Best Places to See Chimpanzees In Uganda :The Greatest Locations in Uganda to See Chimpanzees With the greatest number of primate species both inside and outside of Africa living in its tropical and sub-tropical rainforests, including chimpanzees, various monkey species, and endangered mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Uganda has been dubbed the primate capital of Africa. When it comes to chimpanzees, you need to be aware of the top places to observe them in Uganda. Here are a few of them.
Best Places to See Chimpanzees In Uganda
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is situated in Kabarole and Kibale in western Uganda. The park, which was gazetted in 1995, is home to more than 1500 chimpanzees in addition to other species and birds. Chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoests monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Uganda red colobus, grey checked mangabeys, Demidoff galago, potto, patas monkey, and Uganda mangabey are among the 13 primates that call the park home.
In Kibale Forest National Park, chimpanzees live in groups of more than 100 people, led by a dominant male who supports each family member while ensuring that the group’s hierarchies are upheld. There are eleven habituated chimpanzee families in Kibale Forest National Park that are accessible for hiking. For the morning trekking session, there are 56 permits for chimpanzees, and for the evening trekking session, there are 36 permits.
Those who are older than 12 years old are permitted to trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, provided they obtain a valid chimpanzee permit, which costs $200 for international nonresidents, $150 for foreign residents, and Shs150,000 for East African nationals. This includes the park entrance charge and a guide fee.
Visitors can participate in the daily chimpanzee habituation activities conducted by park rangers and researchers at Kibale Forest National Park. The process of acclimating chimpanzees to human presence is known as chimpanzee habituation, and it takes place at Kibale National Park during the rainy seasons of March, April, May, and November. Both international residents and nonresidents must pay $250 for chimpanzee habituation licenses in Kibale Forest National Park, while East African natives must pay Shs200,000.
Accessing Kibale Forest National Park
From Kampala or Entebbe, you may go by road to Kibale via Mityana, Mubende, Fort Portal, and Kibale. When you go by road, you may see happy people and various hills and mountains in full view.
Air travel is another way to get to Kibale Forest National Park. For chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation, you may arrange a flight from Kajjansi or Entebbe international airport to Nyakisharara or Kasese airports near Mbarara. From there, you can drive to Kibale Forest National Park.
Budongo forest
Located in the Masindi section of Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest is one of the greatest locations in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking. With more than 600 chimpanzees, 470 tree species, 70 animals, and nine primates, the park is now Uganda’s largest natural forest. After becoming acclimated, a small group of chimpanzees is now accessible for trekking.
The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Budongo Forest is $80 per person per trek. While trekking, you may see lions, buffaloes, leopards, and elephants, as well as other primate species like blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and red checked mangabeys.While there is just one resort in Budongo Forest, the Budongo Eco resort, visitors may stay at lodges near Murchison Falls National Park, which offers chimpanzee trekking and animal game drives.
Kyambura Gorge
The Kyambura Gorge, often referred to as the Valley of Apes, is a tropical forest situated in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. Numerous primates, birds, and animals, including elephants and hippos, may be found in the canyon. Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity here, and it is done both in the morning and the evening. All of the chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge have become acclimated to humans, a process that takes around two years.
Both international residents and nonresidents must pay $80 for chimpanzee hiking permits in Kyambura Gorge, while East African nationals must pay Shs30,000. A nature walk and a guide charge are included in these prices.
Getting to Kyambura Gorge
From Kampala/Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield, Kyambura Gorge is accessible by road and air.
The Kyambura Gorge may be reached by road from Kampala city, passing via Masaka Mbarara and Bushenyi on the way there. You go around 420 kilometers on your trip. With road transportation, travelers may see the mountain Rwenzori National Park, halt near the equator at Kayabwe, take a quick drive through Lake Mburo National Park, and stop at Igongo Cultural Center.
By air
From Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport, you may take an airplane to Mweya Airstrip, Kasese, or Ishasha, from which you can drive a short distance to reach Kyambura Gorge.
The Kalinzu Forest
Bushenyi area in the southwest of Uganda is home to Kalinzu, a central African forest reserve. Although there are other creatures in this forest, including blue monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and more than 380 bird species, chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity there.
About 50 of more than 320 chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest are habituated for tourists, while the remaining ones are available for chimpanzee habituation experiences. It costs $150 per person to trek with chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, and it costs $220 per day to obtain a permission to do so. Trekking begins with a briefing when you are taught the laws and regulations of trekking. Trekking may be done in the morning at 8 am or in the evening at 2 pm.
Getting into Kalinzu Forest
Through Mbarara Kasese, one may reach Kalinzu Central Forest from Kampala/Entebbe City. With breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, the trip takes around five hours.
- Guidelines for trekking with chimpanzees
- You are not allowed to provoke chimpanzees
- You are not allowed to use flash cameras to take pictures as it could alert chimpanzees
- You are not allowed to litter while trekking chimpanzees
- To reduce the chance of exposure, anyone who have contagious illnesses such the flu, cough, or diarrhea are not permitted to trek chimpanzees.
- Because chimpanzees become hostile when they meet unknown faces, visitors are never permitted to hike with chimpanzees alone. Instead, they are always accompanied by a ranger guide.
- A certain chimpanzee family may only be tracked by eight persons every session, and trekking chimps must be at least 12 years old.
- Chimpanzees are only permitted to spend an hour with visitors.