Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda; Price, Reviews & Best Photos

This Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda guide shares essential tips for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, the cost, best places, chimp permit information, etc for a successful chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Experience the thrill of Chimp Tracking in Uganda as you witness the remarkable similarities between these primates and humans and create lifelong memories.

Have you ever thought of finding out why Chimpanzees are considered to be relatives to Human beings? The only answer can be got when you go for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda‘s Kibale National Park for which is believed to be the home of a largest number of Chimpanzees in the whole world.

Chimpanzee Trekking refers to the wildlife activity where visitors are allowed to hike through the jungle following the trail left by habituated chimps to track Chimpanzees with the help of the guide.

In other words this trail involved visitors spending time with habituated chimpanzee families (about 10-100 chimps per group). These are also referred to as our relatives since they bare over 98% of our DNA, intelligence as well being social almost like Human beings.

During the primates trekking process, a visitors spend hours trekking in search of the Chimpanzees in the jungle and after locating a single group, your allowed to spend an hour (1 hour).

You will observe our fascinating relatives swing from one tree branch to another, play, feed, move around them since they like moving from one point to another to mention but a few while keeping a distance of 8-10 meters.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda is considered to be one of the most striking wildlife episode available in the country. Uganda possibly offers the best place for chimpanzee trekking in the whole of East Africa having over 5600 chimpanzees in the forests with a given number being habituated.

There are a number of chimpanzee tracking places in Uganda but having the main destinations as Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kyambura Gorge) and in Murchison Falls National Park (Budongo Forest Reserve).

Best Chimpanzee Tracking Destinations in Uganda:

Kibale Forest National Park;

Kibale Forest National Park is best destination for Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, located in Western part of the country and having the highest sightings over 99% with over 1500 Habituated Chimpanzees that can be trekked.

The chances of spotting the chimps in Kibale Forest is high due to the fact that park rangers always keep an eye on the movement of the wise primates so that visitors can fully enjoy the trek.

The Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park starts in the morning hours from 8:00am – the time of the time trek is unpredictable as it depends on the movement of the chimps, visitors are grouped into 6 members for every chimp family.

Not only a home of Habituated Chimpanzees, Kibale National Park is also a home of other 12 primate species including Central African Monkeys like Uganda red colobus, Uganda mangabey and the L’Hoest monkey, and other primates like black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey, etc.

For those who would like to have more time with our distant cousins in the jungle, Chimpanzee habituation experience safaris are available for visitors in Kibale Forest National Park.

Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Price in Kibale is largely determined by accommodation options, the season and extra services. The cost of a 3-day chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale can start from USD $700 per person for 2 people sharing.

Murchison Falls National Park (Budongo Forest Reserve);

Budongo Forest is located on the way as you proceed into Murchison Falls National Park. In this place, a single safari can merge different activities like hikes along the falls, boat cruises, game drives, and chimp tracking among others.

Budongo Forest Reserve is a home of about 600 to 700 Chimps having 6 groups for tracking with other different wildlife species like 359 bird species, 465 tree species, 289 butterfly species, 9 primate species, 24 mammals and 130 moths.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo depends on the location of the Chimps having a contact rate of 80% with an expected time of 30 min and above while allowed to spend an hour with any spotted chimpanzee group.

During the trek in Budongo, 6 groups of 3 people are allowed to track chimps in the morning and afternoon hours.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kyambura Gorge);

Kyambura Gorge is considered to be the third best destination for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda. It is located in the underground valley which is 16km long and 100m deep with flat vegetation bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This valley is considered to be the valley of Apes due to the fact that it harbors a large number of primates like baboons, colobus monkys, vervet monkys and so many others.

The chances of spotting Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge are less (60%) compared to those you would have in Kibale Forest (99%) and Budongo Forest Reserve (80%).

Visiting Kyambura Gorge you will get a chance of seeing other wildlife such as Elephants, Hippos, lions as you drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Chimpanzee Permit Costs;

Chimpanzee Tracking Permits vary depending on the choice of your destination to have your chimpanzee trekking safari. Below are the different permit prices attached by the governing board (UWA)

Kibale National Park: For Foreign nonresidents $200, Foreign residents $150 and East African Citizen 150,000 UGX.
Murchison falls National Park charges $130 for Foreign nonresidents, $120 Foreign residents and East African Citizen 150,000 UGX.
Kyambura Gorge-QENP: Both Foreign nonresidents and Foreign residents $50 and 30,000UGX
Chimpanzee habituation experience for both foreign nonresidents and foreign residents is $250 and 200,000 UGX for East African Residents.

The Best Chimpanzee Trekking Tour in Uganda It involves chimp tracking, gorilla trekking, bird watching, cultural tours, game drives and boat cruises.

Accommodation Options for Chimpanzee Tracking;

Where to Stay during Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

Accommodation has three classes ranging from Luxury, Mid-range and Budget services as seen below;

Accommodations in Kibale National Park;

Luxury like Primate lodge, Crater safari, Kyaninga, Chimpundu, Ndali lodge among others
Mid-range like Kibale Forest camp, Turaco Treetops, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House-Cottage, Mountain of the moon Hotel among others and finally
Budget facilities which include Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse-Main house and Kibale Forest Camp-non-self-contained safari tents.

Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park (Budongo Forest Reserve)

The lodges cater for a range from;

Budgets like the lazy cow accommodation, Grand suites Murchison, Mataki Motel among others.
Mid-rage like Amuka Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Fort Murchison Safari lodge and Pakuba Safari Lodge which is located near Albert Nile in the northwest provide the greatest choice of budget options.
Luxury accommodations like Twiga safari lodge, Kabalega Resort-Masindi, Murchison Backpackers and Baker’s Lodge which is popular and located in the south bank of the Nile among others.

Lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kyambura Gorge)

Budget accommodation, Pumba safari cottages, Mweya hostels and cottages, Simba safari comp, River Ishasha safari camp among others
Midrange accommodation, IncludBushe lodge-Mid-range, Non self-contained tents at Bush lodge, Marafiki safari lodge, Enganzi game lodge-midrange among others

Luxury accommodations. These include; Kyambura gorge lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Elephant plains lodge, Buffalo safari lodge, Elephant hab lodge, Queen Elizabeth lodge, among others.

Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda;

The best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda largely depends on the weather conditions (seasons). The dry seasons, which are generally considered the best time for trekking, are from December to February and June to September.

During the dry months, there is less to no rains, making the trekking trails dry and walkable. The chances of encountering chimpanzees are also higher as they tend to stay closer to the main trails and are easier to spot. The dry season also offers better photography opportunities with clearer skies and better lighting conditions.

However, it’s important to note that chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is possible throughout the year. The rainy seasons, which occur from March to May and October to November, may offer discounted prices on lodges due to fewer tourists. While trekking during these periods can be more challenging due to muddy trails and unpredictable weather, it can still be a rewarding experience.

Note, it’s advisable to book your chimpanzee trekking permits in advance, regardless of the time of year, as they are limited in number and can get booked quickly, especially during the dry/peak seasons.

Essential Rules for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda;

Consider a distance of 8 meters which controls the easy spread of diseases between animals and people.
Tracking is only recommended to people above 12 years because the forest is hard for the young to trek through.
You should have the guide to access or enter the forest
Avoid using flash lights when in the tracking jungle
Do not eat near chimpanzee
Avoid chasing Chimpanzees during the track
Maintain silent when on a track not to scare the animals a way.

Chimpanzee Trekking Packing List;

These are recommended for visitors planning to have any trip to trek Chimpanzees due to unpredictable weather conditions while in the jungle, Below is a list;

You are encouraged to wear Sturdy and comfortable hiking shoes that have good drip for climbing steep slopes
Carry rain gears
Enough dinking water and energy giving snacks
Binoculars
Insect repellants
Travel documents
Chimpanzee Permit

Chimpanzees Conservation Efforts in Uganda;

Uganda has undertaken several notable conservation efforts for chimpanzees. One significant initiative is the establishment and management of protected areas specifically dedicated to the conservation of chimpanzee populations, Kibale National Park is such an example.

Kibale has been designated as habitat for chimpanzees and is protected to ensure their safety and well-being. Strict regulations and monitoring systems are in place to control human activities within these areas and minimize disturbances to the chimpanzee populations.

Furthermore, Uganda has implemented community-based conservation programs that involve local communities in the protection of chimpanzees and their habitats. These programs aim to raise awareness about the importance of chimpanzee conservation, provide training on sustainable practices, and develop alternative livelihood options.

By engaging with local communities and addressing their needs, these initiatives reduce human-wildlife conflict and create a sense of ownership and responsibility among the community members towards the conservation of chimpanzees.

Additionally, research and monitoring programs are actively carried out in Uganda to gather data on chimpanzee populations, behavior, and habitat dynamics. This research helps inform conservation strategies and management decisions.

It also contributes to the scientific understanding of chimpanzees and supports the development of effective conservation policies. Chimpanzee habituation Experience is an example of research tours that are offered in Uganda’s Kibale Forest.

Other chimpanzee conservation efforts in Uganda include; Jane Goodall conservation in Budongo forest and Bugoma, Kyambura gorge, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary and Bugoma forests.

Overall, Uganda’s efforts in establishing protected areas, implementing community-based conservation programs, and conducting research play a vital role in safeguarding the future of chimpanzees in the country. By combining these initiatives with education and awareness campaigns, Uganda strives to ensure the long-term survival of chimpanzees and their ecosystems.

You may also be like; Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.

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