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Uganda safaris offers thrilling chimpanzee trekking tours. Though perhaps less iconic than gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences.
Imagine encountering a close relative in the forest– a creature sharing almost 99% of your DNA and has many decidedly humanlike traits. These remarkable animals, the most intelligent and social of all great apes, face grave danger.
Over 50 years, the world population of chimpanzees has decrease from over one million to less than 300,000 due to human activities. Today, they survive in a few central, western, and eastern African countries, battling ongoing threats like habitat destruction, poaching, disease, and conflict. Chimps aren’t mere animals; they’re unique individuals with emotions, just like you. They communicate, use tools for hunting and grooming, and exhibit creativity.
Their complex social structures involve deep bonds with family and friends. Like us, they express emotions through sounds, gestures, and facial expressions – crying, laughing, hugging, and kissing.
Chimp trekking in Uganda is an immersive guided wildlife experience that involves tracking and observing chimpanzees in their natural habitats. Chimpanzees live in forests which are only accessible on foot. Chimp trekking is active and usually requires hiking for several hours to see chimps up close.
Similar to gorilla trekking, you’ll follow your knowledgeable local guide through the dense forest to locate a community of wild chimpanzees and observe them going about their day. Watching these great apes up-close is a memorable and educational experience, offering a rare glimpse into the complex social world of these intelligent animals.
Most African safaris are centered on car-based wildlife viewing, and activities such as chimp trekking offer a nice break from time sitting in vehicles. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is mostly done as part of a longer tour that includes other activities, such as wildlife viewing in savannah reserves and gorilla trekking.
The safaris below include trekking Uganda’s forests for chimpanzees. You can use these tour itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then contact us, and let our team of expert craft tailor-made itinerary for you.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is offered Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve near Murchison Falls, the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalinzu Forest Reserve also near Queen Elizabeth NP. Each of these destinations offers a unique experience, catering to different preferences and budgets.
In most respects, Kibale National Park is the best place for Uganda chimpanzee tours. With over 1500 chimps, it has the highest success rate of the country’s chimpanzee trekking destinations. Also, because the community visited by tourists has been habituated since the 1990s, the chimps in Kibale Forest are now very relaxed in the presence of human visitors.
So, your chances of locating them is greater than 95%, better than any other place that offer chimpanzee trekking in Africa. Besides chimps, 12 other primate species inhabit Kibale, most visibly;
Kibale is also a wonderful destination for birding tours in Uganda, with a checklist of 375 bird species that includes the glamorous likes of great blue turaco, double-toothed barbet and papyrus gonolek.
Kalinzu Forest, located on the western edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, spans 137 km² (53 mi²) and protects a tropical rainforest that rises from the Rift Valley floor to the Kichwamba Escarpment. The forest is home to around 300 wild chimpanzees, with two communities habituated for research and tourism.
While Kalinzu is less well-known than other chimpanzee trekking spots, it is becoming an increasingly popular destination in Uganda. The success rate for tracking chimpanzees here is 90%, which is lower than Kibale but better than other Uganda chimpanzee trekking sites. Three key benefits of chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu include;
Greenway Nature Tours also like the fact that chimpanzee trekking and other activities in Kalinzu Forest Reserve form part of a community-based ecotourism project. One downside is that the hike to find the chimps can be long and strenuous, but it is manageable for those in reasonable physical condition.
A southern extension of the popular Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest is one of Africa’s best yet underrated chimpanzee trekking destinations.
Spanning around 790 km² of medium-altitude rainforest at the edge of the Albertine Rift, this expansive reserve is home to around 800 chimpanzees, along with a variety of forest monkeys, birds, and butterflies.
While the success rate for finding chimpanzees here is not as high as Kibale’s, it still compares favorably with most other chimp trekking locations in Uganda. The chimpanzee community in Budongo, habituated since the 1990s, is accustomed to human presence and relaxed around tourists.
One of Budongo’s advantages is its relatively flat terrain and well-maintained footpaths, making it a great option for those who may not be as physically fit, as it reduces the need to navigate through thick undergrowth or tackle steep, slippery slopes while tracking chimps. Additionally, despite being around 40% cheaper than Kibale, Budongo is more remote and receives fewer visitors, meaning you’ll likely encounter fewer trekkers during your visit.
Kyambura Gorge is an 11 km-long crack in the Earth’s crust located within Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge was named after Kyambura River which runs through its thick “underground rainforest”, 100 meters underneath the Kichwamba Escarpment.
Living within its impressive underground forest is a variety of monkeys, butterflies, and birds. But, Kyambura Gorge is best known for a small, isolated community of 30 wild chimpanzees that have become known as the “Lost Chimpanzees”.
Over the past 2 years the Chimpanzees of Kyambura have been habituated to tolerate the presence of human visitors. But sightings are not guaranteed and as such permits here are offered at considerably reduced rates compared to the Kibale Forest. This is however a chance to track the Chimpanzees in a remote and lesser-known location of Africa.
Chimpanzee trekking is a popular activity in Uganda, with many visitors choosing to experience it during their trip. Although several African countries offer this activity, Uganda stands out as the top destination. There are various locations where one can go chimp trekking, and it can be easily incorporated into any tour of the country.
In Tanzania, chimp trekking is offered only in Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Parks, both located along Lake Tanganyika (the world’s second deepest lake), and in Rubondo Island Park on Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake.
Gombe and Mahale are home to chimpanzee communities that were first accustomed to human presence in the 1960s. Gombe is particularly renowned for its connection to Dr. Jane Goodall, who conducted her research there.
While chimp trekking in Gombe and Mahale is of exceptional quality, the remote locations of these parks make it challenging to include them in a typical Tanzania safari. Meanwhile, chimp trekking in Rubondo is a newer development and tends to be less reliable compared to other locations in Tanzania or Uganda.
Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is a less-known chimp trekking destination.
This high-altitude forest is remarkably accessible and is home to 13 primate species. The park is worth visiting for its natural beauty, forest hikes and biodiversity alone, and the opportunity to track chimps is a bonus.
While chimp trekking in Rwanda is worthwhile, sightings can be less predictable compared to Uganda or Tanzania.
The ideal time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February.
These months provide more favorable trekking conditions with less mud, clearer trails, and less dense vegetation.
The dry season also offers better visibility and optimal conditions for photography.
While the wet seasons, from March to May and October to November, are less ideal, trekking is still possible. During this time, chimpanzees are harder to spot, but the quieter atmosphere brings benefits such as lower prices and fewer tourists.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda requires a moderate level of fitness, as the difficulty can vary from day to day.
Sometimes the trek is relatively easy, but on other occasions, it can be more physically demanding. Chimps roam over large territories, so you might find them quickly after 30 minutes, or it could take up to two hours.
Once you find them, you’ll spend an hour observing them, though the experience can vary.
The chimps may be resting, feeding, or moving quickly through the forest, which can be a challenge to keep up with, especially compared to the slower-moving gorillas.
The unpredictability of the trek adds excitement, but proper preparation is key. Regardless of your fitness level, it’s important to wear suitable gear, such as;
If you’re unsure about your fitness, you can hire a porter to carry your bag with essentials like water, snacks, and a camera, and assist you with the tough terrain.
When planning your chimpanzee trek, a few simple additions can take your itinerary to new heights. For instance, a visit to see the chimps in Kibale is just a short drive away from the savannah plains of the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A chimpanzee trekking adventure can very easily be turned into a primate extravaganza with the addition of some gorilla trekking. Both equally exciting and thoroughly rewarding experience. Enquire Now to chat to one of our experienced travel experts who can suggest a few options to take your dreams and make them a reality.
Chimp trekking is often overlooked compared to gorilla trekking, possibly due to the awe-inspiring size of gorillas, which makes these gentle giants so overwhelming to be around.
However, the experiences are quite similar. Both activities involve a ranger briefing and a small group of visitors, followed by an hour of observing the primates.
The main difference is that gorillas are generally less active, with adults mostly feeding or resting, while chimp communities are more dynamic. Chimps often break into subgroups, and there’s usually something happening—whether it’s an alpha male asserting dominance, a youngster misbehaving, or a hunt.
Chimpanzees are harder to track due to their speed and agility, and they spend more time in trees, making sightings trickier.
However, guides work hard to ensure good views and photo opportunities. Additionally, chimp trekking is much more affordable, with fees ranging from $50 to $300, significantly cheaper than gorilla trekking permits.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is considered very safe. The chimpanzees are well habituated and accustomed to human presence, so they pose no threat. Before your trek, you’ll receive a safety briefing, which includes maintaining a distance of at least 8 meters (26 feet) from the chimps.
By following the guidelines provided by your guide, you’ll ensure a safe experience. Overall, Uganda is a safe destination for travelers. Crime is uncommon in the national parks and reserves, although, like in any country, there may be some crime in urban areas. However, as long as you book with a trusted operator, you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.
The cost of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda varies by location: US$250 in Kibale National Park, US$100 in Kyambura Gorge, and US$130 in Kalinzu Forest Reserve or Budongo Forest.
When booking a guided tour, these fees are typically included in the overall package.
A 3-day tour with chimp trekking in Kibale starts at approximately US$950 per person. For a more extensive 10-day tour covering Uganda’s highlights, including chimp and gorilla trekking, along with safaris in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, prices begin around US$3,000 per person. These costs are approximate and depend on the accommodation level chosen for the tour.
There are several guidelines in place to ensure both your safety and that of the chimpanzees.
As our closest relatives, chimpanzees can be susceptible to the same diseases we carry, so you won’t be allowed to trek if you have a cold or any infection.
The goal is to observe the chimps without causing any disturbance to them or their environment. Key rules include:
Since 2016 our tour company offers 4×4 car hire, safari itineraries with accommodation and guided tours for group and the independent traveler in East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
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