Chimpanzee Trekking in Murchison Falls National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Murchison Falls National Park is one of the incredible activities that tourists can enjoy on their safari, which is done in the Budongo Forests situated in the southern sector of the park and is part of the Murchison Falls conservation area. The forest is home to various wildlife species and tree species. It hosts over 360 bird species, and bird lovers will call it a haven for bird watching, with various unique bird species, 450 tree species, including mahogany trees and over 30 chimpanzees found in this amazing forest.
Chimpanzee trekking allows primate lovers to come up close to these awesome creatures and learn more about their behaviours. Visitors will also encounter other primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, red-tailed monkeys, and mangabeys. If you are planning a safari in Murchison Falls National Park, consider adding chimpanzee trekking to your bucket list.
Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Murchison Falls National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing at the headquarters, where participants are briefed about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. Participants are grouped into groups of eight, each assigned a game ranger who is more knowledgeable about the forest inhabitants and gives more insightful information about the wildlife species that you may encounter. Trekking has two sessions, the morning session, which starts at 7 am and the afternoon session, which starts at 3 pm, both providing a unique and memorable chimp trekking experience. The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National Park is 15 years.
It takes 1 to 4 hours to complete the activity, depending on the movements of the chimps as they keep moving from place to place in search of food. Once located, participants are given one hour to observe and learning more about their behaviours. You will see how they feed, play from tree to tree, mothers cuddling the young ones, and how the Alpa protects its group. Which is one in a lifetime experience, chimpanzees are believed to be our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% human DNA.
Best Time to do Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National Park can be done throughout the year, and the best time depends on the individual’s preferences. The park experiences two seasons: the dry season and the wet season, both offering exceptional experiences. According to reviews from past travellers, the dry season runs from June to September and from December to February is the best time to see chimps. During this period, there is little to no rainfall, the vegetation cover is short, and the trails are dry, making it easy to penetrate the forest.
Chimpanzee trekking can also be done during the wet season, which runs from October to November and March to May. The park receives heavy rainfall in this period, and the trails are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate the forest. However, during this period, there is abundant food in the forest, which makes trekking easy, as chimps don’t move deep into the forest in search of food. This season also favours budget travellers as lodges and travel companies give discounts during this season.
