About Chimpanzee Safari in Uganda, Where To Do Chimpanzee Trekking

About Chimpanzee Safari in Uganda, Where To Do Chimpanzee Trekking

Uganda is one of the few hosts of chimpanzees in Africa with a population of over 5000 chimpanzees living in different habitats. When planning a chimpanzee safari in Uganda, you need to consider the destination where to enjoy this encounter as the country has a variety of them. In Uganda, one can do chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience but you need a chimpanzee permit. Contact Us

Chimpanzee trekking is an adventure where tourists have one hour with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop for one hour. The limited time of one of the ways used to minimize the effects of mass tourism.

Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) is an adventure where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with the community of semi-habituated chimpanzees.

Some of the Uganda safari destinations where to find chimpanzees include Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park,  Kyambura  gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest, Budongo Forest, Bugoma forest, Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and others

Chimpanzees have the closest resemblance to humans because they have about 98% human DNA. This makes these primates vulnerable to human infections especially the communicable ones including flu, cough, covid-19 and others. Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch the communicable infections before the chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience to save these vulnerable primates.

Two chimpanzee trekking sessions are carried out in Uganda that is the morning and Afternoon session which you can select which is more convenient for you when booking the chimpanzee safari permit. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has to mandate to sell and regulate the chimpanzee permits under its management.

Where to do Chimpanzee Safaris in Uganda

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is the prime chimpanzee safari destination in Uganda with over 1500 chimpanzees recorded as residents in the forest. Kibale National Park is a tropical natural rain forest situated in western Uganda covering an area of about 795 square kilometers.

Kibale forest offers chance to do both chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience. At the moment, there are about 12 chimpanzees communities that are fully habituated and ready for public viewing. In Africa, Kibale National Park is one of the destinations where you may get the chance to see the chimpanzees in large communities.

Other than the chimpanzees, Kibale National Park is home to other 12 primate species includes blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, pottos, bush babies, black and white colobus, olive baboons and others. More than 325 bird species are residents of Kibale forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Kibale National Park shares a migration corridor with Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Northern part of the park which is about 180 Kilometers and this allows a number of animals to cross into the forest premises. During the chimpanzee safari, you may encounter some of them including forest elephants, giant forest hogs, solitary buffaloes and others.

• How To Much Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Permits For Kibale National Park

The current cost of chimpanzee permits for Kibale National Park are as follows

Chimpanzee trekking permit cost for Kibale National Park

$250 for international nonresidents

$200 for international residents

180000shs for East Africans

Cost Of Chimpanzee Habituation Permits For Kibale National Park

$300 for International nonresidents

$250 for international residents

250,000 shs for East Africans.

The cost of the chimpanzee permits for Kibale National Park include park entrance fees, one hour of chimpanzee trekking or four hours of chimpanzee habituation experience, ranger guide fees, conservation fees, research support and others

• Accommodations to book for Kibale National Park chimpanzee safaris include Primates lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzee guest house, Chimps Nest, Kibale safari lodge, Kyaninga lodge and others.
• How to get to Kibale National Park

The distance from Kampala to Kibale National Park is about 336 kilometers via the norther route which is at Mubende to Fort Portal at drive time 5 to 6 hours. Flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip are available too.

Kyambura Gorge In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is in the floor of the rift valley covering an area of about 100 meters deep resulting from the erosion of River Kyambura as it makes its way towards Kazinga channel. To get to the chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge, you need some hiking because of the steep slopes that sometimes get messy during the rainy season but all is part of the adventure.

As you plan to do game drives and the launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may also add chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge to the activities to do while in this park.

How Much Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Permit For Kyambura Gorge

At the moment, the cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kyambura gorge is $ $100 for international nonresidents, $80 for international residents and 50,000 shs for East Africans

The cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kyambura gorge includes one hour of chimpanzee trekking, conservation support, ranger guide fees, security and others. The cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kyambura excludes park entrance fees.

• Accommodation to use in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Mweya safari lodge, Bush lodge, Jacana lodge and others.
• How To Get To Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Kampala, the distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park where Kyambura gorge is about 420 Kilometers via Mbarara or 410 Kilometers via Fort Portal. Daily domestic fight arrangements can be made from Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya or Kasese then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park is the home of the chimpanzees in this Park. Kaniyo Pabidi forest, which is part of the Budongo forest extension, is 8 kilometers from the Kicumbanyombo gate. While searching for these chimpanzees, you may come across other primates including back and white colobus, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and others.

An array of birds flock Kaniyo Pabidi forest each day to enjoy the freebies in the forest and there are chance of spotting Albertine rift endemics. Note that the management of chimpanzee safaris in Kaniyo Pabidi is under the Jane Goodall Foundation (CSWCT) in partnership with Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Other than chimpanzees trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison Falls National Park, tourists may also engage in game drives, enjoy a launch trip to Murchison Falls the strongest falls in Africa, hike to the top of the falls and others.

How Much Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking Permit For Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

The current cost of chimpanzee permits for Kaniyo Pabidi forest is $

Accommodation to use for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Kaniyo Pabidi are in Murchison Falls National Park including Nile Safari lodge, Murchison River lodge, Paraa safari lodge, Red chilli Camp site, Sambiya lodge and others.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park For a chimpanzee trekking tour in Kaniyo Pabidi forest

The distance from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park is about 305 Kilometers driving for about 5 to 6 hours . On the way, you may make a detour to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where Rhinos are being re-introduced into the Uganda Wilderness after they were wiped out by civil wars that happened in the country. The last Rhinos in Uganda are believed to have been seen in the 1980s. So far the progress is turning out positive.

From the gate of Murchison Falls National Park the Kicumbanyombo gate the distance to get to Kaniyo Pabidi gate is about 8 Kilometers.

Flights are available at Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip to Pakuba or Bugungu airstrip then Murchison Falls National Park. Ensure to arrange for a transfer vehicle to your lodge

Kalinzu Forest For Chimpanzee safaris

Kalinzu forest is part of the extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park and home to the chimpanzees. Even though these chimpanzees are mainly used for research, they can be opened to chimpanzee trekking experience especially during the peak season. The trek to find the chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest is not so hectic but very exciting.

From Queen Elizabeth National Park, tourists get the chance to do chimpanzee trekking in the Kalinzu forest so one can also use accommodations from this park too.

Budongo Forest for chimpanzee safaris

Budongo forest is one of the few still existing natural forests in Uganda situated in Hoima and Masindi districts in western Uganda. Budongo forest hosts a community of chimpanzees but mainly used for research purposes by chimpanzee trekking is accepted too. Budongo forest is under the National Forest Authority ( NFA) but coordinate its management with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is under the management of the Jane Goodall organization that is CSWCT. This chimpanzee sanctuary was set up to give second home for rescued, orphaned, abandoned chimpanzees that cannot return to there communities.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated on Koome Island in Lake Victoria. Chimpanzees on this islands can be viewed from the visitor platform where tourists are able to participate in feeding them. Tourists may also do chimpanzee up-close, keeper for the day nit you must undergo inoculation.

To get to Ngamba Island, tourists sail from the pier at Entebbe on a boat each day with two trips to the Island each day that is morning and afternoon.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe is home to some chimpanzees that live in exhibits. This center was initially called the Entebbe Zoo and is a home to a number of wild animals from different parks in Uganda that are kept in exhibits. From the view platform, tourists have the chance to see the chimpanzees interact, show off some acrobatic styles, feed, groom, discipline and much more. These chimpanzees are very exciting to watch.

Is It Worth Planning The Chimpanzee Safari In Uganda

The plan to do a chimpanzee safari in Uganda is worth every time and money. The chimpanzees are some of the endangered primates in the world affected by human activities that have ended in habitat loss. More conservation support in needed to protect these primates and there habitats.

By booking a chimpanzee safari in Uganda, you contribute to the fund that supports the conservation of these primates.

When you hire a porter to assist with carrying your chimpanzee safari gears during the Uganda safari, you contribute to the livelihood of the people around the park.

Other than the chimpanzees, there are several primates you may get chance to see during the search for the chimpanzees including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue  monkeys, olive baboons and others. There are number of birds that survive in the forests with the chimpanzees on Uganda and keen birders can make good use of this opportunity.

By taking the walk in search for the chimpanzees while on safari in Uganda, you get to interact with nature.

When Is The Best Time To Do Chimpanzee Safaris In Uganda

Chimpanzees safaris in Uganda are best enjoyed in the dry season that is normally June to October when the forests are less moist. There is generally less humidity in the forests where the chimpanzees live so during the dry season they are quite quicker to explore. Most of the forests where chimpanzees live re water catchment areas for the communities around since they have a dense network of rivers and streams. During the dry season, the ground is dryer and so people can traverse it quickly.

The chimpanzees keep to the ground most of the time during the dry season because there is generally scarcity of food up in the canopy. More sunlight also penetrates through to the ground making the forest brighter and so even take photos or filming the chimpanzees and other primates is great because of the natural light.

Note that the demand for Uganda chimpanzee permits is high in the dry season so competition for the few open to the public is high too.

Donot give up on booking chimpanzee safaris in Uganda during the wet season because no matter when you plan this adventure be sure to see the chimpanzees. The wet season in Uganda is normally March to May and October to November but these primates donot move so far in the wet season as they keep most of the time up in the trees where they can find shelter.