chimpanzees share 97% DNA with human beings and belong to the hominidae family together with mountain gorillas and orangutans.Uganda has over 5000 primates at different safari destinations like Kibale forest national park, Budogo forest, karizu forest,Kyambura gorge and Ngamba island where you will find rescued chimpanzees in a netted fence.
chimpanzee tracking in uganda usually comes along with other opportunities to meet other primate species in the wild, most of the forests host various primates as well as birds, its rare to fail spotting more than two bird species while tracking chimpanzees. chimpanzee tracking come along as a supplement fir a gorilla safari in uganda.
In Uganda there are several places to track chimpanzees and these are:
Kibale Forest National park
Kibale forest national park is a moist green forest named the primate capital of the world with over 1500 chimpanzees. Kibale is covered with interspersed thatches and trees some of them are as tall as 55 forming a canopy, the park also include shade of herbs shrubs and ferns and swampy areas, about 351 tree species have been registered in the park. Kibale forest is not only home to chimpanzees but also a quite number of other 13 primate species that makes it a primate capital world, these primates include I’Hoest’s ,endangered red colobus monkey, black & white colobus, red tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey cheeked mangabey, bush baby and potto, vervet monkeys among the other primates. Other mammals also present are buffalo, forest elephants, bush pig leopard though they are rare to spot apart from duiker. A neat viewer could also see amphibians and reptiles and a colorful variety of butterflies as well a variety of bird species like ,African pitta, black bee-eater, Abyssinian ground thrush, yellow spotted nectar, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, yellow rumped tinker bird, blue-breasted kingfisher, along with the crowned eagle among others.
Chimpanzee tracking permits for Kibale forest cost usd 200 per person
Kyambura gorge
Kyambura gorge is a stunning escarpment valley with in Queen Elizabeth national park, kyambura gorge is broad about 100 ,meters deep, swarmed with rich bio diversity of birds, mammal species as well primates including chimpanzees.
The major touristic activity queen Elizabeth includes game drives and viewing but chimp tracking in kyambura gorge can also supplement the visit in the park. Queen has a rich bio diversity from mammals, reptiles, birds, primates surrounded by various crater lakes.
A chimp tracking permit in kyambura costs 50 dollars issued at Uganda wildlife authority.
Budongo forest
Budongo forest is the largest mahogany forest in Uganda on your way approaching the largest conservation area, Murchison falls national park. The mahogany dominated forest is home to various wild life species including chimpanzees, once in a while lions and leopards will be spotted in this large forest. Budongo has a record of more than 360 bird species, 465 trees the largest concentration is mahogany and 24 mammals, of which 9 are primates. Chimpanzee tracking has become an activity popular with Eco-tourists visiting Murchison falls national park. Trails have been created allowing ease access to the forest.The major tourist sites within this forest are Busingiro Ecotourism site and Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism site located at boundaries to Murchison Falls National Park.
Karizu forest
Karizu forest sits at an expanse of 147 sq.kms bordering imaramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth national park. The large trees forming a canopy have so far been added on the Uganda safari tour because of its occupancy of wild life features. The forest is right on your way to Queen Elizabeth national park, in Bushenyi district. Karizu forest is home to not only chimpanzee but also other primate species which include black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, baboon, pottos and Galagos to mention but few, the forest also harbors 378 Species of Birds among them the Great blue turaco, Yellow spotted Nictor, African pitta, Blue headed sun bird, African fin foot, black billed turaco among others. Karinzu forest is under the private management of national forest authority and chimp permit cost Usd 40.
Ngamba Island
The island is surrounded by Lake Victoria, covering 40 hectares, 23 km away on the water, the sanctuary is a project of the Chimpanzees Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) established in 1997 to shelter over 40 rescued orphaned chimpanzees which may be impossible to return in wild in their natural setting.While it’s not the same experience trekking through the tropical rain forest it’s worthwhile taking time to observe these vulnerable creatures behind their cages and study their behaviors. Humans are confined 40 hectares as the chimps wonder all over the forest back and forth to feed in a netted electric face where visitors take time to see them on a raised platform.
