Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda; Chimpanzee trekking is an adventurous and one of the most popular activities in Uganda that attracts big numbers of tourists after gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Chimpanzee trekking involves travelers moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their environment. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in four destinations namely Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest and Kymabura forest.
Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda
Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park is one of the most visited chimpanzee destination located in western part of Uganda in Kabarole district. Kibale forest national park is also known as the primate capital due to the fact that it harbors 13 primate species including 1,500 chimpanzees, other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, pottos among others. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park is done in two sessions that is the morning session which starts at around 8:00am and the afternoon session which starts at around 2:00pm and each session starts with a briefing at Kanyachu park headquarters.
Kibale forest national park also offers chimpanzee habituation experience where the wild chimpanzees are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale forest national park takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and tourists who engage in the process will be able to spend four hours with the chimpanzees.
Kyambura gorge
Kyambura gorge also known as the valley of apes is a chimpanzee destination in Uganda that is located in eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda. Kyambura gorge is a home of 2 habituated chimpanzee families which are available for trekking daily and chimpanzee trekking is done in two sessions, the morning session which starts at 8:00am and the afternoon session which starts at 2:00pm and each session starts with a briefing at the visitors Centre.
Kalinzu forest
Kalinzu forest is another chimpanzee trekking destination located in western part of Uganda in Bushenyi district. Kalinzu forest is a home of over 320 chimpanzees with about 70 habituated chimpanzees which are available for trekking on a daily basis. Chimpanzee trekking in kalinzu forest is also done in two sessions that is the morning session and the afternoon session.
Budongo forest
Budongo forest is located in Murchison falls national park which is the largest national park in Uganda. Budongo forest is a home of 9 primate species including over 800 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons among others. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters.
Budongo forest also offers chimpanzee habituation experience which is only available in the low season during the months of March to May and October.
Chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, Kalinzu forest, Kyambura gorge and Budongo forest starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest which takes about 2 hours to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species, different birds among others and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their habitat where you will be able to learn more about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, hunt, fight, take photos and record videos to show people after the safari.
Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest and Budongo forest can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall in the chimpanzee destinations therefore chimpanzee trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy.
Cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest national park costs 200 USD per person for foreign non residents, 150 USD per person for foreign residents and 150,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge costs 50 USD per person for foreign non residents, 40 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents and 85 USD per person for East African citizens.
What to pack for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda
There are different essential items that travelers should pack when going on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda including hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trouser, energy snacks and drinking water, insect repellent, garden gloves, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, long socks, walking stick, waterproof rain jacket, back pack among others.
Chimpanzee trekking is an exceptional activity in Uganda that can be combined with different activities in Murchison falls national park such as game drives, Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, bird watching, Nile delta boat cruise, cultural tour among others. For more information about the chimpanzee trekking destinations, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.
