Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Experience another thrilling activity in Uganda ( uganda chipanzee trekking) chimpanzees happen share almost 99% DNA with humans there by making them share close intelligence with humans. chimpanzee trekking in uganda takes place in Kibale forest National park , Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest both around queen elizabeth national park and budongo forest.
Guide to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda : Uganda is arguably one of the best places in the world to track chimpanzees as it hosts one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in the world recorded to be over 6000 chimpanzees in the wild and sizeable groups of habituated chimps which are tracked during chimpanzee tracking experience.
In Uganda, chimpanzee tracking can be done is several sites which are a home to chimpanzees and they include Kibale Forest national park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls national park. Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu Forest, Toro – Semuliki wildlife reserve, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Uganda Wildlife Education Center.
ABOUT CHIMPANZEES
Chimpanzees are one of the closest relatives to human beings sharing 98.8 percent of their DNA, chimpanzees grow to weight an average of between 35 and 70 kilograms for adult males and height of approximately 3 meters. Whereas, Adult females weigh an average between 26 and 50 with height of 4 feet.
A chimpanzee’s life’s expectancy is at 40 years for chimpanzee living free in the wild, whereas for the chimpanzee’s living in captivity the life expectancy extends up to 60 years.
Chimpanzees are very social animals, intelligent and very communicative, the chimpanzee portray fascinating traits which showcase their intelligence such as the ability to use tools like rocks to crush nuts, empty pods for hollowing out water plus sticks for capturing termites from their holes. These skills are passed on from one generation of chimps to another, researcher say that different troops of chimpanzees have special tasks which are based on their habitat and their diet.
Chimpanzees stay in groups of 10 – 100 members, they can babysit each other’s young, kiss, groom one another and show affection through gestures like holding hands, a young chimpanzee become independent at the age of 4 years.
Note: chimpanzees can be aggressive and unsociable most especially if disturbed.
Chimpanzees are noticed to spend most their time on ground, they normally feed and make their nests up in the trees. The diet of the chimpanzee comprises of leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers.
Chimpanzee tracked in Uganda have undergone through chimpanzee habituation experience so as to make them friendly and less hostile to human presence, the habituation process is carried by experts and it takes approximately 2 – 3 years.
Where to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Kibale Forest national park
Kibale Forest national park is the best place to do chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, Kibale Forest is a home to the largest population of chimpanzee in East Africa and the largest population of primates in Africa with 13 species of primates. Kibale Forest National park host about 1500 chimpanzee individuals with 3 habituated communities, one community is set part for chimpanzee tracking while the other two are for research.
Kibale Forest national park hosts 13 species of primates and a part from chimpanzees, Kibale forests are a home for L’Hoests monkey, Red colobus, Mangabeys, bush babys, baboons, Red tailed monkeys and the blue monkeys among others. The park is also a home to buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, bush pigs, otters and giant forest hogs and over 345 bird species including African grey parrot, hornbills and Breasted pitas among others.
Kibale Forest national park is located in the western part of Uganda, the park protects moist evergreen forest stretching over 776 square kilometers.
Chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest national park starts as early as 08:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters where you are taken through the rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of the chimpanzees. For tourists to participate in chimpanzee tracking you are required to have a chimpanzee tracking permit costing USD 200 per individual, the permits are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Kalinzu Forest
Kalinzu Forest is another great site to do chimpanzee tracking in Uganda located in Queen Elizabeth national park and is rated as the second place to do chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth national park located in the Western Uganda has two sites where chimpanzee are found that is Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge however, Kyambura Gorge hosts the bigger chimpanzee population.
Kalinzu Forest hosts about 20 chimpanzees with over 70 habituated chimps, these were habituated by a group of Japanese scientists who have been studying the chimpanzees for the last 2 decades, chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest is managed by the Uganda ministry of Forest
Kalinzu Forest’s chimpanzee density and concentration is relatively small area which raises the possibility of find the chimpanzees, during chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest expect to spot over 410 bird species such as sunbird, cuckoos and the Great Blue Turaco, other primates such as Mangabeys, olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys among others.
Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest is a beautiful forests and a habitat for chimpanzees found in Murchison Falls national park , the forest is rated as the 3rd best place to do chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. Budongo Forest also known as Budongo Forest reserve is a home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda and is located on the southern edge of Murchison Falls national park in a drive of 4 hours from Kampala. The forest hosts about 100 habituated chimpanzees inhabiting in the natural mahogany, travelers can do both chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forests starts as early as 07:00 am for a morning session and the afternoon session starts at 2 pm, the best time to do chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest is during in the wet season which coincides with the fruit bearing season and chimpanzees are easily seen on tree branches.
Other Chimpanzee trekking destinations in uganda
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is a great chimpanzee tracking site located within Queen Elizabeth national park, the gorge is 16 kilometers long and about 100 meters deep with a thick underground forest. Kyambura Gorge is famously known for its large population of primates including Baboons, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzee, vervet monkeys and colobus monkeys. The Gorge hosts a small chimpanzee population of about 30 which are tracked.
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is a beautiful Uganda wildlife destination located near the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the reserve is a base for the scientists from the Indian University who study the chimpanzees calling the reserve home. Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is located in Kabaroloe and Ntoroko districts with Fort Portal as the nearest Town, the reserve covers an area of 542 square kilometers hosting a population of about 26 chimps living in 3 communities.
Ngamba Island
Ngamba Island is an island sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority , the island is approximately 100 acres of rainforest situated in Lake Victoria approximately 27 kilometers by boat south – East of Entebbe City. Ngamba Island Sanctuary is managed a non-profit organisation, the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT). CSWCT is a partnership of six organizations committed to the welfare and conservation of wildlife. The Trustees are Born Free Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Jane Goodall Institute, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) and Uganda Wildlife Society
The Uganda Wildlife Education Center
The Uganda Wildlife Education Center formerly known as the Zoo was established as a rehabilitation center for injured, confiscated and orphaned animals. The Uganda Wildlife Education Center has about 40 chimpanzees and they can seen from enclosures and a platform.
Chimpanzee trekking Rules and Regulations
Chimpanzee tracking experience is being guided by a set of rules and regulations set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, these rules and regulations are put in place to protect both the chimpanzees and the tourists on a tracking and they are as follows
- Trackers should keep a distance of about 8 meters between them and the chimps
- People with illness such as flue and diarrhea are not allowed to participate in the tracking
- Avoid eating in the presence of the chimpanzee
- Your safari guide is the only one allowed to help you get access while in the forest
- Children below the age of 12 years are prohibited from enter the park and participating in chimpanzee tracking
- Provoking the chimpanzees or imitating them is not allowed as chimps need their freedom
- While taking pictures, you are advised to switch off your flashlights
Uganda chimpanzee trekking packages
6 Days Uganda chimpanzee Trekking, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari
This 6 Days Uganda chimpanzee trekking , wildlife and gorillas trekking safari offers the best of uganda safaris in the in conduction the most thrilling activities
3 Days Uganda chimpanzee trekking tour.
Travel to kibale forest forest national park also know as the primate’s capital in your 3 days Uganda chimpanzee trekking tour. You visit of the richest jungles in Uganda filled plenty of primates
5 Days uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari
The Uganda primate safaris consisting of 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari starts with a drive to kibale forest national park in Kamwenge District kibale forest national park is home to the biggest
