Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda
Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda : Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda is an exciting safari activity to do and involves visiting the natural habitat of the chimpanzees to observe their behavior and interact with them in the wild.
There are different destinations where chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda can be carried out including national parks and forest reserves such as Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest and the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park.
The chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda also contributes to conservation and also supports many of the local communities through employment in the national parks, lodges and local craft centers and art shops around the places where chimpanzees can be spotted.
Different rules and regulations are put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be followed by the tourists engaging in chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda. These rules are communicated during briefing done by the park rangers before the chimpanzee trekking experiences.
Some of these rules include avoiding littering, keeping a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees, not using flash photography while with the chimpanzees, not chasing the chimpanzees, avoiding noise in the forest, not eating while with the chimpanzees.
Another rule which is followed by visitors taking part in chimpanzee trekking is that children below the age of 12 years are not allowed to engage in the activity.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park is a popular activity in Uganda and the park is also referred to as the primate capital of the world.
There are many chimpanzees in Kibale national park and the chimpanzee treks can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon. The activity starts with a briefing at Kanyanchu park headquarters by the park officials.
During the chimpanzee trek in Kibale forest, tourists are led by ranger guides and move in groups of 8 to see the chimpanzees, they also follow different paths in the forest and spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees.
The park entrance fees for Kibale national park charged to visitors is 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 20,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Other activities to do around Kibale national park include chimpanzee habituation, bird watching, guided forest walks, visiting the Bigodi wetlands and also community tours.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest reserve
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is also done in Budongo forest which is part of the places to visit in the southern part of Murchison falls national park.
Budongo forest is located in north western part of Uganda and is among the tropical forests in Uganda where chimpanzees can be seen during safaris. The chimpanzees can be seen in Kaniyo Pabidi where various groups of chimpanzees are found.
Apart from chimpanzees in Budongo forest, other primates can also be seen during treks and they include black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys and also red tailed monkeys.
Chimpanzee trekking tours in Budongo forest can also be combined with a safari in Murchison falls national park and taking part in activities like morning or afternoon game drives, boat rides to the bottom of the Murchison falls, hiking to the top of the falls, viewing of the Murchison falls.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge
When on a tour around Queen Elizabeth national park in south western Uganda, chimpanzee trekking can be done in the Kyambura gorge.
Kyambura gorge is also referred to as the valley of apes and is home to a number of chimpanzees which visitors can search for during chimpanzee trekking experiences. The gorge also has scenic views and stunning landscapes including the Kyambura river.
Chimpanzee trekking experiences in the Kyambura gorge take about 2 to 3 hours and costs about 50 USD for foreign nonresidents, 40 USD for foreign residents and 30,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
When visiting the Kyambura gorge, tourists can also engage in game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park, boat rides on Kazinga channel, lion tracking experiences, bird watching and also community tours.
Cost of chimpanzee permits in Uganda
During chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, tourists are required to have chimpanzee permits which are documents which allow them to engage in the activity.
Chimpanzee permits for Kibale national cost 200 USD for foreign nonresidents, 150 USD for foreign residents and 150,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. The permit fees include guide fees and park entrance fees.
Apart from chimpanzee permit charges, other costs associated with chimpanzee trekking include guide fees, transport costs and accommodation costs.
Guide fees during chimpanzee trekking in Uganda are about 30 USD and tips can also be given to guides who accompany the tourists during their trek around the different destinations where chimpanzees are found.
Getting to the places where chimpanzee trekking can be done in Uganda can be done by driving and also by flight. The vehicle hire can be part of the safari price or am individual cost during the trek and it is about 100 USD per day or more depending on the type of vehicle used.
Another cost which is associated with chimpanzee trekking safaris is the accommodation cost which varies depending on the type of lodge or hotel where tourists stay during their trek which can be budget, luxury or midrange accommodations.
Best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
There are different seasons during the year when chimpanzee trekking can be done in Uganda and they include the rain season and the dry season.
The dry season which is also the high season is experienced around June to October and December to February and is the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. The weather during this season makes it favorable to trek through the forest and spend time with the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can also be done during the wet season which takes place in March, April and May and also in November which are part of the low season of travel when few tourists visit the destinations around the country to see the chimpanzees.
