Our lodge is in Kibale National Park, which is home to a variety of primate species – monkeys and chimpanzees. Overnight there is an incredible chorus of crickets,cicadas, and tree frogs. From our tents we hear the occasional hoot and holler from the forest nearby. Often it is a gray cheeked mangobey, who can be spotted in the canopy overhead. The chimpanzees are the primary attraction and in the morning we prepare for a trek with long pants tucked into socks to ward off the fire ants and ticks. A short drive on dirt road leads to a foot trail crossing which we take to an area where the chimpanzees had been spotted earlier. The trail leads to narrower muddy, slippery paths which turn into working our way through the undergrowth as our guide Edison follows calls from the treetops. Along the way are red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, gray cheeked mangobeys, and maybe some others that I have forgotten. The forest includes huge hardwood trees with buttressed trunks covered with vines and moss.
The undergrowth is shrubs and vines that make for slow going
when we are off the trails. When we do spot a chimpanzee, it is high
overhead and we crane our necks to get a look of it moving easily
through the canopy above. Further on are more including a mother and
baby that is also in the trees, but lower, and we all get a good look.
There is a moment when the group vocalizes with others further away and
the classic excited “who-who-aha-aha-aha” resonates in the forest – very
cool. We had broken up into three smaller groups for the trek and
everyone has good sightings. One group had the distinction of getting
pissed on (supposed to be good luck) , but I doubt that it was personal.
We make our way back to a road crossing to get picked up by out
vehicles, and back to the lodge for rest.
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