Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda.
Chimpanzee trekking is an enjoyable excursion to do on a Uganda safari after gorilla trekking. It involves walking through the tropical jungle in search of habituated chimpanzees, then spending an hour with them in their natural habitat once you find them. Chimpanzee trekking safari is the second greatest safari activity that attracts big numbers of tourists in Uganda after gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Chimpanzee trekking safari experience.
Chimpanzee trekking safari begins at the park headquarters very early in the morning with a briefing on the rules and regulations. After the briefing, you’ll be given a family of habituated chimpanzees to trek with and a park guide who knows the forest tracks well. Chimpanzee trekking can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, based on where the chimpanzees are. This is because chimpanzees like to move around in search of food, so they can be in different places at the same time. During chimpanzee trekking safari, you’ll be able to see other primate species, birds, mammals, and different plant and tree species. Once you find the chimpanzees, you’ll be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, which will give you a chance to learn about their habits and watch them eat, nurse, hunt, fight, play, rest, groom their young, and do many other things.
Where to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.
Kibale forest national park.
Kibale Forest National Park, also known as the Primate Capital, is in western Uganda. It is the most popular safari destination to see chimpanzees in Uganda because it is home to 13 primate species, including 1,500 chimpanzees and species like grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons, and others. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park is done on two different schemes, one in the morning that starts around 8:00 am and the other in the afternoon that starts around 2:00 pm.
Kalinzu forest.
Kalinzu forest is in Bushenyi district in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is the second best destination perfect for chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda after Kibale Forest national park. More than 300 chimps live in the Kalinzu forest. Chimpanzee trekking is done in two shifts, in the morning and in the afternoon.
Kyambura gorge.
In Kyambura gorge, which is in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park, you can also go chimpanzee trekking safari. In Kyambura Gorge, chimpanzee trekking happens twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon. The morning trek starts around 8:00 am, and the afternoon trek starts around 2:00 pm.
Budongo forest.
Budongo forest is in Murchison Falls National Park. It is another safari destination in Uganda where you can go chimpanzee trekking safari, which is a delightful exercise. There are more than 800 chimps living in Budongo forest, and trekking can be done in the morning or in the afternoon.
Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve.
Chimpanzee trekking safari is also done in Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve which is located in western part of Uganda within Ntoroko and Kabarole districts.
How to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda.
In Uganda, you can get a chimpanzee trekking permit directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority by calling or emailing their offices. As well, a trusted tour company like Nyumbu Beyond Journeys can also help you get a permit to trek the chimpanzees on a Uganda safari. When you use a tour company, you will let us know when you want to go and where you want to go. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit and once we receive the money we will purchase the permits on your behalf and we send you a scanned receipt as a proof of your payment.
Best time to go for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda.
The best time to go on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda is during the dry season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because it doesn’t rain as much in the chimpanzee trekking destinations during these months, so the trails and roads to where the chimpanzees are will be passable.
Chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda can also be done during the wet season, from March to May and November. This is because there is plenty of food for the chimpanzees during the wet season, so they won’t be able to move too far into the forest to look for food, making chimpanzee trekking easier.
What to pack for your chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda.
Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm during morning hours and also prevent insects from entering your trousers.
Hiking shoes to protect your ankles during trekking and also keep your feet dry.
Bring a camera and extra batteries so you can take pictures and videos of the chimps while you are with them for an hour.
Snacks to give you energy and water to keep you hydrated.
Insect repellent to protect you from biting insects such as tsetse flies and mosquitoes.
You should have a waterproof rain jacket or raincoat because it can rain at any time of the day.
A pair of binoculars to have clear views of the chimpanzees and other wildlife species such as birds.
Backpack to carry your gorilla trekking items like insect repellent, camera, energy snacks, and waterproof rain jacket among others.