Chimpanzees are a species of interesting apes that share up to 98percent DNA with humans. CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH is when tourists take long strolls on paths demarcated for the activity by Uganda Wildlife Authority. This to track down and get to see the chimpanzees jump from one tree to another as they carry on with their day-to-day activities.
At the park, CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH can mostly be found at Kyambura gorge. Definitely because it provides the absolute harbor for them, with a stream for water and plenty of food (fruits) from the rainforests. It is important to note that Queen Elizabeth National Park has five ecosystems. ranging from the thick underground rainforest in Kyambura gorge to the swamps along Kazinga channel.
The Kyambura gorge, also known as “The valley of Apes” is thirty kilometers from the lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is in the Eastern part of the park. The gorge will mentally drift you to a place you have never been before. With the sight of the river draining the place, the rainforest near the Equator. The sun striking the top of the trees and the view of the underground vegetation is all fulfilling, leaving you with a lot to share in form of tales as you leave.
Kyambura gorge has a mobile community of CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH. Most of which are habituated (habituated chimpanzees are able to go about their activities in the presence of humans watching them). The trees in the gorge are not only tall but also having branches that are easily bent. Making the work of nest building by the chimpanzees at the end of the day a cup of tea for them. One would imagine, as they watch the chimpanzees build their nests by bending the braches to be connected and making them firm with a twig, that that is how early man may have survive back in the days.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN CHIMPANZEE TRACKING?
The East African community is charged UGX30,000 and foreign nonresidents are charged $30 for the tracking activity which must be done in the presence of a guide.
Those that prefer to track by a drive should use a four-wheel drive as the paths created may not favor other types of cars. The morning hours, while the apes are out for a hunt (between 0700hrs-0800hrs) are best for the chimp tracking activity and by 1400hrs, the game drive should have concluded. The activity is strictly for persons above 15years of age.
BEHAVIOUR OF CHIMPANZEES?
Chimpanzees live in 30-80chimp groups called troops. The larger troops consist of the smaller, faible chimpanzees that can easily be led and dominated. Chimpanzees chew leaves. Then use the chewed leaves as sponge which they dip in water and suck the water out of it. For food, Chimps use twigs and sticks as tools to get their food. These brilliant apes place the twigs on anthills. Such that termites crawl up to them, unaware they will be the morning meal of the apes.
Also, the chimpanzees check the tree roots for nuts, which when found will be cracked using stones. In addition, the chimpanzees eat food with their lips. live above the ground at night and are terrestrial during day. Although chimpanzees can walk erect as humans do, this vision does not last long. Normally, chimpanzees walk on all their limbs making them quadruped in nature, but, they walk with their fingers half flexed to support their great weight which is anywhere between 35-60kilograms. More to that, chimpanzees are swift climbers that use their forelimbs and long hind limbs to attach on the trees making them fast climbers.
Lastly, they have no particular breeding season. They give birth any time of the year, with a female giving birth once every four to five years. The gestation period of a chimpanzee is 243days.
WHAT DO CHIMPANZEES FEED ON?
Chimpanzees feed on about 80 diverse plant foods, the main meal being fruits. They are choosy on the kind of fruits they eat. They will only choose the ripest fruit from the tree to eat. Chimpanzees are diurnal creatures that will start their hunt for fruits in the morning and leaves, buds, seeds as well as flowers later on in the day. The chimpanzees can also be seen killing smaller monkeys for meat, the supplement of their meals. In conclusion, chimpanzees are omnivores animals.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU EMBARK ON CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
Just as you would take precautions before going to visit a friend. It is necessary to remember these before going to track chimpanzees.
First, do not go on the trek when you are sick. Chimpanzees are delicate creatures and whatever you are suffering from (if contagious) may be passed on to them.
Then, do not throw eats and drinks at the chimpanzees. The Park dearly appreciates your generosity. But you cannot have enough for them. Thereby causing the chimps to fight and struggle for what you have thrown at them. Instead, hand your donations (preferably in the form of money for proper planning) to the park reception. In addition to that, do not eat very close to the chimpanzees as they may grab your eats away.
Also, do not litter at the park. The park is a conservation area and litter spoils its values. Also the chimpanzees may eat the polyethene. More to that, do not mimic the chimpanzees. This is because you may not know what their coded language means hence getting you in trouble with the chimpanzees.
Do not use flashy photography as this may scare the chimpanzees away.
OTHER PRIMATES FOUND AT QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
The Kyambura gorge is the valley of apes. t not only has chimpanzees, it also has various types of monkeys, baboons and other interesting primate communities.
WHERE TO RESIDE WHEN YOU VISIT THE GORGE
The gorge has a number of accommodation facilities to stay at. During your tour around, all of which are comfortable and spacious to give you a feel at home experience. They range from luxury to budget accommodation. They include the following; Mweya safari lodge, Katara lodge, kingfisher camp, Kyambura gorge lodge and many more.
