Best Destinations for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Uganda is a top wildlife destination that offers unique adventure primate experiences from the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and chimpanzees in Kibale National Park to the stunning wildlife that roams its diverse habitats, which are unmatched compared to other countries on the continent. Unquestionably, one of the most unusual experiences you will have on the continent is going on a primate safari in Uganda. With more than 20% of its territory set aside for wildlife reserves, the nation is mostly unspoiled, allowing Uganda safaris to focus on its stunning nature. Below are the best destinations for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda that offer exceptional experiences.
Gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is a top destination in Africa, if not globally, famous for housing half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. The park is home to over 459 mountain gorillas that are distributed into its four head trails of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. This makes it a popular destination and one of the best places on earth to experience gorilla trekking, which offers visitors a chance to come up close and personal with these gentle giants in their natural wilderness.
Mgahinga National Park- Best Destinations for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
With a total area of 33.7 km², Mgahinga National Park qualifies as Uganda’s smallest national park. This park was declared a game sanctuary in 1930 and later established as a national park in 1991, primarily to protect and conserve the rare mountain gorillas and the endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat. Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the only two parks in Uganda that offer exceptional gorilla trekking experiences.
Despite having only one gorilla family, Mgahinga’s Nyakagezi gorilla family offers visitors an amazing experience due to its higher number of silverbacks than any other family. This gorilla family is always in an open space and less congested, giving a clearer viewing option. Besides being a wildlife and primate destination, this park has a rich cultural significance, particularly the Batwa people, commonly known as the “forest custodians,” of Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park, commonly referred to as “the primate capital of the world,” is a top primate destination in Uganda and Africa. Kibale National Park is best known for a varied resident primate population with an impressive list of 13 primate species, including the highest concentration of intelligent chimpanzees, with a population of over 1450. Several chimpanzee groups have been habituated and are ready for tracking using experienced and professional guides at Kanyanchu River Camp.
During guided forest walks, you may come across several other primate species, such as the red colobus, red-tailed, blue, L’hoest, black and white colobus, and Vervet monkeys; bush babies; grey-cheeked mangabeys; olive baboons; and several bird species.
Budongo Forest- Best Destinations for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
It is a tropical rainforest located in the southern part of Murchison Falls National Park that offers a unique and exciting wildlife experience compared to other primate destinations. Budongo Forest is an exceptional destination that offers a more serene environment for chimpanzee trekking experiences, where visitors are guaranteed an 80% sighting rate of these intelligent creatures. These chimpanzees participate in mediational learning with the ability to figure out problem-solving skills that allow them to solve problems based on the experience and information that they collate over multiple trials and reflect upon. Therefore, this requires an ability to compute relationships among a variety of things and events.
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is another unique destination famous for its chimpanzee trekking experience and other wildlife species. This scenic gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda. Although Kyambura Gorge is a less popular destination for many visitors, its chimpanzee trekking experience is quite rewarding.
Other primate destinations in Uganda include
Ngamba Island
Ngamba Island is a primate sanctuary located on Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, that was established to rescue the orphaned chimpanzees as a result of the bushmeat trade through primate trafficking, animal tracking, or wildlife smuggling, among others. As of the time of writing, the sanctuary has over 55 orphaned chimpanzees. Visitors are immersed in a unique adventure experience that enables them to interact, watch, feed, and play with these creatures, providing a safe and nurturing atmosphere.
Approximately 95 acres of natural forest, where the chimps roam and feed daily, make up this sanctuary, which was established in 1998. Visitors who can watch the feeding from a viewing platform are delighted to learn that they are supplementing their meals many times a day. In addition, the chimps are free to spend the night in the forest or go back to their enclosures to create nests and eat dinner.
Kalinzu Forest- Best Destinations for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Kalinzu Forest is a protected forest reserve located in southwestern Uganda; it is best known for its diverse ecosystem, a natural habitat with stunning wildlife species. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of those few wildlife destinations whose tropical rainforest lush vegetation is one of the primary activities that offers visitors a chance to have a close encounter with the lively chimpanzees.
Bugoma Forest
This is one of the central protected forest reserves, a tropical rainforest located in western Uganda, Hoima district, with over 500 chimpanzees contributing 10% of Uganda’s total chimpanzee population. Other primate species to see include the red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, among others.
This Central Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1932, and in 2003 it was declared a national protected forest reserve under the National Forest Authority. Recently, it was officially opened for chimpanzee trekking on August 15, 2024, and the cost of chimpanzee trekking is USD 80 per person as of the time of writing. However, on rare occasions, you may encounter forest buffaloes, forest elephants, Uganda Kobs, several monkey species, and birds.
Visiting these primates in their natural environment is a foundation for increasing awareness and encouraging sustainable tourism. Moreover, it provides a favourable environment that is consistent with their well-being. The laws and regulations as part of the conservation strategy must be followed.
