Chimpanzee Trekking in Congo
Chimpanzee Trekking in Congo is yet another primates safari activity that has attracted many tourists to the country to explore its wildlife species. Chimpanzees are one of the closest relatives of gorillas, monkeys among other subspecies that live in the tropical moist forests, grassland-forest mosaics, and savanna woodlands. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, chimpanzees are found in the eastern tropical rainforests and the mostly found subspecies of the chimpanzee include the central chimpanzee which has a population of up to 115,000 individuals and Eastern chimpanzee which ranges from the Ubangi River in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to western Uganda, Rwanda and western Tanzania. These chimpanzees live in groups of 20 to 80 members and there is a range of behavioral differences between groups from different regions.
Chimpanzees mostly move on the ground and during the day they stay up in the trees where they sleep in nests made with vegetation. Chimpanzees, like the gorillas, are very social animals and their groups always have a group leader, a dominant male who protects and makes sure the group gets food and shelter. Chimpanzees are omnivorous and mainly feed on leaves from branches, fruits, insects and meat. They usually hunt down their favorite prey that is the colobus monkeys and young antelopes.
The Democratic Republic of Congo harbors half of the chimpanzees in the world. It is this huge chimpanzee population that attracts travelers from different countries to always come and encounter these endangered primates in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chimpanzee trekking in Congo is done in the following sites in Congo.
Chimpanzee trekking in Congo in Virunga National Park
In 2014, chimpanzee habituation started in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a Congolese team trained by the Frankfurt Zoologist Society (FZS). The chimpanzees were habituated in Tongo forest one of the protected areas in Virunga National Park and a total number of 32 members were habituated in this area. This has made it simple and flexible for chimpanzee trekking by travelers that visit Virunga National Park every year. Those travelers that are to encounter chimpanzee trekking need to get a close place to the park so as to connect easily with the team since travelers start trekking at 6 am. Unlike gorilla trekking that allows 8 people, for chimpanzee trekking only 4 people are allowed to track the chimpanzees and usually one hour is allowed to spend with the chimpanzees. Travelers that are not feeling well in terms of illnesses are advised to cancel so as to protect the lives of the chimpanzees since they have a weak immune system.
Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a primate sanctuary located in southeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a town called Bukavu town. This sanctuary was created in 2002 by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) AND National Center for Research in Natural Sciences (CRSN). 83 chimpanzees are taken care of in the Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary making it a good place for chimpanzee tourism in Congo.
Travelers can visit the sanctuary to view these chimpanzees since most of them are orphaned chimps that are under rehabilitation at the center. Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located near two national parks that is Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park. This means the travelers can opt to visit Lwiro chimpanzee sanctuary after their gorilla trekking in the national parks. It is an addition to their gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga (J.A.C.K)
Jeunes Animaux confisques au Katanga is a chimpanzee sanctuary located in the city centre of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sanctuary is home for 35 young chimpanzees aged between 5 and 15 years old. Jeunes Animaux confisques au Katanga looks after 17 females and 18 male chimpanzees. Many of these chimpanzees’ parental backgrounds are not known since they come from different regions after being rescued from poachers and chimpanzee markets. Travelers who visit the Democratic Republic of Congo can visit the sanctuary to view these chimpanzees because it is always open to the public every day and for education purposes, it is the right spot.
Accommodations during chimpanzee trekking in Congo
Accommodations in the Democratic Republic of Congo range from luxury, midrange, and budget. Most of the travelers prefer areas close to the Sanctuaries and national parks to give them a head start to their encounter and expedition since chimpanzee trekking starts early in the morning.
Kibumba Tented Camp: Kibumba Tented Camp is within the park and features 18 tents and a good spot for those that are to go for chimpanzee trekking and hiking in Mount Nyiragongo. The lodge offers tents filled with all necessities plus amazing food at its restaurant and bar. It also has a comfortable bed and the guests are able to relax at the lodge and share their experience.
Bukima Tented Camp: The camp is located near the Virunga National Park boundary and features classy and luxurious suite facilities. The site of Bukima Tented Camp gives guests a spectacular view of the Mount Mikeno whose peak goes up to the chimpanzee division and the red glow given off by the lava lake at mount Nyiragongo.
Mikeno Lodge: The lodge has about 12 rooms at the lodge each with a unique setting and nears the spot where those travelers are to start hiking Mount Nyiragongo and chimpanzee trekking. Mikeno lodge offers an excellent restaurant that offers indoor or outdoor dining, with complimentary breakfast and additional meals. The lodge is also surrounded by a forest and guests are able to listen to pleasant sounds of the different species of birds.
Lulimbi Tented Camp: Lulimbi Tented Camp is located in the eastern part of Virunga National Park in the Ishasha sector and it is dominated by the savannah plains. The campsite enables guests to have great insights on the wildlife in the southern sector of Virunga National Park like the elephants, buffalos, warthogs during the game drive.
Other lodges to try out when you visit Virunga National Park are such as Orchids Safari Club, Lodge coco, hotel Begonias, Exodus Bukavu, lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Mont Kahuzi Hotel, Tchegera Island Camp, and Mount Nyiragongo summit shelter.
How to get to the chimpanzee sanctuaries in Congo
Many tourists use Kigali International Airport because it is the easiest passage to reach Congo since the location of the chimpanzees is in the east of Congo and close to Rwanda. Getting to Rwanda you can use Rwanda Air or KLM which flies nonstop to the airport. From the airport, you can get a private car or special hire that will transport you to your hotel or lodge until you go for chimpanzee trekking.
