Chimpanzee habituation experience in Congo – Virunga National park in Democratic Republic of Congo
Chimpanzee habituation experience in Congo – is another ultimate experience welcoming all travelers to Congo which is a must do to any one heading towards the country for any primate vacation.
Chimpanzees are considered to be so shy primates and with Congo’s Virunga National Park’s Chimpanzee habituation/tracking experience, your true primate encounter with the chimpanzees is a forever everlasting memory.
Chimp Habituation experience is a process of nurturing chimpanzees to become used to Human beings and other environment. This process is always done for two years before they are released for tracking by the visitors to the park. Chimpanzee tracking and habituation is done each day at any date in Tongo forest near the National Park headquarters of Virunga based in Rumangabo Region.
Habituation Experience
Chimp habituation experience in Congo – starts early at 6:00 am with a maximum number of 4 members per group per family to be habituated in that particular day. First, the trackers will depart to the forest in search for the right location of the group after which the remaining guides will guide the group towards the habituation spot. On the groups encounter, more hours are spent with the chimpanzees, studying their behaviours as the guides give more information about the habituated family.
A total of only three chimp families are currently being habituated at Tongo forest, and visitors who would wish to track or habituate chimpanzees are subjected to spending a night at Mikeno Lodge before the actual date of tracking because the roads are very rough and dusty not forgetting that the process that starts at 6:00am remains the major determinant of the reason behind the overnight stay at the lodge hence easy time management.
Cost of chimpanzee habituation experience in Virunga national park.
A must have! Chimpanzee habituation just like gorilla trekking also requires a permit as it is the only key to access chimpanzees, although it’s the cheapest among all permits to purchase, that is to say, you have to pay $100 USD per individual per day.
What you need to know before booking a chimpanzee habituation experience in Congo?
Chimpanzee permits can also be refunded just as it is with gorilla permits. This can only be possible under certain circumstances such as Human disease attacks including fever, cold, diarrhoea, persistent sore throat, among others. These can easily be transmitted to the chimps since they are susceptible to human respiratory diseases and other common ailments. Matters like this should be brought at hand before the actual time of tracking, so that arrangements can quickly be made to refund your money.
Best time for Chimpanzee Habituation experience.
As a visitor, it is your decision to choose the perfect time to enjoy chimpanzee habituation experience. Chimp Habituation/tracking experience is done all year round regardless of the season, although most vacationists prefer the peak seasons due to less down pour, with a clear sky, whereas others would rather take the low season to avoid overcrowding at the park and other discounts offered by certain lodges and permits as well.