Where to Carry Out Chimpanzee Trekking safaris in Uganda
Where to Carry Out Chimpanzee Trekking safaris in Uganda: Despite being of the endangered species that are rarely found in different parts of the world, Uganda is among the few luck destinations in Africa if not globally to host chimpanzee populations in their natural environment. The country is endowed with various wildlife species, including chimpanzees, and it has the highest number of chimpanzees in the whole world, harboring in different forests across the country.
Uganda chimpanzee tours can be done in several places within the country where chimpanzees have been habituated and used to human presence around them. In all the places the activity is done for 1 hour and this is believed to be enough time for tourists to learn about their habits, watch them carry out activities, and later leave them in the wild.
Where to carry out Uganda chimpanzee tours
Kibale Forest National Park
This is the top place where travellers can carry out chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda. It is known as the primate capital of the world, Kibale Forest National Park is the best place to see chimpanzees in Uganda. It’s a thick tropical rainforest harboring the highest number of chimpanzees in the whole world. Over 1500 chimpanzees are living within this forest and some of these have been habituated as others are still going through habituation.
Chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation are currently being done in Kibale Forest National Park to allow tourists to get an opportunity to be close to these primates around them. Chimpanzee trekking is a 1 hour activity whereas chimpanzee habituation is 4 hours activity around chimps that comes with an opportunity of making the apes get used to human presence around them.
Kyambura gorge
This gorge is situated in the northeastern corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s one of the places where tourists can have chimpanzee tours while on a safari in Uganda. Not so many chimpanzees are found within this gorge but the few that are there some have been habituated for trekking activities.
Tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park not only have a chance to see different mammals within the park but also chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. A maximum of 8 people is allowed to trek these endangered chimpanzees in the morning while other 8 people can trek in the afternoon. Being around chimpanzees is strictly 1 hour and tourists are able to learn about the chimpanzee habits as they watch them carry out park activities.
Budongo forest
Budongo forest is among the places where travellers can carry out chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda is part of the famous Murchison Falls National Park in the northwestern part of Uganda. The forest is one of the blessed to be harboring endangered chimpanzees. It’s said that this forest has the second highest population of chimpanzees in the country. Some of these chimpanzees have been habituated and are used to human presence around them.
Tourists visiting Murchison Falls National Park for wildlife safaris have a chance to visit the chimpanzees of Budongo forest. A maximum of 8 people trek a chimpanzee family at a go and one hour is given to be around these primate species. This allows trekkers to learn about the chimpanzee habits, watch them carry out daily activities, take photos, and record videos.
Kalinzu forest
Another amazing destination for chimpanzee trekking is Kalinzu Forest. This forest is located in western Uganda in Bushenyi district. Nature walks through the forest expose tourists to wild and endangered chimpanzees as well as other wildlife species. Chimpanzee trekking tourists within this forest are guided by armed ranger guides who make sure that tourists and animals are safe throughout the activity.
Best time to Visit Uganda for chimpanzee trekking
After discussing places where travellers can carry out chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda, lets look at the best time for chimp trekking. Chimpanzee trekking can be done all year round however some months are more favourable than others. The dry months that run from June to August and from December to February offers the best time to conduct the chimpanzee trekking activity since during this period the park receives little to no rainfall. The roads connecting to the park are ever dry making them passable and the trekking trails are always dry and easily navigable.
Well, travellers can also visit the park during the rainy season particularly budget clients. During the months of March to May and September to November, the park receives much rainfall making the roads connecting the park muddy, slippery and hard to access with thick vegetation cover with obscure visibility of wildlife especially chimpanzees.
