Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda | Kibale & Beyond
Uganda is one of the best places in East Africa for trekking chimpanzees.The chimpanzees are one of the most exciting animals to see on a safari in Uganda. Next to gorillas, these are the most popular primate species that attract tourists in the region.
Uganda has various forests and national parks in which chimpanzees can be found. You can either choose to go chimpanzee tracking, or a chimpanzee habituation experience. Some parks offer one options, some offer both.
CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE (CHEX)
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience enables visitors to accompany researchers and habituates into the forest. The chimpanzee groups involved are less accustomed to human presence than those visited on the Primate Walk and following and viewing them is both exciting and challenging.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is available on a full or half day basis starting and advance booking for this activity is required. Early visitors can watch chimps leaving their overnight nests between 6:00 – 6:30am before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying until it is time to build new nests around 7pm.
Chimpanzee family in Kibale
The five main Chimpanzee destinations in their Natural habitats in Uganda include the following:
- Kibale National Park
- Budongo Forest located in Murchison Falls National Park
- Kyambura Gorge found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Kalinzu Forest
- Semliki wildlife reserve found in Toro region.
Chimpanzees can also be found at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary located on Lake Victoria which is home to orphaned chimpanzees.
Every now and then, one might come across a chimpanzee outside a national park for instance in the Buniga forest, the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary and Bwindi impenetrable forest.
One needs to purchase a permit before visiting the Chimpanzees. The permits can be got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala district. The minimum age for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is 15years.
However, various local tour operators have been accredited by government to provide services including Chimpanzee Habituation Experience booking in order to ensure that you get a your slot at the appropriate time
