Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda: Costs and fees, Permit pricing and application, Tours and Safaris. Unleashing the ultimate chimpanzee trekking guide to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo 2023 to 2024
What exactly is chimpanzee trekking?
Chimp trekking, one of Uganda’s most famous nature pursuits, enables you to enter the world of chimps in the wild. Interpretive Rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority take a small party (maximum of 8) into the world of chimpanzees. The trek through the forest lasts for about 3 hours and includes a maximum of one hour with the chimps, who can be seen from a secure but close distance of 8-10 meters. Discover the beauty, intellect, and social systems of chimps up close and personal.
Popular chimpanzee trekking safaris
What is Chimpanzee habituation?
Chimpanzee habituation is an all-encompassing experience. You can accompany the habituation team’s researchers for a half or full day trip deep into the jungle. Because these chimpanzees are less accustomed to human contact, the encounter is more unpredictable. While following the example of these agile primates can be difficult, the experience is extremely gratifying. The primary distinction between normal chimp excursions and habituation experiences is the amount of time spent with the chimpanzees. The habituation experience enables you to spend 4 hours with the chimpanzees.Â
where can I go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?
Kibale forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park, which is home to approximately 1,500 chimps, is Uganda‘s primary chimp trekking destination. The rainforest is located in South-West Uganda and is readily approachable from Kampala or Entebbe. The tropical forest is home to healthy chimp populations, and the park has become associated with them. The odds of seeing animals here are 90% or higher, and the park is located along the south-western safari route, making it simple to combine with other activities.
The tracking trips leave twice a day at 08:00 and 14:00, with the morning excursions being livelier because many plans combine it with a visit to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in the afternoon. Permits for tracking are needed and can be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Kibale also offers chimp habituation experiences. For those participating for the entire day, you will be with the chimpanzees from the time they dismantle their nests around 06:30 until they nest for the night around 19:00.
Budongo Forest Reserve in Murchison Falls National Park,
The finest safari location in Uganda is Murchison Falls National Park. The vast variety of activities available here is incredible. Game drives, boat excursions, chimp trekking, treks to spectacular waterfalls and landscapes, and amazing sundowners at the variety of safari lodges facing the savannah can all be combined in a single visit. The Budongo Forest Reserve, located in the wooded south of the lovely park, is an ideal site for chimp trekking. Budongo has a greater encounter rate than Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, at around 80%. While the odds of seeing wildlife are greater at Kibale, the smaller visitor numbers make the experience more personal.
At Budongo, the guiding is especially excellent, with up to six led parties of three people tracking the chimpanzees each morning and afternoon. Because of the center’s past connection with the Jane Goodall Institute, the interpretive guides are exceptional at describing the larger narrative of the chimps and the forest. A typical tracking trip lasts about three hours, with contact typically established after only an hour of walking. A full-day habituation trip is also offered for adventurers who want to spend more time with the chimpanzees.
Queen Elizabeth National Park's Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge, a pleasantly hidden forest in the level grassland adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park, is Uganda’s third most popular chimp trekking location. Kyambura Gorge, located in the far east of Queen Elizabeth National Park, is known as “the Valley of the Apes.” The thick vegetation that blankets the canyon sides is an ideal home for chimps due to millennia of erosion by the Kyambura River. You will feel as if you have entered another universe as an experienced Ugandan Wildlife Authority guide takes you into this secret jungle.
The gorge is home to only 17 chimpanzees, with a 60% possibility of seeing one. The sights and noises of the woodland create tension and enhance the enjoyment of a glimpse. The Uganda Wildlife Authority can arrange tracking licenses. Kyambura Gorge is typically included as an add-on to a Queens trip because the park has good bio-diversity and is usually visited for game drives, boat excursions, and the tree-climbing lions in the park’s Ishasha Sector.
Semiliki Game Reserve
The Semliki Valley, located in western Uganda, is home to a tiny community of chimps. Expect it to be difficult to locate the chimpanzees in Semliki. Because of the dry and sparse woodland habitat, they must travel far and wide to find enough food. The study program here is cutting-edge, with the goal of determining the connection between chimpanzees walking on two legs and the development of our own species.
When is the ideal time of year to go chimp hiking in Uganda?
Uganda is an all-year location. Temperatures are constant throughout the year due to its equatorial environment. The seasons in Uganda are distinguished by different amounts of rainfall. The long wet season lasts from March to May, and the brief rainy season lasts from October to November. Trekking circumstances are best from June to September and from December to February. The clear, dry and sunny weather makes your treks more pleasant, but due to Uganda’s tropical environment, downpours are still possible.
The peak tourism season in Uganda is from June to September, and accommodation prices rise to satisfy the increased demand. If you are not afraid of challenging hiking conditions, coming during the wet season can help you save money. Because of the decreased demand, permits are less expensive and simpler to obtain during the rainy season.
How difficult is chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?
Because the treks are around three hours long, chimp trekking in Uganda demands a modest degree of physical endurance. Chimpanzees, unlike gorillas, usually reside at low altitudes, and the gentle topography will enable you to concentrate on the chimps.
Chimpanzees are extremely energetic and can dart through the jungle. To keep up with them, you should be able to move swiftly on brief notice. The trek will primarily follow woodland paths, but if the chimps are situated away from the trails, you should be prepared to cross the undergrowth. The paths will be more slippery and the vegetation will be thicker during the rainy season. This will make the journey more challenging.