What to know about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda : Chimpanzee trekking is among the safari activities that tourists engage in during primate tours around Uganda.
- Definition of chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is an activity which is done during tours around Uganda during which tourists visit the habituated groups of chimpanzees in their habitats and watch their behaviors and observe the chimpanzees.
The chimpanzee trekking experience takes place in the morning and also in the afternoon when visiting Uganda. A briefing is done before engaging in the chimpanzee trekking activity to inform individuals of the dos and don’ts of visiting the chimpanzees.
- Destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Places in Uganda where chimpanzee trekking is carried out include Kibale forest national park which is popular for chimpanzee trekking experiences, Kyambura gorge in south western Uganda and also Budongo forest in north western Uganda.
Kyambura gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth national park and Budongo forest is in Murchison falls national park.
The biggest number of chimpanzees can be seen when visiting Kibale forest national park which is also home to many other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’hoest monkeys among others.
However in Uganda, chimpanzees can also be seen at the Ngamba island sanctuary and in areas like Kalinzu forest.
- Cost of chimpanzee permits in Uganda
The cost of Chimpanzee permits in Uganda varies from one destination to another where the chimpanzee trekking experience is done.
In Kibale forest national park, chimpanzee permits cost 250 USD for foreign nonresidents, 200 USD for foreign residents and 180,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
Chimpanzee permits for trekking in Kyambura gorge cost 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 80 USD for foreign residents and 50,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
For chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest, chimpanzee permits cost 140 USD per person. These chimpanzee permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and can be booked through licensed tour operators.
- How to access chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda
Kibale forest national park can be accessed using two routes which include the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal route or the Kampala-Mbarara-Kamwenge route. Flights to the national park can be booked from Entebbe international airport to Kasese airstrip.
The Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park can be accessed by driving from Kampala to Kasese and proceeding to the southern banks of the Kazinga channel where the gorge is located. Another way to access the destination is by flying to Kasese airstrip or Mweya airstrip.
Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park can be accessed by driving from Kampala to Masindi and proceeding to the Kichumbanyobo gate which leads to the forest.
- Age restriction on chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
During chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda, individuals below the age of 12 years are not allowed to engage in the activity.
- Items to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
What to pack for the chimpanzee trek in Uganda includes items such as cameras, long sleeved shirts, long trousers, insect repellant, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, warm socks and also good hiking shoes.
- Rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
There are different rules and regulations put in place to be followed during chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda and they include no littering, no use of flash photography, no feeding the chimpanzees, avoiding noise in the forest, no eating in the presence of the chimpanzees, maintaining a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees among others.
These rules are for the safety of both the chimpanzees and individuals visiting the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
- Duration of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
The amount of time spent during the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda depends on the location of the chimpanzees in the forest.
Tourists can spend between 2 to 4 hours searching for the chimpanzees during the chimpanzee trekking experience. 1 hour is spent in the presence of the chimpanzees during the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda.
- Number of people allowed to visit chimpanzees
The Uganda Wildlife Authority limits the number of people visiting the chimpanzees in Uganda daily which means only a few people engage in chimpanzee trekking dally.
It is for this reason that tourist are advised to book their chimpanzee permits in advance to avoid missing out on the activity especially in the high seasons.
- Best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda takes place during any month of the year and the best time to visit the chimpanzees is during the dry season when it is easy to trek through the forests in search of the chimpanzees.
The dry season in Uganda is from June to October and also in December to February which is also part of the high season.
- Safety during chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
The chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda is safe because it involves visiting habituated chimpanzee groups. The activity is also done with ranger guides who are knowledgeable about the chimpanzee behavior and also know their way around the forests.
Tourists are also encouraged to follow the rules and regulations communicated during briefing about chimpanzee trekking for safety purposes.
- Other activities to apart from chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Around the destinations where tourists can engage in chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, other activities to do include;
Chimpanzee habituation is among the activities which tourists can also take part on when visiting Kibale forest national park and Budongo forest. During this activity, the individuals participate in the process of introducing chimpanzees to the presence of humans in their habitat.
Tourists can also enjoy the Bigodi walk when visiting Kibale national park and also engage in guided forest walks, hiking, bird watching and community tours.
When visiting Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking, tourists can also engage in guided nature walks, bird watching and safaris in Murchison falls national park.
In Kyambura gorge, tourists can also enjoy gorge walks, bird watching and safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park.
