Chimpanzee Trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an exciting activity done at Kyambura Gorge located in the heart ground of the park in south-western region of Uganda. The park is one of the most visited Uganda national parks because of the tree-climbing lions, & endangered Chimpanzees. The most done activity here are game drives and the Chimpanzee trekking expeditions. The habituated chimpanzees of Queen Elizabeth National Park are said to be approximately 24 individuals who were trained to get close to human appearance.
Where can I do chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Chimpanzee tracking can be conducted in Kyambura gorge which means the ‘’valley of Apes’’ which sits within the park. The gorge is home to over 24 individuals.
Facts about Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most exciting tourist attractions in the country besides gorilla trekking. The Chimpanzee trekking activity starts early in the morning after visitors coffee tea breakfast with their packed lunch. The driver or the guide is the one to pick you up from your lodge drives you to the park headquarter for a short briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking to be followed in the forest. Then after experienced ranger leads you to the forest trailhead where these great apes inhabits from and as you continue tracking in the forest you get an opportunity of see other species found within the forests while listening to the melodies of the birds and such species include birds, tree species, green vegetation, and other primates like Red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Lhotse’s monkey among other. This incredible activity can take as few as 2 to 8 hours depending on their location and once they being located you will be given one hour with them to watch them through learning on how they feed, grooming feeding their young ones, swing on the trees, as you are watching them you are free to take pictures with them for your future remembrance .
The lifestyle/Behaviors of Chimpanzees
The Chimpanzees live in groups known as troops and these troops consist of over 30 to 80 individuals. The biggest group consists of small or led by groups of fewer chimpanzees perhaps females or males and sometimes mixed-sex.
These great apes feed on leaves but after chewing them they just as a sponge. They, therefore, dip the leaves in water and suck out the moisture. Which can be easily seen along Kazinga channel during the boat cruise.
The chimpanzees use tools to get their food ready to eat like foraging for honey, termite’s ants, water and such modified tools include stick, rocks, grass, leaves and many more.
They can crack the nuts while using the stones and they eat their fruits using their lips.
The endangered Chimpanzees leave under the tree branches and are also terrestrial during the day time, at night they just climb up in the trees to have rest after a tiresome day.
They use their limbs to walk on the ground which makes them quadruped in nature and their fingers half flexed to support their great weight though they walk short distances while using their hind limbs and legs.
The female chimpanzees give birth every after 4 to 5 years.
They usually build their nest high on the tree in the evening hours, they use their hands and long toes to climb the tree.
The life span of Chimpanzees is 40 to 50 years in the wild.
The chimpanzee’s Diet
The Chimpanzees are diurnal and start at sunrise in the morning and their diet is comprised of 80 diverse plant foods mainly the fruits, leaves, buds, seeds, flowers, and blossoms during rainy seasons and during dry season they happen to kill smaller monkeys to feed their diet. These animals are said to have 98% human genes that’s why they feed on related diets like those of humans like fresh meat and fruits which they ripe on the trees.
What is the cost of Chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth National park?
Chimpanzee tracking carried out in kyambura gorge cost at USD 50 per person exclusive with park entrance fees.
Rules and Regulations followed before embarking on Chimpanzee tracking.
- Do not leave rubbish in the park instead go back with it.
- Travelers who are sick are not allowed to engage in Chimpanzee tracking because they can early be attached by human diseases like diarrhea, flu and fever.
- Travelers should keep their voices at a low level in the forest because too much noise can scare them away.
- You should keep for at least 7 meters away from chimpanzees and please stay in groups
- There is a limited number of 8 people allowed to participate in this mysterious chimpanzee tracking.
- Travelers are advised to not eat in front of these great apes.
- You should not try to feed any wild animals to follow the rules given to you.
- Do not be attempted to attach to Chimpanzees because they are wild animals.
- Flash disc cameras are not allowed to take pictures they might scare chimpanzees away or it might result in an attack because they may think that you’re an enemy.
What essentials to carry for Chimpanzee tracking?
The essentials to carry before embarking for tracking are Enough drinking water, long sleeved trousers, light rain jackets, Hiking boots, huts, energy snacks, warm clothes, waterproof bag, clear camera with enough batteries among many.
Other primates to be seen in Queen Elizabeth national park
The kyambura gorges famously known as the “valley of apes” harbor with lots of unique primates such as baboons, Red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, velvet monkeys among others. All these can make your Chimpanzee tracking tour unforgettable memorable encounter in Queen Elizabeth national park on your Uganda safari tours.
Travelers may ask themselves where to stay on the Chimpanzee tracking tour in Kyambura gorge?
Kyambura gorge is located inside Queen Elizabeth National park which is an ideal place to spend a night because it possesses beautiful accommodation facilities ranging from luxury to Mid-range and such lodges to include Mweya safari lodge, Kyambura gorge safari lodge, Jacana safari lodge, Katara lodge, Kingfisher Camp among others so accommodations facilities cannot make you miss the visit in kyambura gorge for the gorgeous chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park.
The park is approximately 400 kilometers from southwest Kampala Uganda’s capital city and in hours it takes 5 to 6 hours by road with a rewardable panoramic view of Roadside.
