Chimpanzee Trekking in Congo
Chimpanzee trekking in Congo, like gorilla trekking, takes place in the stunning Virunga national park, which is home to lush woodland, grassland, and mountains. The chimps were just recently acclimated because the majority of the park’s visitors were centred on gorilla trekking.
The chimpanzee thrives in the eastern tropical woods, and the most frequent subspecies are the Eastern chimp, which spans from the Ubangi River in the Central African Republic of Congo to western Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The chimpanzee species is the closest living related to humans, according to evidence from fossils and DNA tests.
Chimpanzees exhibit a variety of behaviours and live in groups of 20 to 80 members. Chimpanzees are mobile and move on the ground, but during the day, they prefer to live on trees, jumping from one tree to another as they interact with one another. Chimpanzees, unlike gorillas, are very social primate species to humans. They live in groups, with the dominant male serving as the family’s leader. The male leader protects the family, providing food and shelter for the family members.
Chimpanzees are omnivorous creatures that mostly graze on leaves from branches, fruits, and insects, and they typically hunt colobus monkeys and juvenile antelopes for meat. The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to the greatest number of chimps, accounting for more than half of the world’s population, which has drawn numerous visitors. Travellers participating in chimpanzee trekking safaris in Congo will visit the following places where chimpanzee trekking takes place-Virunga National Park being one of them.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Congo
Chimpanzee Trekking in Virunga National Park.
Chimpanzees are one of the most well-known animal species that visitors to Congo watch out for on their Congo Safari trips. Virunga National Park contains a hidden treasure of habituated chimp groups that may be visited by those interested in chimp trekking in Congo. There is presently a group accessible for chimpanzee trekking at Madhura forest in Virunga National Park.
The process of habituated chimpanzees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in 2014, when a Congolese team trained by the Frankfurt Zoologist Society embarked on a journey to habituate the chimpanzee groups living in the Virunga national park with a team of trained people to participate in this activity. The chimp habituation procedure takes place in Tongo forest, one of the protected regions in Virunga National Park, where 32 individuals are habituated. These have made it possible for visitors taking part in chimp trekking to quickly spot the chimps while hiking through the jungle.
Chimpanzee trekkers are recommended to arrange lodging near to the trekking destination because the activity begins early in the morning at 6:00 a.m. with a visit to the park headquarters. Unlike gorilla trekking, which permits up to eight people, chimpanzee trekking only allows a maximum of six people, including two park rangers, to travel with the chimpanzees for one hour. Visitors who are unwell or have chronic ailments will not be permitted to trek the chimps during chimpanzee trekking activities to avoid spreading infections to the chimps, who are sensitive to human infections.
Chimpanzees travel faster and cover more land than gorillas, which tend to eat in the same location for extended periods of time. To get the most out of this experience, you’ll need to start early before heading out of the forest to your lodge or another activity.
Chimpanzee Trekking at Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
The Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is one of the primate sanctuaries that has been gazetted to safeguard the lives of chimpanzees. It is located in the south-eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Bukavu town. The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation and the National Centre for Research in Natural Science established the refuge in 2002. This is one of the greatest sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for chimp tourism and one of the best places to conserve chimpanzees.
The Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located between two national parks: Virunga and Kahuzi Biega. Visitors participating in chimp trekking can visit the sanctuary, which mostly houses orphaned chimpanzees undergoing rehabilitation at the centre. The sanctuary is located in an area that travellers may easily visit after gorilla trekking; it might be an addition to your gorilla trekking safari in the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Congo.
A chimpanzee trekking safari in Congo, like gorilla trekking, requires you to be at least 15 years old.
Rules and Regulations to follow when doing Chimpanzee Trekking in Congo.
Throughout the chimpanzee trek, you are advised to follow the ranger guide’s instructions and not deviate from the path. It is also forbidden to eat, drink, or smoke in the company of the chimps. This activity will take place at specific times and locations. If you need to make a short or lengthy phone call, please notify your ranger guide and he will tell you on where to go – you will be needed to dig a hole which you will cover after you have finished your business.
Where to Stay during your Chimpanzee trekking safari in Congo?
There are numerous lodging facilities in Congo set up for travellers participating in chimp trekking; the lodges are located closer to the sanctuaries because the activity demands an early morning rise due to the fact that both chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking begin early in the morning. To satisfy the needs of the tourists, the lodges range from luxury to mid-range to cheap.
Kibumba Tented Camp is located within the park and consists of 18 tents with excellent accommodation, as well as a bar and restaurant providing the best local and foreign foods. The resort is located in an area that provides the finest location for chimp trekking and also provides clients with the option to hike up Mount Nyiragongo.
Bukima Tented Camp; Located on the border of the Virunga National Park, the resort provides tourists with luxurious accommodations. The Bukima Tented Camp location offers tourists a spectacular perspective of Mt. Mikeno, whose top rises to the chimp division, as well as the crimson light of Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake.
Lulimbi Tented Camp is located in the eastern part of Virunga National Park in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The region is dominated by the savannah plains, which harbours a variety of wildlife species, allowing guests to see elephants, buffalos, warthogs, and other species, which are mostly spotted during game drives along the southern sector of Virunga National Park.
Mikeno Lodge; the lodge offers around 12 rooms, each with a distinctive location, and is located near the starting point for ascending Mt Nyiragongo and chimp trekking activities. Mikeno Lodge has an outstanding restaurant that serves both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a complimentary breakfast and other meals. The lodge is located in an area surrounded by woodland, which provides visitors with delightful sounds of various bird species.
