What do I need to know about Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of the popular wildlife tourism activities in Uganda, which allows you to step into the world of chimpanzees in the wild. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Interpretive rangers led a small group of tourists (maxi of 8) into the forest to trek for chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda lasts about 3 hours and includes a maximum of 1 hour with the chimpanzees, during the hour with the chimps, you’ll be expected to see them from a safe but intimate distance of 8-10 m. To get up close and personal with the chimpanzees to discover their beauty, intelligence, and social structures go for chimp habituation.
What is Chimpanzee Habituation?
Chimpanzee habituation is a fully engaging activity and experience in the country’s tourism. Clients join the researchers of the habituation team on a half or full-day excursion deep into the forests. Unlike the trekked chimpanzees, which are less used to human presence and their experience is sometimes unpredictable. In chimpanzee habituation, chimps engage with humans more hence being able to discover their beauty, intelligence and social structures.
Whilst, it sometimes can be challenging to follow the lead of these acrobatic primates. Though the experience is thoroughly rewarding.
The main difference between the standard chimpanzee treks and the habituation experience is the time spent with the chimpanzees. The habituation experience gives you up to 4 hours to spend in the company of the chimps. Whereas trekking gives you 1 hour in the company of the chimps.
Where can I go to see Chimpanzees in Uganda?
1 Kibale Forest
Home to about 1,500 chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is the main chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. The park is located in the South-West of Uganda, the rainforest is easily accessible from Kampala or Entebbe using aero or road transport. The park is also accessible via Rwanda Kigali.
The forest park has a great chimpanzee population, it has also become synonymous with chimpanzees. The chances of sighting chimpanzees in this park are at 90% or more, the park also sits along the south-western safari circuit which is easy to combine with other experiences like gorilla trekking, bird watching and wildlife sighting in Queen Elizabeth national park.
The chimpanzee tracking excursions in the park depart twice a day at 08:00 am and 2:00 pm, the morning excursions are the busiest since many itineraries combine them with the afternoon visit to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
To trek chimpanzees in Uganda, a tracking permit is required at the entrance of the park, permits can be booked through a tourism operating company in Uganda.
Chimpanzee habituation experiences are possible at Kibale forest park. For clients joining for the full day, you will join the chimpanzees when they break their nests at 06:30 am until nesting again for the night at 7:00 pm.
2 Budongo Forest in Murchison falls National park.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s top safari destination. The park provides a diversity of experiences that the incredible park offers. A single visit to the park can have a combination of game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, hikes to the top of the waterfalls and landscapes, and sundowners at boutique lodges that are overlooking the savannah.
Murchison has two sectors north and south, separated by the river Nile. In the woods of the southern sector of this breathtaking park, is where the Budongo Forest Reserve, in which chimpanzee tracking is carried out.
Budongo’s trekking rate is 80% which is higher than that of the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whilst chimpanzee sighting chances are higher at Kibale forest park due to its intense number of chimpanzees, the lower the number of visitors, the more it makes the experience more personal.
The activity preferred by visitor while on chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda is sitting with the chimps on their turf.
The chimp trekking guides are particularly good at Budongo, trekking groups per day are 6 in groups of 3 people each group to track the chimps in the morning and afternoon.
The forest has a historical association with the Jane Goodall Institute, which means that the interpretive guides are excellent at telling wilder stories about the chimps and the forest.
The chimpanzee tracking excursion lasts for 3 hours, and contact is usually only 1 hour with the chimps. A full-day habituation experience is also possible for adventurers who seek an extended encounter with the chimpanzees.
Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park
A delightfully secret cloven in the surface of the flat savannah bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park is where the Kyambura Gorge is found. The gorge is also a popular chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda.
The gorge is situated east of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is commonly known as ‘the valley of apes’. As a product of centuries of erosion by the Kyambura River is where the dense forest that covers the gorge sides is the prime habitat for chimpanzees.
As the experienced park ranger leads you into this secret forest, you’ll feel goosebumps for entering another world. An aerial view of Kyambura Gorge from Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most breathtaking scenery in the region.
About 17 chimpanzee troops inhabit the Kyambura gorge and the chances of sighting them are 60%. The sights and sounds of the forest generate suspense, making the sighting of these apes even more rewarding.
Kyambura Gorge is usually included as an add-on to a safari in Queen Elizabeth national park since the park has outstanding biodiversity. Clients usually visit the park for game drives, boat cruises, and the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector.
4 Semuliki National Park
In the western corner of Uganda, the Semliki Valley is home to a small population of chimpanzees. Don’t expect to easily find chimpanzees in this national park. Due to the dry and sparse forest of the park’s environment, means that chimpanzees have to roam far and wide to secure enough food.
The research programme in the park is currently on the cutting edge, as they try to work out the relationship between the chimpanzees walking on 2 legs and the evolution of the human species.
What is the best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?
To be honest there is no best time for gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, although some tourism operating companies specify the best time for trekking due to the number of tourists received in a certain period. Some clients prefer trekking during the rainy season and others during the dry season based on climate. For clients that are interested in trekking during the dry season, the best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is from June to September and December to February. And clients that would like to trek during the rainy season the best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is from October to early December and March to May.
Uganda is a year-round destination, due to its equatorial climate means that temperatures are harmonious throughout the year. Uganda’s climate seasons are separated by differing levels of rainfall. March to May is the long rainy season, and October to early December is the short rainy season.
Trekking is easiest during the dry seasons of June to September and mid-December to February. Clear, sunny weather makes trekking more enjoyable, but remember that due to Uganda’s tropical climate, downpours are still possible at any time of day.
Uganda’s peak tourism season is June to September during the dry season and the cost of accommodation is raised to match the increased demand. If you are comfortable to trek during the rainy season when accommodation prices are reduced, it will lower the cost of your trip. And due to the lower demand during this season, permits are cheaper and easier to access.
How difficult is chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda requires moderate physical fitness since treks are around three hours long. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees typically live at high altitudes among trees and the gentle terrain will give you to focus your attention on them. However, chimpanzees are highly active and at times rush through the forest. You’ll need to be comfortable with moving quickly at short notice for you to keep up with them when moving.
The trek mainly follows the forest trails, but you’ll need to be prepared to traverse the undergrowth if the chimpanzees are sighted away from the trails. During the rainy season, the trails will be slippery and muddy, and the forest will be denser. Hence the increase in the difficulty of the trek.