Best destinations to go for Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda
Being home to numerous attractions, Uganda, an East African country often referred to as the “Pearl of Africa” is considered to be a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and for those who travel on a safari seeking a unique experience with our closet living relatives known as the chimpanzee species. Uganda is also well-ranked for its beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity and there are several primate destinations to visit for chimpanzee tracking activities in Uganda and some of these include;
Toro Semliki National Reserve
Toro Semliki National Reserve is a great chimpanzee trekking destination located in the western corner of Uganda along the border between Uganda and DR Congo, the park is home to 260 chimpanzees living in three communities. The chimpanzees in Toro Semliki National Reserve is being studied by scientists from the Indian University and has been found to have a unique habit of moving upright as they leave the forest to go feed in the savannah.
Toro Semliki National Reserve is home to other primate species like chimpanzees, Red-tailed, vervet, Black, and white colobus monkeys and Baboons. You can also encounter wildlife species like waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, and elephants.
Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale National Park is located in the western region of Uganda and it is ranked as a premier destination for chimpanzee tracking because it hosts the largest population of about 1,200 chimpanzees in the whole of East Africa hence making it an ideal location for primate enthusiasts. This national park is surrounded by dense and lush forests, which provide a picturesque for tracking the chimpanzees. However, during this activity, tourists always get chances to encounter other various primate species such as; The red colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys (or red-tailed guenons), black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda red (or ashy) colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s (or mountain) monkey, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, Uganda mangabeys, patas monkeys, blue (or diademed) monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, Prince Demidoff’s bushbabies (galagos), Bosman’s pottos and many others.
Kyambura Gorge
The Kyambura Gorge is a forest, which is found at the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge is dominated by a dense forest, tropical rainforest and it is home to about 17 chimpanzees and is a cut off from the larger forests like Kalinzu and Maramagambo where other chimpanzees live, this last led to them being called the lost chimps of Kyambura. However, to track chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge will require one to book permits through the Uganda Wildlife Authority and your tour operator. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is normally includes to game drives, boat cruises and lion-tracking Uganda safari adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is one of the must-visit destinations where to see chimpanzees in Uganda, this sanctuary is located on Lake Victoria on Ngamba Island and is home to 49 orphaned chimpanzees. Ngamba Island is home to rescued and orphaned chimpanzees from all over Uganda, the sanctuary is not designed for chimpanzee trekking but provides an exceptional opportunity to closely observe the chimpanzees in a unique setting from a secure raised platform as they come to feed three times a day.
Budongo Forest Reserve.
Budongo forest reserve is part of Murchison Falls National Park, which is located in the western region of Uganda and it is also considered as another remarkable destination for chimpanzee tracking. More so, this pristine forest is dominated by towering mahogany, and ironwood trees which create a serene and enchanting atmosphere hence making it a good natural habitat to the habituated chimpanzee groups.
In addition, the chimpanzee tracking within Budongo forest provides tourists with great opportunities to explore other places like the Royal Mile, which is famously known as a birding trail where bird lovers can spot a variety of bird species such as; the chocolate-backed kingfisher. Therefore, this combination of bird watching and chimpanzee trekking makes budongo forests a well-rounded destination for all nature lovers.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Forest is another amazing chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda located outside Queen Elizabeth National Park, the forest is arguably the second-best place to track chimpanzees in Uganda. Kalinzu Forest is home to approximately 40 chimpanzees habituated for chimpanzee trekking yet the forest is home to more than 300 chimpanzees.
Kalinzu Forest is also home to blue monkeys, black and white colobuses, and vervet monkeys among others. In addition to primates, Kalinzu Forest is home to over 410 bird species, butterflies, moths, reptiles among others.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about the best destinations to go track chimpanzees and then book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global Safaris who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Uganda.
