The Ngogo Chimpanzee Research Centre co-directed by Kevin Langergraber is a long-term chimpanzee field project devoted to the scientific study and conservation of the Ngogo community of chimpanzees living in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
With nearly 200 individuals, Ngogo is the largest known chimpanzee community. Much research at Ngogo has focused on explaining the ecological reasons for this unusual demographic situation and its influence on chimpanzee behaviour. Past and ongoing topics of study include intra- and inter-sexual social relationships and cooperation, kinship and social relationships, mating behaviour and reproductive success, hunting and meat sharing, territorial behaviour, and feeding ecology.
In addition to following the chimpanzees and recording their behaviour, researchers at Ngogo also non-invasively collect urine, faeces and other biological materials for endocrinological and genetic analyses, as well as to conduct phenological and botanical studies of the forest ecology. The Ngogo Chimpanzee Research Centre wins its place In being one of the locally sustainable projects as it employs a team of local Ugandans who work alongside local law enforcement officers (Uganda Wildlife Authority – UWA) to collect snares and curtail illegal hunting within the park. They also collect faecal samples for an ongoing genetics-based chimpanzee monitoring program that aims to determine the size, composition, number and location of unhabituated chimpanzee communities within the 800 km2 of Kibale National Park.
When is the best time to visit the Ngogo chimpanzee Research Centre
The Ngogo research centre can be visited at any time of the year. However, we recommend visiting the centre in the dry season months of December to February and June, July & August.
** For the last ±5 years, the weather/climate patterns in Uganda are changing. This, in other words, means that what is considered as the dry season might still have a bit of a shower or even heavy downpours. We advise you to plan and pack appropriately. (See: The Practical packing list for Africa)
How to get to the Ngogo chimpanzee Project
There are two (02) ways one can get to the Ngogo Research centre. You can either fly or travel by road. However, if our opinion matters, we would recommend driving as opposed to Flying.
Wondering why? Flying costs more money and yet you still have to drive from Kasese (where the plane leaves you) to Ngogo Chimpanzee project which still requires about two (02) hours driving.
Can’t I charter? Yes, you can charter a helicopter flight to fort portal which costs quite a bit of money. unfortunately, you still need to drive at least 30 minutes.
Why we think driving to Ngogo Research centre is the best way to get there.
Driving from Entebbe ( you can start anywhere else) requires about ±5 hours to cover a journey of 331 km/ 205 mi. The drive to Ngogo research centre is very scenic and leads through the remotest places you probably have ever seen. Photography is possible!
Secondly, when you are at Ngogo research centre, you may need transport in & around to get to fort portal or other locations of interest.
Finally, the choice of how to get to the Ngogo research centre is entirely up to you. Make the choice, and we will book it.
Where to Stay while at Ngogo Research Centre
There is quite a wide range of places to stay near the Ngogo research centre. Among our recommended places to stay based on your budget include; Turaco treetops (upmarket), Kibale forest camp (serves both budget & midrange), Kibale forest lodge. Speak to us about your budget, and we will make recommendations or book them if you like.
