Chimpanzees experience are our closest living relatives, of which sharing 98 percent of human DNA which makes them a closest primate relative to human beings. Uganda have more than 5200 chimpanzees and can easier viewed in different national parks and wildlife reserves such as Kibale national park which harbors’ the highest number of chimpanzees, kaniyo pabidi, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, Toro Semuliki game reserve, Kalinzu forest reserve in Bushenyi next to Maramagambo forest, Kyambula gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Ngamba island lake Victoria, and so many others. Chimpanzees in protected areas have been habituated and are used to human being presence therefore available for trekking on the daily basis.
The chimpanzees are highly sociable, living in communities numbering up to 100, however individuals in a social group almost never all congregate and typical group size is much smaller. Individual may also spend considerable time alone.
The adult male chimpanzee weigh between 40kg to 60kg however the largest male chimpanzee weigh up to 68kg, the female chimpanzees weighs between 32kg to 47kg and the largest female chimpanzees weigh up to 50kg.
Chimpanzees live in groups of 30 to 100 individuals and the group is made up of males, females and the young ones, and they have the life span of 50 years in the wild and can go up to 60 years in capacity.
Chimpanzees reaches the sexually maturity at the age of 8years to 10 years of age, female chimpanzees experience an estrus cycle of about 34 to 35 days and during this period they experience body changes such as the skin on the bottom become pink, bare and swollen.
The chimpanzees gestation period is 8 months, it give birth every 4 to 5 years and give a birth to one baby which will stay with its mother until about 3 years of age.
Chimpanzees are fast very quick climbers hence they build their nest high in the trees and these nests are constructed on a bending tree branches, lining tree edges with twigs and forming a platform even their climbing skills help them when they hunting some prey like red colobus monkeys.
Chimpanzees are omnivorous animals in that they feed on plants, fruits, leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, blossoms, insects, hunting some small animal such as monkeys, bushbucks’ antelope species among others. While feeding , chimps eats seeds, barriers from the stem with their lips and sticks to gather termites from anthill, pick fruits and flowers with their hands, defend themselves from enemies and also make sponges from leaves which they soak up in water while drinking water from tree holes these are wise and craver creatures.
Chimpanzees are usually communicate by use of body language to communicate with each other , using sounds like hooting, grunting, drumming screaming and they among the noisiest primates and use facial expressions.
Chimpanzees they have being threatened, in Uganda and also considered as endangered species which affects by Diseases, chimpanzees that live at the edges of the protected areas can easily suffer human diseases such as flue and cough disease which sometimes led to death if not treated.
Also chimpanzees face accidental snaring, in wire snaring which is set out for antelopes and up killing and injuring the chimps; also chimpanzees are hunted for trade, killed by poisoning when they eat human crops by local community around.
The most threat of chimpanzees, are the loss of chimpanzees due to deforestation of some forest in uganda which act homes of residence for the endangered chimpanzees and encroachment of land due to population increase in the community around the forest or protected area.
Why you should go for chimpanzees trekking in uganda; it’s because chimpanzees trekking is a very interesting and adventurous activity after gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorillas national parks plus Golden monkey trekking, same as gorilla trekking the visitor move to the forests in search of the habituated chimpanzees families and once the y found they spend one hour with them in forest / natural habitat. Chimpanzees trekking the second popular activity carried in Uganda after gorillas trekking activity.
The chimpanzee trekking permits; the permits are varies according the destination where you are going to trek the chimps that is to say in Kibale forest national park a chimpanzee permit cost USD250 for foreign non-residents, USD200 for foreign residents, UGX 180,000 for east African citizens and a chimpanzee habituation permit is costs USD300 for foreign non-residents, USD250 for foreign residents, and UGX250, 000 for east African citizens. In Kyambula gorge queen Elizabeth national park the chimpanzee permit cost USD100 for foreign non-residents, USD80 for foreign residents and UGX50, 000 for east African citizens. In Bugoma forest chimpanzee permit costs USD80, in Kalinzu forest chimpanzee permit costs USD130, Budongo forest chimpanzee costs USD130.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in the destinations, is valid for one day and allows you to spend one hour with chimpanzees in their appearance, the chimpanzee trekking permits should be booked in advance like three month to the date of trekking its like gorillas trekking which is on high demand most especially for peak season / high season to avoid disappointments because these permits are usually sold out and the permit are competitive.
At what time should you go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda; chimpanzee trekking in uganda can be done at anytime of the year though the best time is during the dry season / peak season in the month of June to September and December to February. During peak season there is less rainfall and due to the fact that chimpanzee trekking is done in the jungle / forest the trails will be dry and passable compared to November in that season when the trails are muddy and slippery hence making trekking difficult.
On the other hands, the chimpanzee trekking can as well be done in wet season during the month of March to April and from October to November in this period the lodges and guests are cheaper hence favoring budget travelers and chimpanzees will be easily spotted in that there will be plenty of food them so they will not move deep into the forest looking and searching for food.
What you need to carry on your tour for chimpanzee trekking; Mirama hills safaris as a company reminding you to carry steady hiking boots, insect repellents, rain jacket, gloves, backpack bag, a pair of binoculars, drinking water, warm sweaters, face masks, long sleeved shirts and trousers and sunglasses these will help you with smooth hiking in the forest you’re welcome to the capital world of Kibale forest national park the other forest for chimpanzee trekking.