Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

Uganda is second to the Congo in chimpanzee populations! Hence, the flourishing of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. The Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest number of apes in the world. Uganda, which is only about 10% of the DRC’s size, comes in second.

Where to See Chimpanzees in Uganda.

The last census of the Eastern Chimpanzee took place from 1999 to 2002. The census conducted by WCS conservationist Andrew Plumptre is so far the last known. According to him, about five thousand (5,000) chimpanzees live in Uganda’s nature reserves. Uganda’s conservation efforts have likely boosted the chimpanzee population over the years.

Table 1 shows Andrew Plumptre’s chimpanzee census figures in Ugandan protected areas.

Forest / Protected Area	Chimpanzee count
Kibale national park and Itwara forest	More than 1,000
Maramagambo, Kalinzu and Kashyoha – Kitomi forest	More than 1,000
Budongo Forest Reserve	500 to 1,000
Bugoma Forest Reserve	500 to 1,000
Rwenzori National Park to Semuliki and Hoyo	500 to 1,000
Budongo and Bugoma corridor	100 to 500

The results in Table 1 show Kibale National Park as the top spot for chimpanzee safaris in Uganda. This park hosts over 25% of the country’s chimpanzee population.

As shown in Table 1. Uganda offers several conservation areas for chimp trekking safaris. Your choice of where to trek depends on your safari package.

For a great experience, take a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then go to Kibale Forest, or Kalinzi Forest Reserve, or Kyambura Gorge for chimps. You can even visit all three, as there are no limits on how many times you can see chimpanzee groups in Uganda.

Chimpanzee safaris are more affordable than gorilla trekking. Because of this, many chimpanzee fans choose to go on a complete Uganda chimp safari.

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking.

The Valley of Apes is in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It ranks third for chimp trekking in Uganda. This riverine forest is along the Kyambura River. The gorge is home to about 30 habituated chimpanzees. This forms one group for tourism in the Medley of Wonders Park. Kyambura Gorge offers a haven for primates from the park’s predators.

The 100-meter-deep forested gorge is small, making trekking easy. Trekking in Kyambura often includes.

• Game drives
• Nature walks
• Lion tracking and boat trips.

The trekking fee is only $50 per person, charged by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Budongo Forest Reserve

Budongo, next to Murchison Falls National Park, has many chimpanzee communities. You’ll see these great apes while trekking through this forest. It’s managed by Uganda’s National Forestry Authority (NFA).

About 700 chimpanzees live in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forest. One group is for tourism.

Trekking for chimpanzees in Budongo is rewarding. You can also enjoy.

• Game drives
• Boat trips
• Waterfall hikes
• Sport fishing
• White-water rafting and birdwatching in Murchison Falls National Park.

Budongo Forest is the second-best chimpanzee destination in Uganda. Tours are in the morning and afternoon in small groups of no more than six people per trek.

Ngamba Island

The Mighty Lake Victoria is home to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The sanctuary, established in 1998, is a prime place near Kampala to see chimpanzees. Dr. Jane Goodall, a renowned ethologist, played a key role in its creation. This sanctuary currently houses 53 chimpanzees. These chimps are either orphaned, rescued, or born here.

Tours last from half a day to a full day. They are perfect for those who want to see chimpanzees without trekking in Uganda’s forests. You can also stay overnight at Ngamba Ecolodge. Access to the island is by speedboat or motorized canoe.

Ngamba Island offers lazy chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, which includes a one-day chimpanzee tour and a three-day safari package. These are for visitors eager to meet chimps, birds, and monitor lizards. You can fish and watch cultural shows. Also, you can feed chimps from high viewing platforms. Travel to Ngamba Island is only by boat from Entebbe or Kampala.

Other chimpanzee locations in Uganda.

More popular chimpanzee locations are;

Kalinzu Forest, Bugoma Forest Reserve, and Semuliki National Park. The National Forestry Authority manages Kalinzu and Bugoma.

Kalinzu borders Queen Elizabeth National Park and is home to about 300 chimpanzees. Chimpanzee permits in Kalinzu cost $50.

Semuliki National Park also shelters endangered chimpanzees. Trekking here is not popular. Food is scarce, so chimps must travel long distances. Treks in Semuliki can be tough, requiring long hikes to find a chimp community.

Semuliki Valley offers other activities like;

• Birdwatching
• Boat rides
• Nature walks and the Batwa Trail experience.

Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is famous for chimpanzees and bird watching. It is Uganda’s top destination for chimpanzee safaris. There’s much to discover in this remarkable primate sanctuary, so come and see it for yourself.

Why is Kibale Forest National Park the best forest to see chimpanzees?

Kibale Forest is a primate paradise! This national park in western Uganda is Africa’s primate capital. It is home to over 1,500 endangered chimpanzees, making the apes a top attraction. The main activities here are chimpanzee tracking and habituation. Both activities are outstanding.

Some Kanyanchu chimpanzee groups have been habituated for over 30 years. This means you have a 95 percent chance of seeing these rare primates during your visit.

Kibale Forest has thirteen primate species, including

• Chimpanzees
• Redtail monkeys
• L’hoesti monkeys
• Olive baboons
• Vervet monkeys
• Grey-cheeked mangabeys
• Blue monkeys
• Black-and-white colobus monkeys
• Red colobus
• Pottos,
• Demidoff’s dwarf galagos
• Eastern needle-clawed galagos and
• Thomas’s dwarf galagos.

Some species are nocturnal. Night walks from 7 PM to 10 PM are an option for meeting these nocturnals.

On your chimpanzee trekking safari, watch for the Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus Ugandae). It’s found only in Kibale Forest.

Kibale’s old-growth forest is an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Uganda. It hosts over 370 bird species, including Albertine Rift endemics. The Kibale ground-thrush is only found here. Other birds include

• Red-billed dwarf hornbill
• Black-capped apalis
• Red-faced woodland warbler
• Rwenzori apalis
• Purple-breasted sunbird
• Little grebe
• White-throated bee-eater
• Yellow-rumped tinkerbird
• Sand martin
• etc.

Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary offers great nature walks in Kibale’s lush forests. The swamp is popular for its diverse birds and mammals. Other wildlife in Kibale National Park includes

• Forest elephants
• Buffalo
• Warthogs
• Bush pigs
• African civets
• Jackals
• Leopards
• Spotted hyenas
• Hyraxes
• Duikers
• Mongooses
• Honey badgers and much more.

Crater lakes around Kibale

This beautiful forest park is next to a volcanic field with over 30 crater lakes. The Ndali-Kasenda lakes are a special attraction for visitors in this primate-rich area. Notable lakes include

• Lake Nkuruba
• Lake Kifuruka
• Lake Rukwanzi
• Lake Nyabikere and
• Lake Nyamwirima.

The local communities around Kibale National Forest have rich cultures. You can explore this through community tours after chimpanzee tracking or bird watching. There’s much to learn about the Tooro Kingdom before or after your trek.

Chimpanzee treks in Kibale are different from regular game drives. It’s best to book ahead if you want to enjoy time with these amazing primates. You can often book chimpanzee permits in other parts of Uganda 1 to 2 days earlier. But in Kibale, you need a permit beforehand.

Trekking in Kibale begins at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center. Park authorities will brief you on the procedures. Trekking times are flexible, with outings at 8 AM, 11 AM, and 2 PM. Finding a chimpanzee community usually takes 2 to 5 hours, and you can observe them for up to one hour. Group size is six people per trek. Your safari guide will take you to the briefing center.

Chimpanzee Trekking Permit

A document granting you permission for trekking or habituating chimpanzees in Uganda.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority gives permits to tourists who want to trek. The National Forestry Authority issues permits to trek in forest reserves. We are experts in booking chimpanzee permits for you.

A Kibale chimpanzee permit costs $200. A full-day chimpanzee habituation experience costs $250. This is a great deal for those wanting an immersive experience with wild chimps. Spending a full day with habituation experts is rewarding. The habituation exercise starts at 6:30 AM and can last for a whole or half day.

Additional Activities

Chimpanzee tours are rarely a standalone safari. They are often paired with

• gorilla trekking
• game drives
• mountain hiking
• Golden Monkey Trekking
• cultural tours
• birding and nature walks.

If you prefer chimpanzees alone, we recommend a 3-day safari in Kibale. Another option is the 1-day chimpanzee tour on Ngamba Island.

The Best Time to see Chimps in Uganda.

Chimpanzee tours in Uganda are a year-round adventure. The only thing that could stop your trek is if you can’t reach the conservation park. Rain or shine, you’ll see chimpanzees, especially in Kibale Forest, a top destination in Africa.

Research in Western Uganda forests shows that fruiting trees influence chimpanzee movements. When food is scarce, they go deeper into the forest. When it’s plentiful, they stay closer to their nests. The farther they roam, the harder they are to find during your trek.

Chimpanzees especially eat fruits, which are abundant during and after the rainy season. The best time to trek is at the end of this season. During this time, the rain decreases, and chimpanzees enjoy a feast of fresh fruits.

Uganda has two rainy seasons. The dry seasons are from December to February and from June to September. Most tourists prefer chimpanzee trekking in Uganda during these dry times. Kibale Forest is a medium-altitude forest, so trekking there is easier. In contrast, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can be muddy and slippery.

In Kibale, park management schedules treks for early morning. That’s before midday and after midday. Chimpanzees rest in their nests at night and wake up early to feed on fruits. Early morning is the best time to see them since they are busy feeding at that time.

Where to Stay

For the best lodges, please check out our recommended lodges in Kibale.

Budongo Forest Reserve is another location in Uganda for chimpanzee tracking safaris. This reserve, not yet designated as a national park, is close to Masindi town. Staying in Masindi offers various affordable accommodation types. Murchison Falls National Park is next to Budongo. You can trek chimpanzees in Budongo while staying near Murchison Falls. Budongo Eco Lodge is the best option in Budongo Forest.

Ngamba Island, located in Lake Victoria, allows you to see chimpanzees without trekking. If you want to spend the night on this island, Ngamba Eco-Lodge is the recommended choice during gorilla trekking in Uganda.