Best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda; Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting and the second best done activity in Uganda after Gorilla trekking. Chimpanzee trekking involves travelers moving into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Uganda is known for harboring the highest number of chimpanzees and chimpanzee trekking is done in different destinations that is Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest and Budongo forest.

Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda

Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital is located in the western part of Uganda in Kabarole district. Kibale forest national park is the best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda due to the fact that it harbors the highest number of chimpanzees. The national park is a home of 13 primate species including over 1,500 chimpanzees and other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons among others.

Kibale forest national park also offers chimpanzee habituation experience where the wild chimpanzees are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale forest national park takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and tourists who engage in the experience will be allowed to spend four hours with the chimpanzees in their habitat.

Kalinzu forest

Kalinzu forest is another chimpanzee destination located in western part of Uganda in Bushenyi district. Kalinzu forest is a home of 6 different primate species including over 320 chimpanzees, other primates like red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others.

Kyambura gorge

Kyambura gorge is another chimpanzee trekking destination located in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda.

Budongo forest

Budongo forest is yet another chimpanzee trekking destination located in Murchison falls national park which is the largest protected area in Uganda. Budongo forest also offers chimpanzee habituation experience where the chimpanzees are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo forest is only done in the low season during the months of March to May and October to November.

Chimpanzee trekking experience

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda that is Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 6 people where each group will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with different trekking trails. Trekking of chimpanzees in Uganda takes about 2 hours to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, view different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch chimpanzees feed, play, breastfeed, fight, hunt, mate, rest, take photos and record the beautiful moments to show people back home after the safari.

Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period, there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore chimpanzee trekking trails and access roads will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.

Cost of chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda

Cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary according to the chimpanzee destination you wish to visit for example a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge costs 50 USD per person for foreign non residents, 40 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents and 85 USD per person for East African citizens.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest national park costs 200 USD per person for foreign non residents, 150 USD per person for foreign residents and 150,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

How to book chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority where you will contact the park offices on email or telephone calls. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and chimpanzee destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your preferred dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once we receive the money, we will acquire the chimpanzee trekking permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

What to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

When going for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, there are a number of items that you should pack or carry including insect repellent, long sleeved shirt and trouser, cotton socks, hiking shoes, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, back pack among others.

Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting activity in Uganda that can be done in Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest or Kyambura gorge depending on your preference. For more information about the best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various chimpanzee trekking packages.