Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda: Chimp Tours in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking Uganda means hiking into the forest looking for chimpanzees taking established trails. This kind of adventure offers you an opportunity to listen to the chimps as they moan, feed or play in the forest. Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda is among the major primate safari activities next to gorilla trekking safaris. In East Africa, Uganda is one of the countries with the best chimpanzee trekking spots which are among the top tourist places in the country. Chimp Tracking is part of the most enjoyable top things to do in Uganda for which tourists visit. Chimp tours are usually done in the morning hours and afternoons at various chimps habitats in Uganda as per the management standards. Chimpanzee trekking sites in Uganda include Kibale Forest National Park (This has the biggest number of chimpanzees in Uganda), Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve, Ngamba Island and Semuliki Game Reserve among others. Chimpanzee tracking or visitation fees range between USD 50 – 150 depending on the destinations of interest. However the fees may go up basing on the purpose like chimpanzee habituation or filming. Uganda Chimp trekking tours are usually done in 1, 2 or 3 days, all dependent upon the visitors’ available travel time and budget.

When you come to Uganda for safaris and tours, you may request for chimpanzee tracking to be part of the safari menu. You may combine gorilla and chimpanzee trekking adventures or add on for instance wildlife safaris in Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth National Park. A holiday trip to Uganda is well narrated when game safaris, chimp trekking, boat cruise adventures, mountain climbing are mixed with nature, cultural and community tours. Such safari combination if given many days can make your Ugandan vacation experience delightful and memorable. Book a chimpanzee trekking permit in advance since these park entry cards run out of stock at the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservation office. Especially Kibale chimp trekking permits run out of availability so fast.

Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government body that runs all the national parks and game reserves in the country. For effective chimp safaris and conservation, the body put some chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations to ensure the safety of the primates and the visitors. These trekking guidelines are aimed at balancing the freedom, health and stability of each part. It is always advised that visitors adhere to these trekking rules so chimps and conserved and protected for the present and future generations.

3 Days Chimps Trekking in Kibale National Park

This tour involves chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park and a nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

3 Days Kyambura Gorge Chimp Trekking

Do chimp trekking Kyambura Gorge plus boat cruise and game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

3 Days Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Tracking

Enjoy chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest plus game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park.

1 Day Tour to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Take a 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Lake Victoria and see chimpanzees feeding and playing.

2 Day Chimp Tracking Adventure in Kibale Forest

From Kampala, this trip involves chimpanzee tracking in Kabale National Park and Bigodi Wetland nature tour.

5 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking and Wildlife Safaris

Visit Kibale, trek chimpanzees plus a nature walk and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife safaris.

3 Days Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Come close to the closest relatives of man during a 3 day chimpanzee habituation experience in Kabale.

2 Day Kalinzu Chimp Trekking & Kazinga Boat Cruise

Enjoy a Kazinga Channel boat cruise and chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve.

Chimpanzee Safari Activities in Uganda 

Chimpanzee safari activities include chimpanzee trekking, habituation plus viewing and feeding in artificial confinements. The most preferred chimp tours are the chimpanzee trekking and habituation which takes place in the natural game reserves or forest. Places for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda include Kibale forest, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu and Budongo forest reserve among others.  Chimpanzee tours are usually in the morning and last between 2 to 3 hours. Chimpanzees are some of the most sought after primates by visitors after Mountain Gorillas. During chimps tracking especially in Kibale, look keenly for the white and black colobus, the grey cheeked mangabey or the red-tailed monkey. Your tracking guides will show you the different bird species and will also tell you in details the traditional names of the plant species.

On the other hand, Uganda also has options of seeing chimpanzees in confinements and there only two destinations where such primates are found. These include Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) where you will see chimps playing and moaning and Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria where these primates are seen during their feeding sessions. Booking in advance, the chimp-tracking permits is very crucial especially in high seasons.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda  

Chimpanzee tracking is usually a very captivating experience. And you are most of the time permitted to spend an hour with the chimps. In this period, you will notice them jump from a tree to another, feed, play or move hurriedly on the ground in front of you. Nevertheless, since the numbers of chimp permits for each day are limited in number, a visitor is advised to book a permit in advance to avoid disappointments.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is where one accompanies researchers on familiarization daily activities to see chimps in the forests. It is aimed at making them get used to people presence without changing their natural traits. During the habituation tour, presume meeting chimps de-nesting (in their night-time shells) in between 05.30 to 06.30 am before they go through the day until they create new nests at around 7:00 pm. The low season for Habituation Experience in Kibale by visitors is during the months of March, April, May plus November.

Visiting Confined Chimpanzees in Uganda

In case you want to see chimpanzees in Uganda that were brought from the wild to particular confinements, you will only find them at Entebbe and Ngamba Island. Chimps in these two tourist places are feed artificially unlike those that live in natural forests which hunt for their own food. A one day tour from Kampala or Entebbe will enable you visit chimps in Entebbe or Ngamba Island.

Chimpanzee Trekking Rules and Regulations to follow:- 

• Keep about 8 meters in between you and the chimpanzees.
• Persons with illnesses like diarrhea or flue may not be allowed to visit the chimps.

• Shun or avoid eating or drinking near the chimpanzees.

• Children below 12 years of age not allowed into the park.

• A Guide is the only person to help you get right of entry to the forest.

• Chimpanzees want liberty; therefore avoid provoking them once you visit them.

• Taking photos with a Flash on photography is not allowed in the park.

 What to Carry while Tracking Chimpanzees – What to Wear for Chimp Trekking

1. Put on shoes with good hold, right for hiking wet muddy hills
2. Carry a rain gear, since the weather in Uganda at times highly changeable
3. Take with you enough sipping water plus a few cocktail snacks to eat
4. Bring a pair of binoculars for effective visibility
5. Many tourists feel at ease when putting on long-sleeved clothes to protect against piercing thickets as they walk through the green forest
6. While shooting photos, keep in mind that camera flashes is strictly not allowed. It is good to fast film or set your camera properly.

Are there Chimpanzees in Uganda?

Yes there are chimpanzees in Uganda with Kibale National Park having the biggest number estimated at around 1500 individuals living in 13 communities. Out of these, some groups have been habituated among whom some are for scientific study whereas other like those of Kanyanchu group for tracking. Besides Kibale, there are also chimps in Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, Ngamba Island and Entebbe Zoo.

Where Can I See Chimpanzee in Uganda? Chimp Spots in Uganda

It is possible to visit and see chimpanzee in the natural forests and in the zoo in Entebbe. Chimp spots in Uganda include Kibale national park, Budongo forest in Murchison Falls national park and Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National park. You can also find chimps in Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve, Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe.

Where can you see wild Chimpanzees in East Africa?

The following are top 7 places to trek chimpanzees in the East Africa. These chimpanzee places are found in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. They include Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu forest in Uganda. Rwanda has Nyungwe Forest National Park and Cyamudongo Forest and you can trek chimpanzees in Tanzania in Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe Stream National Park.