Chimpanzee viewing safaris in Uganda : The most well-liked strolls in Kibale start at 08.00 and 15.00 from the Kanyanchu Visitor centre and go for two to three hours. In addition to chimpanzees, other interesting primates to keep an eye out for include black and white colobuses, red tailed monkeys, and grey cheeked mangabeys. Your guides will be able to show you pittas and other forest birds, as well as explain the cultural significance of the many plants you see. You can bring a group of 6 persons on this walk. During busy seasons, it is essential to reserve a room in advance.
Many visitors come to Uganda to go chimpanzee trekking safari because it is one of the top things to do there. Similar to trekking gorillas, trekking chimpanzees entails making your way through the forest in pursuit of the primates as they flit from tree to tree. It is possible to spend only an hour with the chimpanzees after a few hours of walking, but the reward is well worth the effort.
Travellers to Uganda can choose from a number of different locations to go trekking with chimpanzees. Most chimpanzee trekking safaris takes place in Kibale Forest National Park, but you can also go to Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, the Kalinzu Forest in Bushenyi, and the Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.
Every day of chimpanzee trekking safari begins with tour guides briefing their clients on safety procedures and protocol. Other primates and animals, including as black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and a wide variety of birds, can be spotted on a journey in the jungle while looking for chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking permit.
You can only legally interact with the chimpanzees if you have a chimpanzee trekking permit. They are handled by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, but even after being handed to you, they are still technically the property of the Republic of Uganda. Similar to the gorilla trekking permit, only a certain number of permits are printed each day, and they are only good for the day they were issued. Fewer permits are issued in an effort to limit human contact with the chimpanzees and ensure their survival. Because of their susceptibility to illness, chimpanzees can only engage in limited human contact.
Booking through a reliable tour operator is the best method to secure a chimpanzee trekking permit. It’s best to let local tour operators handle the planning, as they have a better grasp of the booking procedure and associated fees. After making the necessary arrangements with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, your tour operator will email you a scanned copy of your permit, which will include the day and time of your trip, your name and passport information, and a special serial number. Please be aware that these licenses are nontransferable and difficult to recoup the cost of if you are unable to attend.
Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda’s Kibale Forest.
Kibale National Park, in the country’s southwestern corner, is home to approximately 1,500 chimpanzees, 120 of which are habituated. The high population density of the area’s chimpanzees makes it easy to track them down, and the trekking can be completed twice daily, in the morning and the afternoon.
In addition to chimpanzees, other primates including colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, as well as over 400 different species of birds, may be seen in this park, making it one of the greatest places in Uganda to go chimpanzee trekking.
There are several places where you can stay when you go for chimpanzee trekking in the Kibale National Park and these include the Primate Lodge, the Kyaninga lodge, and Chimpundu safari lodge.
Chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda is the most popular pastime in the park. Duration: 1-2 hours, beginning at the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08:00 and ending at 15:00. During trekking, tourists look for the primates. The red tailed monkey, black and white colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabey are just a few examples. Pittas and other woodland/forest birds will be pointed out to you, and your guides will fill you in on the cultural significance of various plants. Each tour group can bring a maximum of 6 people on this outing. During high season, reservations well in advance are essential:
Chimpanzee Trekking In the Ngamba Island.
Among the many spots to go chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda is the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island, which is located in Lake Victoria and can be reached by speedboat from Entebbe. Goodall’s sanctuary for primates is cordoned off so that the chimpanzees on the island can travel freely without damaging the surrounding area. There are two departure times for the speedboat to Ngamba: once in the morning for a half-trip, and once in the evening for a full-trip.
The price of a trip to the island rises with the number of people in your party. The cost per person increases as the size of the group decreases. Any visitor with a child between the ages of 5 and 15 will just have to pay the half fee of the permit.
Over the years, the number of rescued and orphaned chimpanzees in the refuge has expanded from the first group of 13 saved by a small group of locals and Dr. Jane Goodall. You can fish, swim, explore local towns, go birding, and observe chimps at various ages and stages of their development.
Chimpanzee Trekking in the Murchison Falls National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking safari takes occur in the Budongo forest, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, and Rabongo forest, all located inside Murchison Falls National Park. Over 600 chimpanzees live in these three woods, making Murchison a great place to undertake chimpanzee trekking safari. Over 500 kinds of birds and other animals call Murchison National Park home, making it a popular stop for safari-goers visiting Uganda. The months of October through January are ideal for chimpanzee trekking safari because visitors have a better chance of observing the primates during their foraging activities. The morning and afternoon are the best times to go chimpanzee trekking in Murchison.
The Rabongo forest, this is also a forest found within the Murchison and where trekking is carried out. There aren’t any well-defined paths through the jungle, but with the help of a guide, you can find the chimpanzees and spend an hour with them once you do. However, there are fewer chimpanzee families in the Rabongo forest than there are in the Budongo forest.
Budongo forest, contains a significant population of primates and is a popular location for chimpanzee trekking safari. Having a tour guide on your side makes trekking a breeze, and you also get to go birdwatching and view monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys, among other primates.
The Kaniyo Pabidi forest is one of the few in the country that has not been altered by people and is home to chimpanzees, a variety of bird species, insects, and other primates.
You can choose among lodges in the Para and Victoria Nile, the Albert Nile, or the Kaniyo Pabidi regions of Murchison Falls National Park. Your travel agent can help you sort through the options for high-end/luxury, standard/mid-range, and cheap/budget hotels to find the one that best suits your needs.
Chimpanzee Trekking In the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
There are around 17 chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park, making it one of the top National Parks and a popular safari destination. The Kyambura game reserve, also known as the Kyambura gorge, is where chimpanzee trekking takes place in this area. Mornings are ideal because it takes around an hour to two hours to complete the task. Tour guides will accompany you on the hike, and there will be time at the end of the day for a game drive in the national park. Kyambura is home to a number of hotels, including the Kyambura gorge safari lodge, KingFisher camp, Mweya safari lodge, jacana lodge, and Katara lodge.
What to pack for A Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda.
No one wants to tote around too much baggage on a safari since it will interfere with their ability to fully experience the adventure. What follows is a list of things that you should bring with you on your chimpanzee expedition because they are considered necessities.
Insect repellent.
Waterproof hiking boots.
Bottled drinking water.
Long-sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid scratches on your body.
A walking stick to ease trekking.
Camera and binoculars.
A small backpack to carry a few essentials like cameras and extra batteries while trekking.
A sun hat and sunscreen.
Trekking Rules and Regulations to follow during chimpanzee trekking safari.
There are rules and guidelines that you need to follow in order to have a good chimp trekking experience. These were set up by the Uganda wildlife Authority to protect both the primates and the visitors. The following are examples of rules that you must adhere to:
If you have a respiratory illness, such as the flu or a cough, you cannot go on the trek.
You are not allowed to get any closer than 8 metres to the chimpanzees.
Tour guides were there for a reason, and you should always heed their advice.
No one is allowed to feed the chimps.
Visitors are not allowed to eat or drink near the chimpanzees.
Do not urinate and poop in the park as this might cause the animals to fall sick. If nature calls, you’ll have to dig a hole about 30 centimetres deep and bury everything, including the toilet paper.
The minimum age for chimp trekking in Uganda is 15 years.
The only people who can help you gain access to the Park for trekking are the tour guides.
Make sure that the camera you are using does not have a flashlight.
Do not make noise while trekking because this irritates the chimps and they end up migrating to another place.
