Safety during chimpanzee trekking : Chimpanzee trekking is among the activities which are carried out during tours in Uganda and different safety precautions are put in place to be followed during the activity.

Some of the safety measures put in place include;

  1. Going with ranger guides

During chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda, tourists are accompanied by ranger guides as they go into the forests to search for the chimpanzees.

The rangers ensure the tourists are safe throughout the chimpanzee trekking experience and that they follow different rules and regulations put in place by the park officials. The ranger guides are also armed and can protect the tourists in case of any danger.

The tourists during the chimpanzee trekking experience are also safe with the ranger guides because they are trained with different skills including security and also first aid administering prior to being assigned to the national parks and other destinations in Uganda.

The guided chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda also make the experience safe because the guides are experienced and knowledgeable about the forest and the routes to follow during the search for the chimpanzees as compared to letting tourists wander off into the forests.

Ranger guides are also knowledgeable about the behavior of the chimpanzees and can interpret their body language making it easy to know when the chimpanzees are going to charge when spending time with them in the forests hence avoiding any form of danger to both the chimpanzees and tourists.

  1. Visiting habituated chimpanzees

Tourists during the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda are also safe because they visit chimpanzees which have already been habituated and this means that they have gone through a process of being introduced to the presence of humans in their natural habitat.

During the habituation process, the chimpanzees are observed closely so that their behavior can be understood. However it is important to not disturb the chimpanzees during the chimpanzee trekking experience since they can also be unpredictable.

Permits are issued for tourists to visit these habituated chimpanzee groups in destinations such as Kibale forest national park in western Uganda, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park.

The cost of permits for visiting the chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park is 250 USD per person. When visiting Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee trekking, tourists are charged a fee of 100 USD for chimpanzee permits. Chimpanzee permits in Budongo forest cost 140 USD per person.

  1. Briefing on chimpanzee trekking

A briefing is done before tourists take part in the chimpanzee trekking experience and this is another way to ensure tourists are safe during the activity.

During the briefing which is done by the park officials at the park headquarters, tourists are informed about the rules and regulations to follow while engaging in the chimpanzee trekking experience. For safety purposes, tourists are encouraged to follow these rules and regulations as they search for the chimpanzees.

This briefing is also compulsory for the tourists before they take part in the chimpanzee trekking experience in the morning or afternoon around destinations such as Kibale national park, Budongo forest and Kyambura gorge.

  1. Keeping a safe distance from the chimpanzees

Another safe way to engage in chimpanzee trekking experiences in Uganda is by maintaining a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees.

Maintain the distance from the chimpanzees protects both the tourists and chimpanzees since there is no disturbance of both parties during the chimpanzee trekking experience. It is important to maintain the distance and to avoid unnecessary movements or running after the chimpanzees in the forest during the chimpanzee trek.

  1. Dressing appropriately for the chimpanzee trek

When visiting the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, it is important to dress appropriately to enjoy the experience while exploring the forest.

Clothing which is recommended for the chimpanzee trekking experience includes long sleeved shirts and long trousers, sturdy hiking shoes as well as a sunhat for protection from sunshine. Tourists can also carry insect repellant and enough drinking water as well as cameras for the activity.

This information can be provided to the tourists through research about what to pack for the chimpanzee trek in Uganda or by asking the tour operator planning the tour to advise on what to wear among other things to know in preparation for the activity.

  1. Following the minimum age requirement

When engaging in chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda, children below the age of 12 years are not allowed to engage in the activity.

Safety during chimpanzee trekking
chimpanzee

Other activities such as nature walks and community tours can be done by these children when visiting the destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.

  1. Avoiding noise

Tourists are also discouraged from making noise during their chimpanzee trekking experience to avoid scaring away the chimpanzees in the forest.

Mimicking the sound made by the chimpanzees is also discouraged during the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda.

  1. No littering

Another rule which is put in place to be followed during the chimpanzee trekking experience is not littering.

There are designated places where rubbish is to be disposed off during the chimpanzee trek in Uganda. This protects the chimpanzees from choking hazards and also protects the environment and keeps the place clean.

  1. Avoiding use of flash photography

The use of flash photography when recording the chimpanzees in their natural habitat is also to be avoided for safety purposes.

  1. Limited chimpanzee permits issued per day

A limited number of people visit the chimpanzees daily which is another safety measure put in place to avoid overcrowding the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

The smaller groups taking part in chimpanzee trekking experiences in Uganda daily are easier to monitor during the time spent searching for the chimpanzees as compared to bigger groups. Tourists are encouraged to stay with the rest of the group for safety purposes during the search for the chimpanzees.

  1. Not feeding chimpanzees

Tourists are also discouraged from feeding the chimpanzees during the chimpanzee trekking experience. Touching the chimpanzees is also not allowed when spending time with them in their natural habitat.

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