Best Chimpanzee Trekking Spots in Uganda

If you want to go chimpanzee trekking, it is important to know the best places to see chimpanzees in Uganda. Here are some of them:

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is in western Uganda and covers about 766 square kilometers. It is the best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and is home to habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primate species, such as L’Hoest monkeys, Ugandan mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and bush babies. The park also has about 325 bird species.

At Kibale, tourists can join researchers and park rangers in chimpanzee habituation. This means helping chimpanzees get used to humans. This happens mainly during the low months of March, April, May, and November. Permits cost $250 per person and cover park entry and guide fees.

Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest is another top place to track chimpanzees in Uganda. It has the largest number of these apes and is near Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda. Permits for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo cost $130 per person per trek. Budongo Eco Lodge is the only lodge inside the forest, but visitors can also stay at lodges in Murchison Falls National Park or in Masindi town.

Budongo Forest is the second-best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. You can also combine chimpanzee trekking here with game drives in Murchison Falls National Park.

Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge, known as the “Valley of Apes,” is in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. This deep, 100-meter gorge offers some of the best views in the country. While you can trek chimpanzees here, it is not the best place for it. However, you will see other animals like giant forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys, and many bird species.

Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest is also in western Uganda, inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the country’s most visited places. It is home to about 220 chimpanzees, 444 tree species, 379 bird species, 97 moth species, and around 262 butterfly species. There are over 70 habituated chimpanzees, making Kalinzu a better option than Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking.

There is no lodge inside Kalinzu Forest, only a camping site. Visitors can stay in lodges within Queen Elizabeth National Park or camp nearby. Kalinzu also has the best walking trails for nature walks inside Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kibale Forest National Park and Kalinzu Forest are the best places for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Visitors can also see orphaned chimpanzees at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.