Chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda; Chimpanzee trekking is an exciting activity in Uganda which involves moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their environment.  Chimpanzee trekking tour is the second best done activity that attracts big numbers of tourists in Uganda after gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Where to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital is located in western park of Uganda and it’s the most visited chimpanzee destination in Uganda because it harbors 13 primate species including 1,500 chimpanzees and other primate species like grey cheeked mangabey, black and while colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons among others. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park is done in two schedules that I the morning schedule which starts at around 8:00am and the afternoon schedule which starts at around 2:00pm thus Chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.

Kalinzu forest

Kalinzu forest is located in southwestern part of Uganda in Bushenyi district and it’s the second best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda after Kibale forest national park. Kalinzu forest is a home of more than 300 chimpanzees and chimpanzee trekking is done in two shifts that is in the morning and the afternoon.

Kyambura gorge

Chimpanzee trekking is also done in Kyambura gorge which is located in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is done twice a day that is the morning schedule which starts at around 8:00am and the afternoon schedule which starts at around 2:00pm.

Budongo forest

Budongo forest is located in Murchison falls national park and it’s another destination in Uganda that offers the interesting chimpanzee trekking activity. Budongo forest is a home of more than 800 chimpanzees and trekking is done in two schedules the morning schedule and the afternoon schedule.

Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve

Chimpanzee trekking is also done in Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve which is located in western part of Uganda within Ntoroko and Kabarole districts.

Chimpanzee trekking experience

Chimpanzee trekking starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees takes about 30 minutes 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, birds, mammals, different plant and tree species and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, fight, play, rest, groom young ones among others thus Chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.

Cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda

A chimpanzee trekking permit is a legal card that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit any habituation family. Cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary depending on the destination for example a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale national park costs 200 USD per person for foreign non residents, 150 USD per person for foreign residents and 150,000 UGX for East African citizens.

 A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest costs 50 USD per person for foreign non residents, 50 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve costs 30 USD per person for foreign non residents, 30 USD per person for foreign residents and 20,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest during the low season costs 120 USD per person for foreign non residents, 110 USD per person for foreign residents and 80 USD per person for East African citizens while 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.

How to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority by contacting the offices via telephone calls or email. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When using a tour company, you will contact us with the dates and destination you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit and once we receive the money we will purchase the permits on your behalf

Best time to go for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda can be done all year round 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 park therefore chimpanzee trekking trails and access roads to the chimpanzee destinations will be passable.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can also be done in the wet season during the months of March to May and November because during the wet season there is plenty of food for the chimpanzees hence they will not be able to move deep into the forest in search of food therefore trekking will be easy thus Chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.

What to pack for your chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda

• Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm during morning hours and also prevent insects from entering your trousers.
• Hiking shoes to protect your ankles during trekking and also keep your feet dry
• Camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos of the chimpanzees during the one hour in their presence.
• Energy snacks and drinking water to keep you hydrated
• Insect repellent to protect you from biting insects such as tsetse flies and mosquitos
• Waterproof rain jacket/ poncho to protect you from rainfall because it can rain anytime of the day.
• A pair of binoculars to have clear views of the chimpanzees and other wildlife species such as birds.
• Backpack to carry your gorilla trekking items like insect repellent, camera, energy snacks, waterproof rain jacket among others.

For more information about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safari or visit our website for various chimpanzee trekking packages.