Chimpanzees are unique species of primates to encounter while on your tour in Uganda, these species are herbivorous in nature feeding on young bamboo shoot and stem, tree leaves, foliage, sugar canes and fruits like mangoes, oranges, jack fruit, grapes, water melon, avocadoes, cabbages, and more, they are black in color, tailless and feed both on ground and up in the tree branches which differs these primates from the shy endangered ground dwelling herbivorous Mountain Gorillas which usually feed only on ground.
Chimpanzees are ranked to be the closest primates to human being features reaching to an extent of even repeating to statements made by human beings while in the Jungle.
Tracking these Chimpanzees requires you to buy a permit which issues you permission for the activity, usually when heading to the Jungle for these primates there is no limited number of people assigned for the activity like for Mountain Gorilla trekking but they usually depend on the number of people available for the activity. While in Uganda listed below are some of the best places to go for Chimpanzee tracking.
Kibale Forest National Park
This is located in the Western part of Uganda characterized with thick green vegetation, tropical rain forests, Savannah grasslands and Woodlands, Shrubs, bamboo forested areas and some parts covered with Swampy areas.
The best way of reaching Kibale forest National Park in the western part of Uganda is by use of Kampala- Mityana – Mubende- Fort portal high way which is about 358 kms from Kampala up to the gate of Kibale Forest National Park using a stable Safari jeep, most visitors to Kibale Forest National Park go with the main interest of seeing the Chimpanzees in the Jungles plus different bird species which are mostly seen in the Bigodi wetland.
Other wildlife primates in Kibale Forest National Park include Baboons, Vervets, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys and more, if you are lucky there is a possibility of meeting other Wild animals in the Jungle which Lions, Leopards, Cheetah, Antelopes and more.
Tracking Chimpanzees in Kibale requires a permit and it costs $200 USD per person or if you would like to do the habituation experience it goes for $250 USD per person. Activities done in Kibale Forest National Park include Chimpanzee tracking and Nature walk in Bigodi Wetland.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This park is located in the south western part of Uganda characterized with tropical rain forests, Savannah grasslands and Woodlands, bamboo forested areas and Swampy areas near the banks of Kazinga channel.
This park is popularly known for the famous Tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector although it’s also among the best places for seeing Chimpanzees, these chimpanzees in Queen are usually tracked in the Kyambura gorge side but during some seasons these Primates are rarely seen mostly when there is scarcity of food so they tend to move very deep into the Jungle in search of what to eat.
Other tourist attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park include wild animals like African Big fives (Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards and Lions), Antelopes, Kobs, Primates include Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Vervets, Blue Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys, Baboons and more.
Activities done in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge which costs $50 USD per person, launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel which costs $30 USD per person, Game drive which costs $20 USD per person and Balloon safaris. Queen Elizabeth National Park is also a good place for bird watching with over 600 bird species recorded sightable.
Murchison Falls National Park
This is located in the North Western part of Uganda lying along the Albertine Rift Valley, it is popularly known for its great Murchison Falls. The best way of reaching this park is by use of Kampala – Masindi – Gulu highway with en-route stopover in Nakasongola for the Rhinoceros in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary or travel luxuriously by air transport means since always private charters are arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip up to Pakuba airstrip in Murchison.
This park is characterized with thick tropical rain forests, Savannah grasslands and Woodlands, Shrubs and some parts covered with Swampy areas. It is also among the places for seeing Chimpanzees while in Uganda and these chimps are found in the Budongo forest side, but these chimpanzees are rarely seen during some seasons mostly when there is scarcity of food, they tend to move very deep into the Jungle in search of what to eat so it is usually very paramount for you to choose the best seasons of seeing these primates in the Jungle, tracking activity in Budongo forest costs $90 USD per person.
Other attractions in Murchison include wild animals like African Big fives which include Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards and Lions, Antelopes, Cheetah, Kobs, Primates include Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Vervets, Red tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Baboons and different bird Species since this park is ranked to be among the best bird watching sites in Uganda with over 451 bird species recorded sightable.
Activities done in Murchison falls National Park include Chimpanzee tracking, Game drive, launch trip, Hiking to the top of the falls, Sport fishing, White water rafting and Bird watching.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
This is located in the Central part of Uganda, an island strategically located on the waters of Lake Victoria. This protected area was established to provide home to the uncared and orphaned Chimpanzees, currently 49 primates of chimpanzees are protected in this area, it is characterized with tropical rain forests, Savannah grasslands and Swampy areas.
You can only reach this island by boat since it is located on the waters or you can go by air transport means and private charters are always arranged from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe airport. These rescued primates are protected with in the preserved tropical rain forests and cages, activities done while in Ngamba include Chimpanzee feeding, Care giving and volunteering which include cleaning of feeding places, residing places (Cages) plus collecting and preparing of feedings.
For Chimpanzee tracking safaris in Uganda do not miss out all destinations listed above on your bucket list of destinations to see Chimpanzees.
