TERRENCE HOWARD AND HIS WIFE TRACK CHIMPANZEES IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
American Hollywood film actor Terrence Howard and his wife Miranda Pak tracked chimpanzees at Kibale National Park over the weekend on 16th July 2022 in kibale national park.
Terrence and the wife were accompanied by Hon. Frank Tumwebaze the Minister for Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and CEO Uganda Tourism Wildlife Lilly Ajarova with other delegates.
Due to Uganda’s cultural diversity and the chimp tracking experience in Kibale National Park, the couple was amazed and excited about the chimp experience.
“I was amazed by the interaction of the primates and its closeness to human behavior. I implore people from all over the world, especially African Americans to come to Uganda and dive into the amazing touristic adventure for a better understanding and knowledge of our footprints and deeper roots. People need to make their way to Uganda as it’s beautiful and worth visiting.” Mr Howard remarked in kibale national park following the experience from UWA.
The American film star added saying that the experience he had was more like those songs that one would hear on Christmas that welcome you home. The nature walks through the park were covered by the sweet sound of the birds and the creatures. And the movement of the chimps; felt like something he had deep within his DNA.
Uganda Tourism Board was appreciated by minister Tumwebaze for marketing the country as well as praising Terrence and his team for making time to visit the pearl of Africa.
“All Ugandans to collaboratively explore and market Uganda as their preferred tourist destination in their networks.” Hon Tumwebaze added.
“We are optimistic about increasing international tourist numbers this year given the current surge of visitors here in Kibale National Park. The tourism industry is confident that the visitor numbers will increase back to pre-pandemic levels. Strategic interventions have been laid out to increase the tourism industry’s contribution to Uganda’s social-economic development. In 2021, Uganda received 7,386 tourists from North America, approximately 1.44% of the total tourism arrivals. 512, 945 visitor arrivals were recorded during the period.” the CEO of UTB Elly Ajarova said in her remarks.
What to pack during tracking?
- Cameras
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Long trousers, long stockings and long t-shirts
- Water and snacks
- Hiking sticks
- Raincoat.
What are the rules and regulations of chimpanzee tracking?
- Visitors are briefed to lower their voices while they are in the jungle searching for chimpanzees.
- Children below 15 years of age aren’t allowed to track the chimps
- While they are with chimpanzees, visitors are warned not to take photos with flashlights.
- Visitors are given one-hour visits with gorillas however more time is given to those visitors who have paid for chimp habituations.
- Visitors are limited to 8 individuals during the chimp tracking.
- During the tracking, visitors are briefed to keep together with the instruction of the game rangers in order not to get lost in the jungle and to safeguard their lives from wild animals.
- Illed Visitors aren’t allowed to track chimpanzees since chimps can easily be affected.
- Visitors are briefed to wear masks and sanitize their hands before tracking since chimps are known to be a close relatives of humans that can easily be affected.
Apart from chimpanzee tracking, what are other activities in Kibale park?
Visiting Bigodi wetland sanctuary.
Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a jungle swamp-sounding local community of Kibale national park. Despite the fact that the park is surrounded by projects which visitors support to improve their standards of living, the swamp has a lot to offer is birding, vegetation and mammals. During the nature walk around bigodi wetland, red-tailed monkeys will be spotted, grey crowned crane, long-horned birds, butterflies and farming that is coffee, g.nuts and maize are spotted. Visiting rest in bananas in bigodi is the best experience a visitor doesn’t wish to miss out on tasting juice made in bananas, visiting traditional doctors, visiting local markets and joining local entertainment which makes the trip memorable in kibale national park.
Birding
Kibale national park is the best birding destination in Uganda due to the thick forest of kibale national park. The park inhabits 150 different bird species which are spotted early morning hours at 7:00 am and evening hours. During the nature walk in the forest, white-spotted flufftails , grey crowned crane, white-tailed ant thrush, black and white- shrike flycatcher, superb sunbird, yellow billed barbet, long-horned billed bird and many others are spotted.
Nature walk and hiking.
Kibale national park is the best destination for a nature walks and hiking in the forest where one feels the natural air in the jungle and learns about flora and fauna in the park. Visitors are briefed to start the nature walk in the morning, afternoon and evening with the help of guides taking them through the local markets, and traditional doctors, visiting rest in bananas where the juice is made from bananas.
About kibale national park
Kibale national park is the best destination for chimpanzee tracking and birding paradise for bird lovers. The park is located in the western part of Uganda in the fort portal district. The park inhabits chimpanzees, birds, nature walks, hiking, visiting rest in bananas, visiting bigodi wetland sanctuary and many more. The park is accessible by road since it takes approcimently 4-5 hours or by flight from kajjasi or Entebbe International airport.
About Uganda Wildlife Authority.
UWA is a government agency that manages and protects wildlife and reserves that are supervised by the minister of Wildlife, Tourism and Antiquities that is headed by Col. Tom Butima and his secretary Mrs. Doreen Tusiime working together with CEO UTB MS Lilly Ajarova and other stakeholders with private sectors to improve on the tourism industry in Uganda. UWA issues out gorilla and chimp permits as well as protects 10 national parks like Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Mt Elgon, Mt Rwenzori, Kibale, semuliki, bwindi and mgahinga. UWA also manages local communities neighbouring national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
