Where And How To Do Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Uganda

Where And How To Do Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda has its prime destination as Kibale National Park. Uganda currently hosts about 5000 chimpanzees according to the recent population census but approximately 1500 chimpanzees are residents of Kibale National Park.

While on Uganda chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale National Park, you may also engage in chimpanzee habituation experience in this park which allows you to spend atleast four hours with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community. BOOK A SAFARI

Other chimpanzee trekking destinations of Uganda include Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary and other destinations.

Booking a chimpanzee trekking permit is important for one to be allowed to participate in wilderness adventure. Most of the Uganda chimpanzee trekking destinations have two sessions that is in the morning and afternoon.

During the dry season that is June to September and December to January demand for chimpanzee permits of Uganda is high creating scarcity as the season opens. It is best to book the chimpanzee trekking permits for Uganda atleast 3 months to 6 month in advance especially if you hope to travel in the peak season.

The wet season that is normally the low tourism season in Uganda may offer chance to last minute chimpanzee trekking permits. This is because there is less demand for chimpanzee safaris in the low season which is March, April, May and November.

When trekking to find the chimpanzees in Uganda, you may encounter other primates in most destinations like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey and others.

The Uganda Wildlife authority is the body responsible for taking care, regulating and selling chimpanzees trekking permits in Uganda.

Where to do chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda?

Kibale National Park

Kibale forest is one of the tropical rain forests in Uganda that hosts about thirteen primate species including the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees live in communities with an alpha male as there leader. At the moment, the park has about 12 chimpanzee communities with about four of them fully habituated to human presence.

Each day two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Kibale National Park that is from 0800 hour and 1400 hours. The Kibale chimpanzee trekking adventure may last between 2 hours to 5 hours depending on factors prevailing in the forest. The most visited chimpanzee communities on Kibale National Park are the Kanyanchu communities since 1993. The Kanyantale community is also part of those available for tourists to visit.

Other primate species present in Kibale National Park include Bush babies, L’Hoest’s, Potto, olive baboons, black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey and others. A plethora of birds more than 370 species including about 23 albertine endemics are present in Kibale National Park. more that 120 mammals may be spotted in Kibale forest too. Botanists have plenty to research about in this pristine forest.

Children activities are available in Kibale National park as parent go on chimpanzee trekking. There is a well trained children’s ranger guide who can help the children to enjoy and learn more about the eco system. The children of below 12 years may do activities like batik making, pond dipping, Cyanotype, photography and much more.

At the moment the cost of Kibale Chimpanzee trekking permits is

$200 for foreign nonresidents

$150 for foreign residents

150000shs for East Africans

Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzee trekking experience on Kyambura gorge takes you to the floor of the Albertine Rift valley where queen Elizabeth National Park is placed. The Kyambura gorge is about 100 meters deep resulting from the erosion of River Kyambura as it finds its way towards Kazinga channel. This is the underground forest.

This forested gorge has steep slopes where you may be required to hike in order to get to the chimpanzees. Before descending into this gorge you can spot the standing Rwenzori ranges and surrounding savannah plains where several other wild animals especially ungulates feed.

Each day, two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Kyambura gorge that is in the morning from 0800 hours and 1400 hours from the fig tree camp. You must attend briefing so that you are advised about what you are expected to do and guidelines on how to behave while with the chimpanzees.

The current cost of chimpanzee trekking permits for Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is

$50 for international nonresidents

$40 for international residents

30000shs for East Africans

Kaniyo Pabido forest and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park

Other than the stunning scenery of Murchison Falls National Park, taking chimpanzees trekking in Kaniyo pabidi forest is exceptional. From the Masindi Paraa road, Kaniyo Pabidi forest is about 8 kilometers from Kicumbanyombo gate. You can book to do chimpanzee trekking in the morning or afternoon session.

This forest has some of the few fully grown Mahongany and ironwood trees in Uganda during chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest, you may encounter other primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, and others.

Numerous bird species are residents of this forest like chocolate backed kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, puvel’s Illaposis and several others.

Budongo forest chimpanzees are exciting to find as they are some of the quickest to locate. The BUndongo chimpanzees are under the care of National Forestry and a private organization. You have less obstruction while on chimpanzee trekking adventure in Budongo forest. It is like a more private activity in the company of the ranger guide who are knowledgeable and exciting to be in company with.

At the moment, the cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Budongo forest is about $90 per person.

Kalinzu forest Reserve

At the periphery of Queen Elizabeth National Park is Kalinzu forest where more than 50 chimpanzees find home. This community of chimpanzees is mainly used for research purposes but during the peak season and chimpanzee permits have run out, this chimpanzee reserve is opened for public visits.

Look out for other forest dwellers like the monkey species, several birds, stunning sceneries and much more.

Semuliki National Park chimpanzee trekking

The Semuliki National park chimpanzees are mainly used for scientific research purposes because the environment they live in is quite different from where other chimpanzees in Uganda live. There habitant is mainly composed of drier vegetation.

Chimpanzees in this park also have odd traits according to scientists as sometimes they try to walk on only the hind legs which brings them more closer to humans. Chimpanzees walk with there four limbs that is knuckle locomotion.

Finding chimpanzees in Semuliki National Park is a chance opportunity although you can still visit in case your safari in not on rush program. Chimpanzees here still posses the wild behaviors so keep swinging from tree to tree in search for food and others day supplies. You may also visit the Sempaya hot springs.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary is the second home to abandoned, orphaned, rescued chimpanzees that cannot be returned back to there local communities. This chimpanzee sanctuary is under the care of CSWCT that is Chimpanzee sanctuary and wildlife Conservation Trust (Jane Goodall Institution)

You may participate in feeding these chimpanzees from the visitor platform in case you arrive at the Island during feeding time. Watch survival for the fittest come into a reality as these primates strive to catch something to feed on.

You can visit the Ngamba Island in Koome Lake Victoria on the day of your departure as long as your flight is schedules for the evening.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center ( UWEC)

By taking a guided walk in the Uganda Wildlife Education center in Entebbe, you get chance to spot some chimpanzees in there exhibit. These chimpanzees are also rescued so this is there second home. This center is like the summary for all the wild animals in the Uganda national Park. You get chance to spot other animals and birds that you may not have chance to spot in the wild.

How to book chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda

Chimpanzee permits are sold per day and so you need to select a date when you hope to visit these Uganda destinations.

For chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and Kyambura gorge, you have to find permit availability from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

At Arch safaris And Tours, we can assist you book the Uganda chimpanzee trekking permits when you contact us plus related amenities like accommodation, vehicle hire, driver guides and others.

When you contact us about wishing to do a chimpanzee trekking adventure and provide all the necessary details, our safari consultant checks availability from the list of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

You can also directly contact Uganda wildlife Authority to find chimpanzee permit availability.

As soon as we have positive feedback on the Uganda chimpanzee permit availability, our consultant gets back to you but try to purchase your gorilla permit as soon as possible. This is because they sell out fast especially of destined to travel for this safari in the high season. The high Uganda tourism season is normally June, July, August, September, December and January.

On chimpanzee trekking day, you need to arrive at the briefing point early so that your permit is registered and verified.

Is it safe to do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Uganda is safe for chimpanzee trekking safari but you must follow the guidelines of this adventure as presented during briefing. The forest where these chimpanzees are under the watch-full eye of well trained ranger guides who are there to protect the primates, there habitat and the visitors.

The ranger guides work with other Uganda security agencies to keep law and order in these forested places.

Each tourist group going for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is led by atleast two ranger guide one holding a machete while another carries a rifle in case an emergency occurs. The radio call service they carry is used for communication in case backup is needed.

As a tourist, you must not enter the forest without a ranger guide as you may encounter other forest dwellers that may hurt you. Donot drag behind although the ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker.

When with the chimpanzees try not to provoke or mimic them because you donot know what you may be communicating.

What is the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

The age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is 12 years and over. Chimpanzee trekking includes walking in the forest which may be a little scaring to children below this age. Time of finding the chimpanzees is not easy to determine yet children below this age get tired very fast. This is why the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda was set to 12 years and over.

Is it worth doing chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking adventure in Uganda is worth your planning as you get to see the closest human relatives in there natural setting other than in the confines. Chimpanzees have about 98% human DNA and posses some human characters like grooming, feeding infants, disciplining, playing and much more. You may wish to spend the entire day looking and following these primates but just one hour is allowed with them.

When you purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit, you contribute to the conservation of the chimpanzees which are an endangered primate specie.

Hiring a porter while on chimpanzee trekking adventure gives you chance to give back to the community. Some of the porters where former poachers and now are reformed and they are now the voice of Uganda Wildlife Authority in the community about the need to conserve the chimpanzees and there habitants.

How difficult is chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in different destinations but generally the topography of these areas is fairly flat so even children of 12 years may have chance to see these primates. You need to also have some level of fitness so that not to get so tired before locating the chimpanzees. You may request for a walking stick for extra support in case you it.

Pack and wear the right chimpanzee trekking gears so as not to get hurt while in the jungle.