Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest is one of the best activities that visitors can enjoy on their African safari. It’s located in the Southern sector of Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. It is one of the best chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda, attracting many primate enthusiasts to come up close to these magnificent creatures. Budongo Forest is one of the largest natural rainforests in Uganda, covering approximately 825 square kilometers.
The forest is part of Murchison Falls National Park conservation area, known for harbouring over 280 butterfly species, which beautifies it, 451 tree species, including the mahogany and iron trees, 360 bird species and 23 mammal species and primates such as olive baboon, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest is a thrilling adventure that allows visitors to move on foot in the forest in search of these playful chimps and learn more about their behaviours in their natural habitat. Chimp trekking in Uganda is not only done in Budongo but also in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Kalinzu Forest.
Chimpanzee Tracking Experience in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee trekking in the forest begins with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity at Kaniyo Pabidi eco site, and later meet your assigned guide who will lead the group and give more insights about the wildlife species that you might encounter. Visitors will walk through the forest in groups of 8 in search of habituated chimpanzee families in their natural habitats. The trek takes about 1 hour to 4 hours, depending on their movements as they keep moving from place to place in search of food. Once located, visitors will spend one hour with them observing and learning more about their behaviours. They will see how they feed, mothers cuddling the young ones, playing from tree to tree just like humans.
Chimpanzees are our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% human DNA; watching them closely is a lifetime experience. Visitors will also have a chance to encounter other wildlife species like blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive monkeys, vervet monkeys, and various bird species. Visitors can also do chimpanzee habituation in Budongo Forest, where wild chimpanzees are accustomed to human presence.
Chimpanzee habituation is mainly done in the wet season, commonly known as the low season, from March to May and from October to November. This gives visitors an opportunity to spend four hours with these chimpanzees.
The Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee trekking can be done throughout the year, and the best time for chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest is determined by an individual’s interests. Chimps can be trekked in the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to September. During this period, there is no rainfall, and the trails are dry, making it easy to penetrate the forest. The wet season runs from March to May and from October to November, which is characterised by heavy rainfall. The forest is muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate the forest. However, this season favours budget travellers as lodges and tour companies tend to give discounts.
Where to stay on your chimpanzee safari
There are several accommodation facilities in the park which cater to all clients’ budget, ranging from standard accommodations to luxury accommodations which are eco-friendly and offer unique experiences to all visitors who visit the park. These include Paraa Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, New Court View Hotel, Eco Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, among more.
