A Travelers Guide to Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda: Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is an uncommon activity that draws a large number of tourists to Uganda following gorilla trekking. It entails guests hiking into the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimps and spending one hour with them in their natural environment once identified.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda takes place in a variety of locations, including the Kibale Forest National Park, the Kyambura Gorge, the Budongo Forest, and the Kalinzu Forest. This chimpanzee trekking travel guide will assist you in organizing and planning a successful chimp trekking safari in Uganda. Below is a travelers guide to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.
Where to do Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda is one of the top chimpanzee trekking destinations in the country, located in the Kabarole area. Kibale Forest National Park is also known as the primate capital because it is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, l’Hoest monkeys, and vervet monkeys, among other primate species.
Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale Forest National Park is done in two sessions, one in the morning at around 8:00am and one in the afternoon at around 14:00pm, and each session takes from 2 to 5 hours to drive.
Kibale Forest National Park also provides chimp habituation experiences, in which wild chimps are educated to get accustomed to human presence, and the experience lasts 4 hours.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge- Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Another chimpanzee trekking option in Uganda is Kyambura Gorge, which is located in the eastern portion of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second biggest national park. The Kyambura Gorge is home to over 80 chimps and one habituated gorilla family.
Chimpanzee trekking is done in two sessions, one in the morning at 8:00am and one in the afternoon at 14:00pm, and each session lasts about 2 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest- Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kalinzu forest is located in Bushenyi district in western Uganda, close Maramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kalinzu forest is home to roughly 320 estimated chimpanzees, with approximately 70 habituated chimps divided among two families that are available for daily trekking.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest- Murchison Falls National Park.
Budongo forest is located in the northern section of Uganda’s largest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park. Uganda’s Budongo forest is home to 600 to 700 chimpanzees, with one habituated chimpanzee family available for trekking on a regular basis. Budongo forest also provides chimpanzee habituation experiences, which are only available during the rainy or low season.
What to expect on a Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, and Budongo Forest begins very early in the morning with a training on the laws and regulations that must be followed throughout the journey. Following the briefing, you will begin walking in the jungle with a professional park guide who is familiar with chimp hiking pathways. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can take anything from 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are situated because they tend to roam from one location to another in quest of food.
During your chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda, you will be able to see other monkey species, animals, many bird species, plant and tree species, and so on. Once the chimps are located, you will be permitted to spend time with them in their natural habitat, where you will be able to learn about their routines and see them go about their daily activities such as eating, nursing, hunting, playing, fighting, relaxing, and constructing new nests, among other things.
When is the Best Time to go on a Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda can be done at any time of year, but the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February because there is less rainfall in the chimp destinations during this period, so access roads and chimp trekking trails are dry and passable, making trekking easier than during the dry season when the trails are muddy and slippery, making trekking difficult.
How Much is a Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking permits are legal papers or paperwork that allow people over the age of 12 to visit habituated chimp groups and spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda varies depending on the destination. For example, a chimp trekking permit in Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest costs 50 USD per person for non-residents, 40 USD per person for residents, and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale Forest costs $200 USD per person for non-residents, $150 USD for locals, and 150,000 UGX per person for East African natives. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest costs 130 USD per person for non-resident foreigners, 120 USD for foreign residents, and 85 USD for East African citizens.
What to pack for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?
Insect repellent, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, waterproof rain jacket/poncho, hiking shoes, bottled drinking water, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, a walking stick, long cotton socks, and a waterproof back pack are among the essentials to pack for your chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda.
Tips for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda.
When going chimpanzee trekking in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kalinzu Forest, there are several chimpanzee trekking norms and restrictions that you should follow, which include the following;
- Keeping at least an 8-meter distance from the chimpanzees.
- No smoking, drinking, or eating in the company of the chimpanzees.
- Spending one hour with the chimps.
- Avoid using flash cameras when shooting photographs.
- Visitors who are ill are not permitted to visit the chimpanzees.
- If you need to sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and move away from the chimps since they are susceptible to human infections.
- Avoiding polluting/littering the forest
- Maintaining silence while traveling through the jungle and throughout the hour spent with the chimps
In summary
The above article shows a travelers guide to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Please contact Explore Rwanda Tours if you want to learn more about chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.
