Experience affordable primate safaris in Uganda
Experience affordable primate safaris in Uganda
Experience affordable primate safaris in Uganda : Uganda is the best country to visit if you are interested in primates at an affordable cost. Chimpanzees are found in a couple of different forests in Uganda and mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park which is also blessed with golden monkeys
The gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi
There are 11habituated groups of gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park located in south western Uganda that you can trek to and see. These groups vary I size, family relationships and location. At the headquarters before you trek, the park rangers and guides will assign each group to a gorilla family in the park and they brief you before you get to set off to see the amazing gorillas.
The trek usually varies between 2- 6 hours which depends on the family you’ve been assigned. Some families are much closer to the headquarters and others are much further into the forest. The tracking through the forests following the trails is very magical as your enjoying the forests and the speed depends on how fit you are but the guides are able to gauge the group enthusiasm quite quickly.
Mgahinga national park
This park is also found I the south western Uganda and it also has mountain gorillas and golden monkeys on the Ugandan slopes of the Virunga mountains. The park has one of the habituated groups of gorillas which are Trans -boundary and it also protects a variety of rare and distinctive flora and fauna.
Gahinga is the local word for piles of volcanoes stones cleared from farmland at the foot of volcanoes. The park has a huge cultural significance as the well as the protection of the landscape and the endangered species. The Batwa are self sufficient and they have guides who can brief you about their history, secrets of the forests as well as their way of living.
Mgahinga national park has limited gorilla permits because of its size; it’s a unique and quieter place than Bwindi impenetrable which is popularly visited
Cost
To see gorillas in Uganda, you need a tracking permit which works out to be a maximum of 8 people trekking to see one gorilla family at a time with an accompaniment of UWA (Uganda wildlife authority) guides. To do gorilla trekking, you must be 15 years old and above.
The gorilla permits are currently selling at a cost of 600 US Dollard for Foreign residents, 700 US Dollars for foreign non residents per person. The 700 US Dollars is half price of the neighboring country Rwanda who charges 1500 Dollars for a single gorilla permit.
Chimpanzee tracking
Uganda is arguably the best country in East Africa to see chimpanzees alongside mountain gorillas. There are over 5,000 habituated chimpanzees in Uganda and as one of the most popular activities, its always an hour visit to see the chimps and all day for habituation experience
Chimpanzee tracking is a bit underrated. Seeing the chimps is interesting and very exciting. Gorillas are amazing and when you’re going to see them you know the family your going to see which is not the case with chimpanzees where you can meet a group of kids and individuals while trekking at different intervals. Chimpanzees live in communities and they are always fighting and moving which is interesting to encounter.
Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest is one of the destination to see the chimpanzees which s found in south western Uganda. The tropical forest as a home of chimpanzees on a trek they are never missed. The place is also a home of other primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys , the red tailed monkey and the grey checked mangabey.
Kalinzu forest reserve
The reserve is in bunyaruguru queen Elizabeth national park where we go through the trails until we meet our amazing chimpanzees. As mentioned, the minimum age to trek chimpanzees hereis 12 years old. The permit is also cheaper than that of Kibale which goes for 50 US Dollars for non-Ugandans and which goes for 150 dollars in Kibale forest national park.
Budongo forest
Budongo forest is a place known for its mahogany tress is a perfect a shelter of chimpanzees found in Murchison falls national park as well as other species of primates.
There are approximately 100 habituated chimpanzees available here or can also opt for whole day chijmpanzee habituation experience. Chimpanzee tracking in budongo offers a 7 am morning session and at 2pm an afternoon session. The permits in Budongo go for 85 US Dollars which is more exciting when your on a murchison falls safari
