Chimpanzee Habituation Walks in Virunga National Park Congo, Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris in Congo Virunga park, Safari Activities in Virunga. This is yet another interesting wild life activity done in Virunga national park started by a zoologist named Frankfurt in 1987. Chimpanzees were made familiar to human beings and since the travelers have been flocking into the national park for chimpanzee habituation and trekking experiences. The chimpanzee habituation permit is sold at 100usd and allows travelers to interact with the chimpanzees learning more about them.

In February 2014, a Congolese team trained by Frankfurt Zoological Society began habituating a group of chimpanzees living in the forests around park headquarters in Rumangabo. Guests staying at Mikeno Lodge can join this team on their daily visits to the chimpanzees.

The day begins when a group of local trackers leave their camp at 4:30 am to locate where the chimpanzees spent the previous night. Lodge guests set out at 6:00 am to find the chimpanzees. Groups are limited to 4 people and time with the chimpanzees is restricted to one hour. Bookings are made in person at Mikeno Lodge.

In 1987, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) developed an 80 km network of trails inside the Tongo forest and began a two-year process of habituating chimpanzees to the presence of humans. By 1989, approximately 50 chimpanzees had been habituated. Treks soon began, and for the next three years, provided an important source of tourism revenue for the park and the small community of Tongo.

Unfortunately, civil unrest put an end to chimpanzee tourism from 1992-2001. Despite this prolonged period of conflict, Virunga National Park rangers steadfastly protected and monitored Tongo’s chimpanzees. The peace that returned to the Kivus was short-lived. It wasn’t until 2010 that FZS and a team of 35 people from the local community was able to re-launch the habituation process.

By June of that year, the chimpanzees were once again habituated and visitors began trekking in to see them on a regular basis. In April 2012, hostilities erupted yet again and chimpanzee trekking had to be halted. The M23 rebellion, as the conflict was known, eventually ended in January 2014. The Tongo team still visits this population of chimpanzees on a daily basis. The group now consists of 32 individuals.

Walks to take a glance on Virunga’s habituated chimpanzee are available to guests staying at the Mikeno lodge. These walks usually take one hour in each direction and groups are limited to 4 people and time with the chimpanzee is limited to 1hour.

If you don’t feel well at the time of your scheduled walk (i.e. you have a cold, fever, diarrhea, or persistent sore throat) – please cancel. Like the gorillas, chimpanzees are extremely susceptible to human illnesses. Chimpanzees have died after being exposed to human respiratory viruses and other common ailments.

The day begins when a group of local trekkers leave their camp at 4: 30a.m to locate where the chimpanzees spent their previous night and lodge guests set up at 6:00 a.m. to find the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking permit is purchased at Mikeno lodge only while in Virunga national park and it goes for $ 100 for international visitors and residents is at $25.