The All-Day Experiential Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – in Uganda
Spend all-Day with a Group of Chimpanzees being Habituated (CHEX) in Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX- It is one thing to spend an hour with the chimpanzees in Uganda – it is another thing to be with them all day long participating in an all-day Habituation Experience.
Most do not realize that they have a choice between Chimpanzee Trekking and the all-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Encounter.
In Uganda, where everything is abbreviated, this is called CHEX. The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is being with a group of Chimpanzees that are being habituated. It is an all-day Learning Experience where find out about how Chimpanzees live.
Like the Gorilla and the Golden Monkey Habituation Experience, this is a hands-on learning experience where you learn from the Researchers and the Chimpanzees as you observe them.
You will have a Uganda Wildlife Authority Guide for the day who will point out, not just the Chimpanzees being habituated but other inhabitants of the forest and there are many of them, mammals, birds, butterflies all calling Kibale Forest their home.
People come to Uganda for Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking. There are 5000 plus 
chimpanzees in Uganda – Kibale Forest has the most with nearly 1500.
Most visitors visit the chimpanzees much like the Mountain Gorillas for one hour in a group – there is, however, another option that allows you to be with chimpanzees all day long in the forests of Budongo (during the off-season) or Kibale Forest all year-long.
It is the Chimp Habituation Experience – all day with chimpanzees in their natural setting. The Chimpanzee Habituation experience is limited to the number of visitors that can take part, and one has to plan early to get a spot on the day and date that you would like. This is not like chimpanzee tracking where you are with a larger group of Trekkers. This is spending time with a team of trackers and researchers and the Chimpanzees.
The All-Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience means more planning. It also requires that one books a spot through us as early as possible to secure your time with the Chimpanzees. There has been an increase of Visitors to Uganda wanting to do this one-of-a-kind activity.
Permit Prices for the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience are 200 USD while chimpanzee trekking is 150 USD per permit, for 50 USD more you are all-day with a chimpanzee group in Kibale Forest and it usually proves to be a most memorable time for those who take part in this activity. You also see a lot more than the Chimpanzee Group being habituated but also other primates, birds, butterflies, and wildlife found in the park
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX differs from a normal Chimpanzee Trek in that you are an active participant in the Chimpanzee Habituation Process.
“The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience” means an early breakfast – a 
packed lunch and you are off before dawn breaks in the forest. You meet your guide, and you are off to where the chimpanzees built nests the night before. Dawn is just breaking, and the chimpanzee community you are going to be with the rest of the day is rising from their sleep in the nests.
Keep your eyes open, and you will see much more than chimpanzees this day – Kibale Forest has Forest Elephants, Buffaloes, Bush Pigs, over 350 species of birds, 12 other kinds of primates and yes, there is much more to see besides the Chimps.
However, you are here for the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – which entails getting the chimpanzees used to the presence of humans (to remove the fear of humans from the group), a process that takes up to two years – and today you are part of that process by your all-day presence in the forest.
Your day will be full, your camera will fill up with quality pictures of the chimpanzees, and you will get to
learn to identify them as individuals by their markings, sometimes scars and other unique features that make them stand apart from rest.
The day ends as the chimpanzees climb into their newly built nests for the evening and you head back to your lodging for the evening.
What to bring and wear for the Habituation Experience:
You will need a daypack, inside two liters of water, a packed lunch from the lunch, some snacks like dried fruit or granola bars. Clothing: waterproof hiking boots, a hat, light rain jacket, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, insect repellent, binoculars, and anything else you might like.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, a day not soon forgotten can be included in any safari that consists of a Kibale Forest. Participants must be over 12 years old, the same age as for Gorilla Trekking.
Please Note – Effective July 1, 2020, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience increases in price from $200 to $250. Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale Forest increases from $150 to $200. All Safaris booked after July 12020 will reflect the price increase.
What is the Difference between an all-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda’s Kibale Forest?
When you go for Chimpanzee Trekking, you are one hour with a fully habituated Chimpanzee Group which means that they are used to Human Beings.
When you go on an all-day Habituation Experience you are observing a Chimpanzee Group that is in the process of being habituated, a process that takes up to two years long and you are a participant in the Process.
The best park for either activity is Kibale Forest.
Is the Chimpanzee Habituation a Better Experience than Chimpanzee Trekking?
As of late, the Chimpanzee Habituation has not been the most reliable activity. It has been somewhat iffy, hit and miss if one might say so resulting in long treks and few sightings. Not every day, not in every instance, but more than enough causing us to write this note in order to make you aware.
Some of our clients have been disappointed. Presently we would recommend the regular Chimpanzee Trek over the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. You might even want to consider two Chimpanzee treks. You have the option of trekking twice in Kibale Forest. You also have Kalinzu Forest and the Kyambura Gorge where you can trek Chimpanzees and then trek them in Kibale Forest.
When can I do the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX?
You can do the Habituation Experience all year-long at Kibale Forest (365 days of the year) and during the off-season months in Budongo Forest. It is one of the best ways to see the Chimpanzees.
Get all the information you need for the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – CHEX
Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation Experience Safaris:
Here are the Chimpanzee Habituation Safaris for Kibale Forest. Any Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Kibale Forest can be changed into Habituation Experience Safari.
It takes a bit more planning, takes a bit more stamina, having snacks and food with you along with adequate water.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safaris have gained in popularity of the last few years. Visitors and our Clients like the sup close, lengthier experience in the Kibale Rainforest Jungle.
Kibale Rainforest is the best place for Chimpanzees in East Africa.
We suggest Combining the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience with the Gorilla Habituation Experience. This is what over 90% of our Clients do.
Other Habituation Experiences in Uganda:
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Golden Monkey Habituation Experience – Mgahinga Gorilla Park:
if you are interested in including the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in your safari with us – please let us know.
