Uganda is Africa’s leading chimpanzee tracking destination. The country tops the bucket list of all primate lovers because of its diversity and wildlife numbers. Several primate lovers visit Uganda on exclusive Discovery Journeys to meet chimpanzees in their natural habitats. Chimpanzee tracking is done in Kibale National Park located in western Uganda. The park covers a land area of 776 square kilometers and is home to 13 primates including common chimpanzees.
Other notable primates in Kibale National Park include the Uganda Mangabey, L’hoest monkey, and blue monkeys. Kibale National Park is forested comprising an evergreen rainforest of lowland and montane landscapes. This forest ecosystem is a perfect habitat for chimpanzees as they live in harmony with other wildlife species.
Kibale National Park is most famous for chimpanzee tracking and the chimpanzee habituation experience. It has 5 fully habituated chimpanzee communities in the Kanyanchu and Buraiga sectors.
The Chimpanzee Tracking Experience
One is expected at the park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking. Here you are told about the rules and regulations to follow while in the forest and the presence of chimpanzees. This is a safety precaution as the experience is done in a forest with other wildlife species that can charge if they feel threatened.
Chimpanzees are also sensitive and can charge or move deeper into the forest areas that humans can not easily access. The briefing process is therefore important as regulations regarding the distance to keep in the presence of chimpanzees and codes of conduct are communicated. One is for example expected to keep at least a 7 to 10-meter distance away once one encounters the chimpanzees.
After the briefing, you are led to the forest on a guided nature walk amidst sightings of birds and other primates. The hike takes 1 to 4 hours depending on the movement of chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are mobile compared to mountain gorillas and often jump from one tree branch to another. You might have to keep up to catch up with their routine in the forested mountains. You are allowed to stay in the presence of chimpanzees for an hour learning more about them and taking photos.
Kibale National Parks’ chimpanzee tracking experience is rewarding and offers the best primate experience in Uganda and East Africa.
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
The Chimpanzee habituation experience takes you behind the scenes of the habituation process undertaken by rangers. Chimpanzee habituation is done to accustom these primates in the presence of humans for tourism and conservation purposes.
Chimpanzee communities open to tourism undergo the habituation process. Here a team of qualified rangers and veterinary doctors closely follow and monitor a chimpanzee community observing its routine and actively engaging with it. This exposure makes chimpanzees familiar with human beings’ presence and behaviors. It makes it easy to open such a community to the general public for tourism or conservation studies.
Other Chimpanzee Tracking destinations in Uganda
Uganda has several other chimpanzee tracking destinations to consider on a Uganda Discovery Journey. They include Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, Bugoma Forest, and Kyambura Gorge Forest.
Budongo Forest Reserve
Budongo Forest Reserve is located in mid-western Uganda in the Murchison Falls National Park and Conservation Area. It covers 82,530 hectares of tropical rainforest home to several wildlife species. Budongo has an estimated population of over 600 chimpanzees, 350 birds, 450 tree species, butterflies, and 24 mammals 9 of which are primates. It is one of Uganda’s best-preserved forests ideal for chimpanzee tracking adventures.
Budongo Forest has provisions for the chimpanzee habituation experiences that allow more time in the presence of the primates. This is more experiential and recommended for researchers and primatologists.
Driving through the forest canopy as you head to the savannas is impressive amidst sightings of baboons and birds. The 4-day Murchison Falls National Park tour can be customized to feature a chimpanzee trek in Budongo Forest. Sambiya River Lodge is the most convenient accommodation to book when exploring the Forest. The Lodge is situated on the Southern Bank of the River Nile about a 30-minute drive from Budongo Forest. You can alternatively stay at Masindi Hotel and access the park in an hour’s drive.
Kyambura Gorge Forest
The Kyambura Gorge Forest is an underground forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Gorge is traversed by River Kyambura a primary water source for all the wildlife species. Kyambura Gorge forest is home to chimpanzees, birds, and other wildlife species. Chimpanzee tracking here is exclusive as you journey down the Valley of the Apes. Our 4-day Queen Elizabeth Tour features chimpanzee tracking and other safari wildlife adventures in the park.
Accommodation options along the Kichwamba Rift Valley escarpment facilitate the Kyambura Gorge visits. They include Katara Lodge, Elephant Hab Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Twin Lake Lodge, and Parkview Safari Lodge.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Forest is located in Bushenyi District a few kilometers from the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It covers a land area of 137 Square kilometers of dense tropical rainforest. Kalinzu is home to chimpanzees and other wildlife species including Blue Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, and blue monkeys. It can be visited for chimpanzee tracking, Nature walks, and Birding Discovery Journeys.
Mountain gorillas and golden monkey tracking are other exclusive primate adventures you can be part of. Mgahinga Gorilla Park in southwestern Uganda is home to the two rare primates and several bird species. Our 4-day Mgahinga Gorilla Park covers that but can be customized to add chimpanzee tracking in any of the above destinations.
For the best Uganda primate experiences, we recommend the 7-day Uganda primates and the 10-day Uganda safari. An extension to Rwanda for more primate adventures or a visit to Kenya and Tanzania for classic savanna encounters is highly recommended.
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