To do chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest, you need to book a chimpanzee permit. Budongo forest is home to a chimpanzee community but the management is under National Forest Authority and Uganda Wildlife Authority. Budongo forest is a tropical rain forest one of the few surviving natural forests in Uganda and home to a number of primates including the chimpanzees. Contact Us
Chimpanzees are some of the endangered primates in the world whose DNA is about 96% that of humans. Chimpanzees have characters that are related to those of humans including breeding, nurturing, feeding, grooming, playing, grieving and many others. When watching the chimpanzees in there natural setting, you get to enjoy first-hand experience of these primates with no one choreographing them.
Budongo forest has an area of 825 squares kilometers of forested land although because of deforestation and human encroachment more of its land has been used. Budongo forest has some of the fully grown African mahogany trees. Budongo forest is situated in the northwestern part of Uganda on the way to Murchison Falls National Park and it is 30 minutes drive from Kicumbanyombo gate
Budongo forest is a water catchment area with rivers including River Sonso, River Siba, River Kamirambwa and River Waisoke. These rivers flow towards the northwest to the Albertine rift. Budongo forest Experiences the rainy season from October to November and March to May. The average temperature around Budongo forest varies from 19 degrees centigrade and 32 degrees centigrade.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo forest
Chimpanzees of Budongo forest are under the care of the Jane Goodall management that is Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT). These chimpanzees are mainly used for research but chimpanzee trekking is open to the public too. Chimpanzee trekking allows a limited number of tourists to search for the chimpanzees in the wilderness which may take about 3 hours or more. Upon finding the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them.
The presence of humans, disturbs the daily routine of the chimpanzees even though they may pretend not to mind your presence. The chimpanzees live in communities under the headship of an alpha male who is democratically chosen by the community members not based on age or strength or relationship with the former leader but capabilities.
Chimpanzee habituation experience is available in Budongo forest but mainly done in the wet season when there is generally less demand for this adventure. Chimpanzee habituation experience is an adventure where maximum four tourists accompany a team of ranger guides and researchers to have four hours with the semi-habituated chimpanzee community.
How Much Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Permit For Budongo Forest
Currently the cost of chimpanzee trekking permit is $130 for foreign nonresidents, $120 for international residents, $85 East Africans especially in the high season. There may be discounts on chimpanzee trekking permits for Budongo forest in the low season.
Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Budongo Forest Worth The Time And Money
Chimpanzee trekking is worth the time on holiday in Uganda. The experience of chimpanzee trekking is more memorable when you find them in there natural setting where human influence is minimal. Chimpanzees are some of the endangered primates in the world and conserving them is top priority since many of them have suffered poaching, habitat loss, kept in confines, used in circuses and so much
The funds collected from the sell of chimpanzee permits for Budongo forest are used to support the conservation of the chimpanzees, keep track of the possible snares set in the forest where the chimpanzees may fall victim, conduct routine patrols around the park and beyond.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest provides more chance to enjoy the chimpanzees with not so much disturbance from the crowds.
Other than chimpanzees, Budongo forest is home to other primates, a plethora of birds, different plants and much more.
How long is chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest
The time to take on chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo forest may be 3 hour to more depending on factors prevailing in the forest. Only one hour is allowed with the chimpanzees when you locate them. The chimpanzees are habituated to be before humans for just that hour. Chimpanzee habituation is a process used to help chimpanzees get used to human presence without altering there nature.
During the search for the chimpanzees, you may encounter a number of obstacles that may not allow faster movement in the wilderness. The ground may have tangled vegetation, that needs to be trimmed to create a path, weather conditions prevailing in the day, the mood of the chimpanzees for the day also matters, the pace of fellow tourists and many others.
When you finally locate the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them then get away to give time to go about there daily routine.
When Is The Best Time To Do Chimpanzee Trekking In Budongo Forest
The best time to do chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest is the dry season even though the forest is open all year. The dry season around Budongo forest is normally the December to February and June to September as the humidity in the forest is normally less. More sunrays are allowed to penetrate through the dense canopy to the ground leaving it less moist.
Budongo forest is a water catchment area with number of rivers and streams flowing within and from it and during the severe rainy season the ground gets soggy and boggy which may delay your movement. During the dry season, the rivers and streams flow in the normal course,
The chimpanzee and others primates spend more time closer to the ground as there is less food supply up in the trees. Chimpanzee have water phobia so in the dry season they get down to the less moist ground. They need to find some food supplies on the ground also nap away from the heat up in the trees during the dry season.
The wet season which is March to May and November opens better opportunities to seeing chimpanzee infants as there is much food in the forest these additionals can share. There are normally fewer tourists so you may get chance to have the forest to yourself and those in your company.
Is Budongo Forest Safe to Do A Chimpanzee Trekking Tour
Budongo forest is safe to visit to do a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda. On ground there are chimpanzee trekking rules expected to be followed by tourists. The chimpanzee trekking adventures are conducted by professional ranger guides who carry some protective gears in case of an emergency.
Before starting eth chimpanzee trekking adventure, tourists are required to attend briefing where details about the chimpanzees are explained in fill.
Personal security is very important while on a visit to Budongo forest so donot carry your precious valuables along especially those you are afraid of losing. Never enter the forest to search for the chimpanzees in Budongo forest without an escorting ranger guide. This is because the forest has other inhabitants that may be dangerous to you.
How to get to and What Is The Distance From Kampala To Budongo Forest
From Kampala, the distance to Budongo forest is about 223 kilometers and drive time is about 5 to 6 hours. Budongo forest is situated in northwestern Uganda on the escarpments of northeastern part of Lake Albert. From Kampala, Budongo forest is situated along the road to Murchison Falls National Park.
Scheduled domestic flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Pakuba or Bugungu airstrip but you need to hire a transfer vehicle.
To get to Kaniyo Pabidi forest which is another chimpanzee trekking destination in Murchison Falls National Park, the distance from northern Kampala is about 240 Kilometers and Entebbe to Kaniyo Pabidi is about 280 Kilometers
Which Accommodation To Book On Chimpanzee Safari In Budongo Forest
Accommodations to book for safaris in Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking safari include Budongo Eco lodge, Budongo Conservation Field Station cottages but there are shared facilities and carry along personal toiletries and towels.
Other accommodations with in Murchison Falls National Park can be used including Paraa safari lodge, Sambiya lodge, Nile safari lodge, Red Chillis Campsite. Masindi town also has accommodation towns available that you can book for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo forest. There are different options available that you can book. Ensure to stay in accommodations that provide better access to the briefing point.
What Is The Age Limit For Chimpanzee Trekking In Budongo Forest
12 years and beyond is the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest. Chimpanzee trekking safaris include moving in the forest where chimpanzees are free to move and locating time is hard to determine. The children below this age may not get the opportunity to move freely in the forest.
When you finally locate the chimpanzees, every tourists is expected to behave as per the rules of the chimpanzee rules. However children below 12 years may not be in position to abide by all of the rules. The chimpanzees are very sensitive to intruders in there vicinity so in case any of the visitors violet the rules, these primates may charge.
Are Chimpanzees Dangerous In Budongo Forest
Chimpanzees in Budongo are not dangerous primates even though they can charge when provoked. Before opening the chimpanzee community to the public, they are first habituated till they are ready to be opened to the public. Even Chimpanzee habituation experience happens in Budongo forest where semi-habituated chimpanzees survive.
Before moving in the forest to search for chimpanzees, tourists must attend briefing where the dos and donot of this adventure are explained in details. Every tourists is expected to abide by these rules because they have been proved to be some of the reasons when the chimpanzees may change in mood.
Try not to use flash photography when taking photographs of the chimpanzees because this may scare them and push the entire community into hiding.
Eve when you see some odd behaviors amongst the chimpanzees, donot panic but wait for the ranger guide to find the reason for there reaction. Ensure to abide by the new instructions in order to keep order in the forest. Sometimes you may be required to try showing submission, or try eating some foliage, Remember one hours is allowed with these chimpanzees so there presence during this hour is very important.
What are the rules of Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
In case you catch a communicable infections like flu, cough, covid 19, volunteer to stay behind so that you donot spread this infection to the highly susceptible mountain gorillas.
Donot dump garbage in the wilderness as this is where the chimpanzee thrive.
Avoid provoking or mimicking the chimpanzees as you donot know what you may be communicating. Try not to stare into the eyes of the chimpanzees because this may cause them to get suspicious
In case you wish to defecate as the ranger guide to dig a hole for you about 30 cm deep and burry well beyond recognition.
Never go into the park for gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest without a ranger guide.
Wear a clean mask and hand sanitise before entering Budongo foresta measure adopted after the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent chances of passing the virus to the vulnerable primates. Do immunize for covid-19 before travelling for chimpanzee safari in Budongo
Feeding the chimpanzees in Budongo forest is forbidden because they are wild animals that must seek there own food and not depend on human supply.
As you take photos, donot use a flash light as you may scare these primates that are very sensitive to new occurrences in there presence.
Only one hour is allowed with the chimpanzees so that you can let them go about there daily affairs.
The age limit for chimpanzee trekking is 12 years and over while chimpanzee trekking age limit allows children to understand the importance of the ecosystems at a younger age
Before entering the forest ensure you are in the company of atleast a ranger guide. The forest has other inhabitants that may not be friendly with your presence Contact Us