5 best destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda that you should plan on visiting for your most sought after activity of chimpanzee tracking. Uganda is a popular primates safari destination for the Pearl of Africa inhabits a staggering diversity of primates including the much sought after mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
Chimpanzees share about 98.7% DNA with humans and are an endangered species that are easily seen in East Africa. While on a Uganda safari tour, the below are the 5 vest destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda;
- Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is the best destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, and is indeed the most popular chimpanzee trekking destination. There are a number of habituated chimpanzee families that you can easily spot whilst chimpanzee trekking in the park. Not only do you get to see the chimpanzees however, you also get to spot a variety of other primates in Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest National Park has about 13 primates that you can easily spot. Apart from chimpanzees, other primates in Kibale National Park include colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, pottos, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, among so many others.
- Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest is one of the best 5 destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Budongo Forest in Kaniyo Pabidi part of Murchison Falls National Park offers an amazing chimpanzee trekking in Uganda experience. Budongo Forest hosts a number of chimpanzees of which few of them are habituated and available for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest. Apart from the chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Budongo Forest which is the greatest mahogany forest in Uganda has over 465 tree species and inhabits about 24 warm blooded animals, 140 moths species, 290 butterflies and so much more. Apart from chimpanzee trekking, bird watching and plant research can be enjoyed here. Travelers can combine wildlife safari in Murchison Falls National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest, and not need to go all the way to Kibale Forest National Park if short on time to spare.
- Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary located on Lake Victoria is a habitat to about 49 chimpanzees that are orphaned. A visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary has you coming close in contact with the chimpanzees over the mesh.
- Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is an underground forest in the beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the best savanna parks in Uganda famous for the tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector as well as the Kazinga channel. Kyambura Gorge hosts a number of chimpanzees that can be seen but are great in hiding as well sometimes that some travelers have not been able to spot them. You get to enjoy a forest walk rewarding travelers with sights of the chimpanzees and also birds, a number of primates.
- Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is another of the best destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Kalinzu Forest Reserve has about 40 chimpanzees habituated and available for chimpanzee trekking. Kalinzu Forest Reserve also hosts a number of other primates including blue monkeys, colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys among others and can be spotted whilst on a chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Kalinzu Forest Reserve also has human settlement which in a way interrupts the tourism activities therein, especially chimpanzee trekking.
From all the above 5 best chimpanzee trekking in Uganda destinations, it is Kibale Forest National Park that is the best destination for chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park can easily be connected with Queen Elizabeth National Park as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, giving you a chance to see the most sought after primates in Uganda.
Get in touch with a reputable tour operator like Focus East Africa Tours to help you pitch an amazing chimpanzee trekking safari, with a chance to extend it to explore the rest of Uganda.
