Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Uganda : Chimpanzee trekking is one of the best wildlife experiences in Uganda. This primate experience involves trekking through the rainforests in search of the playful chimpanzees that keep on swinging from one tree to another.
Chimpanzee trekking allows to step into the world of chimpanzees in the wild, led by rangers from Uganda Wildlife Authority in a small group of 8 people maximum. Chimp trek lasts about three hours including a maximum of one hour with the chimpanzees, during which you can expect to see them from a safe but intimate distance of 8-10 metres. Get up close and personal with the chimpanzees and discover their beauty, intelligence and social structures.
Chimpanzees belong to the family of great apes that include gorillas and orangutans. Because of their close relationship to humans, they have large brains and are very intelligent with ability to use tools like stone and sticks and also learn new things. Chimpanzee are believed to have the closest DNA to humans with 98%, these primates are known to be extremely playful and keep on moving from one place to another. They can also become aggressive once provoked.
Adult chimpanzee weight different basing on the sex that is an average adult female chimpanzee can weigh between 30 to 50 kgs at a height of 2 to 4 feet whereas a male adult can weigh between 35 to 75 kgs at a height of 3 meters.
Chimpanzees are social primates living in groups of 10 to 100 with one dominant male as the lender. With their high level of intelligence, they can easy take care of each other just like humans, hold hands, search for food, and care for the young ones. When a baby chimpanzee turns 4 years, they tend to become independent and start looking for their own food.
Where you can do chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
In Uganda, there are several places where you can trek to see chimpanzees. The most popular places are Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge and Budongo Forest. Both of these areas have their own groups of habituated chimpanzees.
Kibale Forest National Park
Home to over 1,500 chimpanzees in a tropical rainforest dominated area, Kibale Forest National Park known as the Primate Capital of the World is the best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda as well as Africa. Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park can easily be located thanks to their high number and the trekking is done twice a day that is in the morning and afternoon.
Kibale Forest is a remnant of a once huge central African rainforest, it covers 775 km on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. it is one of the most diverse and varied rainforests in Africa.
Kibale Forest National Park is ranked to be the best destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, in addition to chimpanzees you will also get to see other primates including the 12 other different primate species including red-tailed monkeys (or red-tailed guenons), Black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda red (or ashy) colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's (or mountain) monkey, Vervet monkeys, Olive baboons, Uganda mangabeys, Patas monkeys, blue (or diademed) monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, Prince Demidoff's bushbabies (galagos) and Bosman's Pottos.
In addition to chimpanzee Trekking Experience which offers 1 hour with the chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park offers Chimpanzee Habituation Experience offering you an opportunity to spend 4 hours with a semi-habituated chimpanzee troop.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forests starts from Kanyanchu Visitor Center at 08:00 and ends 15:00 and lasts 2-3 hours.
Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kyambura Gorge located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the northeastern corner. Kyambura Gorge is nicknamed “the valley of the apes” and is a product of centuries of erosion by the Kyambura River, the dense forest which covers the gorge sides is a prime habitat for chimpanzees.
Only 17 chimpanzees inhabit the gorge and the chances of seeing them are about 60%. The sights and sounds of the forest generate suspense and make a sighting even more rewarding. The forest of Kyambura Gorge is cut off from the larger forests like Kalinzu and Maramagambo where other chimpanzees live, a fact that has led them being called “the lost chimps of Kyambura”.
The Gorge is also home to many species of birds as well as primates including red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and vervet monkeys.
Note: It is a very steep hike down into the gorge. Trekking to see the chimpanzees of Kyambura is thus a taxing enterprise, but also an incredibly rewarding one!
Budongo Forest, Murchison Falls National Park.
The beautiful rainforest of Budongo Forest is the largest remaining tropical forest in East Africa, cover 825 m. This forest is under the protection of Jane Goodall Institute and there are several habituated chimpanzee groups here.
Budongo Forest also known as Budongo Forest Reserve is an excellent location for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Chances of seeing chimpanzees in Budongo forest is about 80% which is relatively higher than that of Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is good, and up to 6 guided groups of 3 people track the chimpanzees each morning and afternoon. The forest’s historical association with the Jane Goodall Institute mean that the interpretive guides are excellent at telling the wider story of the chimpanzee and forest.
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
A chimpanzee trekking permit refers to a legal document that gives access to the chimpanzee habitat. To take part in chimpanzee trekking you need to acquire a chimpanzee trekking permit which are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The cost of chimpanzee permit differs in various chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda as below.
| Destination | Category | Cost |
| Kibale Forest National Park | Foreign Non-resident | $ 250 |
| Foreign Resident | $ 200 | |
| East Africa Community Residents (EAC) | UGX 180,000 | |
| Kyambura Gorge | Foreign Non-resident | $ 100 |
| Foreign Resident | $ 80 | |
| East Africa Community Residents (EAC) | UGX 50,000 | |
| Budongo Forest | Foreign Non-resident | $ 230 |
| Foreign Resident | $ 120 | |
| East Africa Community Residents (EAC) | $ 85 |
These chimpanzee permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and you can only obtained through a registered local tour operator.
Facts About Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
- Chimpanzee Trekking Permits cost US$ 200 Per person. Two departure times per day are offered for chimpanzee trekking that is 8 am and 2 pm.
- Groups for chimpanzee trekking are limited to six people per group
- Before you head into the forests for a Chimp Trek, you are briefed by a ranger about the trek and what to expect.
- You can hire a porter to carry your backpack and help you over an difficult and slippery sections of the forest.
- Once briefed, your group sets off into the forest, led by your ranger. The forest is alive with birdsong and the calls of monkeys!
- Once you reach your chimpanzee troop, you spend one hour with them
- If you wish to spend more time with the chimpanzees, book a chimpanzee habituation experience (a chimpanzee habituation permits cost $ 250), allowing you four hours with a semi-habituation chimpanzee troop. These treks depart at 6 am.
What to pack for a chimpanzee trekking in Uganda Tour
When packing for a chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda, packing right is paramount to enjoy your experience to the maximum. Here are the essentials you need to carry in your bags.
- Insect repellent
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Bottled drinking water
- Long-sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid scratches on your body
- A walking stick to easy trekking
- A small backpack to carry a few essentials like cameras and extra batteries while trekking
- A sun hat and sunscreen
Chimpanzee Trekking Rules and Regulations
Chimpanzee trekking experience is governed by a set rules and regulations that visitors need to follow in order to have a successful experience. These were set up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the primates and visitors, these include
- Ill individuals are not allowed to participate in chimpanzee trekking, especially with flu and cough
- always keep a distance of 8 meters between you and the chimpanzees
- Religiously follow all the guidelines that are given to you by your guide always
- Eating and drinking in the presence of the chimpanzees is prohibited
- Do not urinate and poop in the park as this might cause the chimpanzees and other animals in the forest to fall sick. In case you want to poop, you must dig a hole of about 30cm deep and after that burry everything including the toilet paper
- The minimum age of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is 15 years
- Make sure that the camera you are using does not have a flashlight
- Do not make unnecessary noise while trekking as it irritate the chimpanzees and they end up migrating to another place in the forest.
How difficult is chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is not so difficult because the trekking is normally done following the flat trails in the forests. Since chimpanzees live at relatively low altitudes, this makes it easy to go for trekking.
Note: during the wet season, it becomes extremely hard due to the slippery nature of the trails.
Best time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?
In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking can be carried out all year round. However, the best time for chimpanzee trekking is during the dry season which is experienced between the months of June to September and December to January. The dry season is also known as the peak season, so you are advised to book your chimpanzee permits earlier.
During the dry season, the trails are passable and it is also easier to see the chimpanzee unlike in the rainy season when the trails are slippery and vegetation is dense. Chimpanzee trekking is can also be done during the wet season due to the presence of plenty of food for the chimpanzees making it easy for them to be spotted.
