Chimpanzee Tracking In Uganda
Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives to humans with 99% identical DNA and their brain is less than one third the size of human brain. They are considered to be one the most exciting animals to see on your Ugandan safari.
Uganda has a population of close to 5000 chimps distributed in various forests and game parks. Chimps are covered in coarse black hair, has a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. They have a life span of more than 60 years but rarely live past age 40 in the wild. Female chimps are slightly smaller in nature while male chimps can weigh up to 70kgs.
Chimpanzees live in communities with large male and female and always use tools when eating ants from anthills, in most cases larger males like putting on displays to command respect.
In Uganda Chimp tracking is done twice a day morning and evening because of conservation reasons.
Where to Trek Chimpanzees in Uganda
Ganyana safaris Uganda offer Chimpanzee tracking safaris in grounds like kibale forest national park, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, kalinzu forest reserve, Ngamba island in Lake Victoria were Chimps are habituated after being saved from captivity, and semliki game reserve.
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale forest national park is recorded to be one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in the pearl of Africa (Uganda).
It is a habitat to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primates and birds. Kibale national park is one the best safari destinations in Africa for its habituated chimpanzees and certainly the best place in Uganda to track man’s closest relative. The park covers an area of about 795km and famously known for chimpanzee tracking.
Upon reaching Kibale Forest, tourists engage in different activities which make their safaris estimable.
Top Activities in Kibale
Chimpanzee Trekking: This is the most popular activity in Kibale Forest as earlier mentioned, and the chance of locating chimps in this forest is 90%. Since Chimps are close to humans, they live in what is coined a “fission-fusion society” in which all community members know each other but feed, travel, and sleep in much smaller groups of six or fewer.
Chimpanzee Habituation: This is a specific experience of Chimps getting used to humans. In this case it’s a life time adventure because it allows tourists to be with the chimpanzees all day long in their natural setting that is why habituation permits are more expensive compared to trekking permits.
Bigodi Swamp Walk: This is one of the key areas visited when you pay a visit to Kibale forest national park. The Bigodi sanctuary offers chances of spotting mammals, rare primates and bird watching.
Kibale Forest Walk: The forest walk is also one these off the beaten track for tourists in this forest. The hike enables you encounter primates, birds and mammals like antelopes, bushbucks and many more.
Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru: These are caves near Kibale forest and were named after King Bukuku’s daughter Nyinamwiru. Exploring these caves gives you a deeper knowledge of the people living around the area and the Batoro cultural history.
Crater Lakes tour: These crater Lakes are found in area called Kasenda and they are over 50 crater Lakes enclosed off by steep volcanic slopes. Ganyana safaris highly recommend you to add the crater Lakes tour to your itinerary and hike up these volcanic slopes to perceive these crater Lakes.
Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest also known as Kaniyo Pabidi is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa as well as habitant to 600 chimpanzees of which a small number has been habituated for eco- tourism. The Budongo chimp tracking permit is cheaper compared to Kibale chimp tracking permit.
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura also known as “Valley of Apes” is found in the eastern of Queen Elizabeth national park. Tourists that have less time to go to Kibale Forest national park which is considered to be the best place to trek habituated chimps in the whole of Africa can go to kyambura gorge.
Kyambura gorge permits cost 50usd as compared to Kibale permits which cost 150usd because this gorge has only one party of chimps that is very mobile and sometimes clients fail to allocate these great Apes.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Forest formerly known as Maramagambo forest is found in Bushenyi District, 10 km west of Ishaka town on the Mbarara to Kasese Highway. This forest reserve is famous for Chimpanzee trekking, it has a total of 300 chimps about 40 are habituated. Being that Kalinzu chimpanzee trekking permits are cheaper than anywhere else in Uganda, this makes it perfect budget option for Chimpanzee trekking safaris.
Ngamba Island Sanctuary
Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary is home to 49 orphaned chimpanzees rescued from across East Africa. The sanctuary is located on Lake Victoria, 23 km southeast of Entebbe. Enjoy your visit as you participate in feeding and caring for the 49 chimps on Ngamba Island.
Are you interested in trekking chimpanzees on your Ugandan safari? Contact Ganyana safaris
