Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX)
The Kanyanchu primate walk is the most popular activity in Kibale National park. There are at least 13 species of primates in Kibale forest and various diurnal monkeys can be encountered during the Kanyanchu walk, but the major intention of this twice-daily Kanyanchu walk show are the chimpanzees.
The Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park have been tracked since 1993 and there are excellent chances of locating these chimpanzees in the forest. There are two guided nature walks; one in the morning starting at 8am and the other in the afternoon starting at 8 pm. Each nature walk lasts an average on three hours depending on many factors. These famous twice-daily Kanyanchu primate walks offer chances to experience chimpanzees and other primates in their natural habitat. Most of these groups of chimpanzees have been tracked for over 25 years and they are accustomed to human presence – this raises chances of locating them to over 90%. Tourists who come on an Africa safari trip in Uganda to track chimpanzees in Kibale forest leave Kanyanchu the only visitor centre at 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 and the walks lasts between 2 to 5 hours. We recommend that you arrive early for registration and briefing at Kanyanchu visitor centre.
Visitors are limited to one hour of direct contact with the chimpanzees, participants in the trekking of chimpanzees should be at least 16years old and each group is limited to 8 people. It is important to secure a permit in advance, please make advance bookings.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can be done in other destinations mainly Kyambura forest gorge, Karinzu forest reserve and Budongo forest reserve respectively. There are also chimpanzees in the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) and Ngamba Island; for those who may have limited time in Uganda.
Where to see chimpanzees
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) is a remarkable experience where visitors on a Uganda primate safari are allowed to accompany the researchers on the visit to the chimpanzees. The chimps that are habituated by researchers, habituators and some few tourists are usually less accustomed to human presence compared to those being trekked during the primate walk while on a Uganda primate safari. This therefore makes chimpanzee habituation in Uganda an outstanding experience but also a challenging one.
The Uganda chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) can be done on a half day or full day basis depending on the interests of the tourists. However, very few tourists are allowed to do this daily activity. It is therefore important that you secure your Uganda chimpanzee habituation permits (CHEX) in advance by booking with your tour operator.
It is also advisable that you embark on the chimpanzee habituation experience early in the morning between 6:00 – 6:30am to raise your chances of contact with chimpanzees while they are leaving their overnight nests.
At that time you also enjoy the following day to day lifestyle of chimpanzees in their natural habitat like feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying among others up to around 7 pm when they build their new overnight nests.
The Uganda Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is only done in Kibale forest national park located in western Uganda approximately 6 hours drive from the country`s capital- Kampala.
Arlanda Tours and Travel is a duly certified Tour operator company that is credited by the government of Uganda to provide various tourism services including Chimpanzee trekking and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) and also to ensure that you get your slot at the appropriate time!