Chimpanzee Safaris in Uganda
Ugandan Chimpanzee Safaris: The greatest place to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is Kibale Forest National Park. Walks begin at the Kanyunchu visitor center at 8:00 and 15:00 and can take two to three hours.
You have a good chance of seeing the black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, or grey-cheeked mangabey, among other primates, but chimpanzees are actually the second most sought-after primate after mountain gorillas by tourists that come to Uganda Primate Safaris.
You can see other species, such as pittas and other noteworthy bird species, while hiking along forest pathways. Since you are accompanied by a guide, they will also provide information about the many plant species found in the forest.
On any given day, only six people per group are permitted to participate in chimpanzee tracking activities. Please take note that scheduling your permit in advance is encouraged, particularly during the busiest times of the year, which are June through September and December through February.
Uganda chimpanzee trekking
One of the greatest safari experiences is chimpanzee trekking, which is why most visitors choose Uganda Safaris. Comparable to Gorilla Trekking, which entails walking through the bush to find chimpanzees who are constantly swinging from one tree branch to another.
The journey may take a couple of hours or less, but you should spend an hour with the chimpanzees before returning to the camp.
There are various chimpanzee locations in Uganda, and you can trek among a group of chimpanzees at each one. Despite this, Kibale Forest National Park is the finest spot to undertake chimpanzee trekking since it has a large population of chimpanzees—more than 1,500—than any other place.
The Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s oldest and largest game park, is situated in the northwest and is approximately five to six hours’ drive from Kampala or Entebbe. Other places to visit or see chimps include the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest national park, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including tree-climbing lions, and Kalunzi Forest, which is adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Bushenyi and Semuliki wildlife reserve.
In actuality, chimpanzee tracking and trekking begin early in the morning, with tour operators providing visitors with the laws and instructions they must abide by. Expect to observe a range of stunning bird species, as well as other primates and fauna, such as black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and others, while trekking.
Permit for Chimpanzee Trekking;
The key to entering the chimpanzees’ natural habitat is a chimp permit. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, or “UWA,” which oversees all of Uganda’s national parks and reserves, processes them. They can still be acquired directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or with the assistance of a reliable travel operator. Similar to gorilla trekking permits, only a certain number of permits are issued each day, and they are only good for the day they are printed.
The rationale for UWA’s issuance of restricted permits is to lessen human-chimpanzee interaction in order to preserve them. There is little interaction because chimps are prone to illness.
How Can I Get a Ugandan Chimpanzee Trek Permit?
Booking through a reputable tour operator is the best way to obtain a chimpanzee trek permit; local tour operators are more knowledgeable about the booking procedure and other associated expenses. Allowing them to handle the arranging of booking your chimp permit, lodging, and transportation is preferable.
Following payment of the chimp permits to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the tour operator will email you a scanned copy of the permit together with information about your name, passport details, the time of your walk, and the serial number that distinguishes it from the others.
Note: You must proceed carefully because these permits cannot be exchanged or money reimbursed.
How Much Does a Chimpanzee Trekking Permit Cost?
The season affects how much a Uganda chimpanzee hiking permit costs. Chimpanzee permits are not discounted during off-peak or peak seasons.
The day fee for a Kibale Chimpanzee trekking permit is USD 150 for foreign residents and USD 200 for non-foreigners.
The cost of a Kibale habituation permit is USD 200 for foreign residents and USD 250 for non-foreigners.
In Budongo, chimpanzee permits cost USD 90 per person per day.
The cost of a chimpanzee permit in Kyambura Gorge is $50 per person.
Trekking with Chimpanzees in the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island;
One of the locations in Uganda where you may experience chimpanzee trekking is Ngamba Island, which is located along Lake Victoria and is conveniently accessible by speed boat from Entebbe. Goodall established this sanctuary to protect the primates; the area of the island where the chimpanzees are housed is securely cordoned off to allow the animals to move about freely without endangering their neighbors.
Accessibility: Visitors can take a speedboat to Ngamba in two shifts: a half-trip that begins in the morning and a full-trip that begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Children between the ages of five and fifteen always pay half the amount to enter the sanctuary.
Thankfully, the refuge began with roughly 13 chimpanzees that were saved by Dr. Jane Goodall and a few locals, and since then, the number has grown. See chimpanzees up close at various stages and interact with them by feeding them while you’re there. Fishing, swimming, community exploration, and birdwatching can all be coupled with chimpanzee feeding at Ngamba.
The cost of feeding chimpanzees in Ngambi is $100 per person per day.
What Should I Bring on a Ugandan Chimpanzee Trek?
Prior to departing for your chimpanzee safari to one of the chimp sites listed above. As far as chimpanzee trekking is concerned, we advise you to bring the following items, which are deemed essential:
Repellant for insects
Water in bottles
To prevent scratches on your body, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Hiking boots that are waterproof
A screen and sun hat
A little backpack to hold a few necessities when hiking, such as cameras and additional batteries
A walking stick to make traveling easier
Binoculars and a camera.
Guidelines for Chimpanzee Trekking;
As stated below, they were established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to safeguard both primates and tourists.
If you’re sick, particularly with the flu and a cough,
Always abide by all instructions provided by the tour leaders.
Maintain an 8-meter gap between you and the chimps.
It is permitted for guests to eat or drink close to them.
Ask the guide to dig a hole that is about 30 cm deep if you want to go for a long hole, and then bury everything, even the toilet paper.
The minimum age requirement is 15 years of age or older.
Because flashlights frighten chimps, cameras with them are not permitted in the park.
Avoid making loud noises when around chimps.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Uganda to See Chimpanzees?
Although chimpanzee trekking is possible throughout the year, the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to January, is the finest time to take a journey into the natural world without being ruined by severe rains.
