Chimpanzee trekking options this season
Chimpanzee trekking options : Chimpanzee trekking is one the popular tourist activities done in Uganda. Most tourists that visit the pearl of Africa want to get a chance to see these amazing apes and explore the apes’ habitat. Well since Uganda is currently on a 42 day lockdown, one may wonder if they can still have a chance to go chimpanzee trekking.
The good news is that even though most sectors are closed right now the tourism sector is open and you can still have a chimpanzee trekking experience whenever you wish. Chimpanzee trekking is the experience of exploring the forest in search of the chimpanzees. On this experience you get to spend an hour with the chimpanzees observing them in their natural habitat.
Chimpanzee trekking experience is done in groups of 10 or 12 and is done all year round in all chimpanzee habitats in Uganda. Even in this season of the lockdown all chimpanzees trekking places are open and welcoming visitors.
Below are the top places in Uganda where you can have a chimpanzee trekking experience.
- Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is the most popular place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. The park is home to 2000 chimpanzees plus other primates. On your trekking experience in the park you are rest assured to find the chimpanzees because they are all over; in fact the park is known as the primate capital in East Africa. Kibale National Park is located in Western Uganda about 4 to 5 hours from Uganda’s capital Kampala. A visit to this park will not only give you a spectacular chimpanzee trekking experience but also some other amazing activities like forest walking, bird watching and many more.
- Budongo Forest
Also located in western Uganda, Budongo forest is another chimpanzee hub in Uganda with about 500 or more chimpanzees living in the forest. Budongo forest is known for its huge mahogany trees and being home to a variety of primate species; top of the list are the chimpanzees then Baboons, monkeys and many more. The forest is a short distance from Murchison falls National Park and usually persons who visit the forest also take the advantage and visit the famous Murchison Falls National park.
- Kyambura Gorge
Located in Queen Elizabeth National Park this gorge is known as a valley of apes. Kyambura gorge is home to about 300 chimpanzees and other primates. It’s made of thick forest will a valley form the draining of the Kyambura River which flows into the Kazinga channel. A visit to this gorge will give you a run for you fitness because of its formation, you have to take a moderately strenuous hike to reach the chimpanzees and other creatures in the forest.
- Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
If you are not up for the challenge of adventuring forests for chimpanzees, your best option to sight Chimpanzees will be Ngamba Island. Ngamba Island is a chimpanzee sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees. The Island is currently home to about 50 chimpanzees and is located in Entebbe in the middle of Lake Victoria. Unlike while the other chimpanzee trekking places where you are not allowed to feed the chimpanzees, at Ngamba Island you can actually feed the chimpanzees and interact very closely with them. The other bonus of visiting Ngamba Island is you get an opportunity to take a boat cruise and enjoy the beauty Lake Victoria on your way to the Island.
These are the top four places you will be sure to see chimpanzees in Uganda. Each place gives its visitors a unique experience and all places give you an overall splendid experience.
