzee expedition.
If you are sick with a cold or any other contagious disease, you should stay home from the chimpanzees. See your doctor to make sure you’re well enough to go on the Chimpanzee walk; the chief park ranger gets to decide and may turn you away if they don’t think you’re up to the challenge.

Keep in mind that you must be at least 15 years old to go on a chimpanzee trek, and that this age requirement is always clearly stated when you check in for the trip, when you’ll be asked to provide your original passport for verification.
When you go on a hike, a park ranger will always dig a hole for you to bury your human waste in, and the recommended depth is 30 cm (15 inches).

To make it easier to regulate the chimpanzees’ movements in the forest and to prevent behavioral problems during the meeting, the maximum number of visitors per group is eight.
Please be quiet while you make your approach to the chimpanzees. You could even see some reptiles if you’re really lucky, as well as a wide variety of birds and other wild creatures.
Please do not discard any trash in the park. It is recommended that you return all items to your backpack before entering the jungle.

As you move closer to the chimpanzees, the instructors will remind you to brace yourself for an incredible encounter and to maintain a distance of five to seven meters.
While you’re in the company of chimpanzees:
To assist prevent the transmission of airborne infections to chimpanzees, keep at least 7 meters (21 feet) of distance from them.

No eating, drinking, or smoking allowed. If you do this, the chimpanzees can become angry and try to attack you.
Chimpanzees are able to get human respiratory illnesses, therefore it’s best to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze to prevent spreading them.
Each chimpanzee group is only allowed one hour of visitation each day.

When shooting photographs, avoid using the flash. Be careful and listen to your ranger guide for further information.

What makes Katland safaris the best choice for a chimpanzee hike in Uganda?

You should not pass up the opportunity to observe these endangered primates in their natural habitats—the chimpanzees of Uganda and Rwanda—on a tour or permit organized by Katland Safaris. After COVID-19, you may visit any of our chimpanzee hotspots in Uganda to engage in chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation.

Celebrate a special occasion like a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary by planning a trip to observe chimpanzees in their native habitat. For more information on tours we have previously led, please check traveler reviews about us on Safari Booking and Trip Advisor. If you are looking for an unforgettable safari in Uganda, Katland Safaris can create a personalized itinerary just for you.

 

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