Rubondo Island Camp

Chimp Habituation Trek

The most popular activity on Rubondo is the chimpanzee habituation tracking which is usually done on the north of the island. The first chimps arrived in 1966 and had no rehabilitation or pre-release training but after one year on Rubondo, they were able to find and eat wild foods and construct sleeping nests. This was the first-ever attempt to rehabilitate captive chimpanzees. From the 16 founders, the population has since grown to around 60 individuals. The habituated chimps are not quite as relaxed as their counterparts in the Mahale Mountains or Gombe and the hike can be relatively demanding owing to the undergrowth and lack of footpaths. But for those who are relatively fit and patient, finding the chimps will be a rewarding experience. The trek will depend on the chimp's location and so can vary anywhere between 1-4 hours but it is unusual to be in the forest the whole day. Guides carry extra water, snacks and packed lunches can be arranged. The best time to find the chimps is between June and AUgst when the vegetation is less thick and unlike Mahale and Gombe, once the chimps have been located, you can in theory spend as long as you like with them as tracking is regarded as part of the habituation process.