Top Chimpanzee Tracking Destinations in Uganda: A Primate Lover’s Guide

Uganda, famously known as the “Pearl of Africa,” offers some of the best wildlife experiences on the continent, particularly when it comes to tracking primates. While gorilla trekking in the misty jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest often steals the spotlight, chimpanzee tracking is equally thrilling. As the closest living relatives to humans, sharing 98% of our DNA, chimpanzees offer an incredibly engaging experience. However, despite Uganda being home to a large population of these remarkable primates, their numbers have dwindled by around 90% over the past century, leaving an estimated 5,000 individuals. Here are some of the top destinations where you can observe and learn about chimpanzees in Uganda.

Kibale Forest National Park

One of Uganda’s most famous chimpanzee tracking destinations is Kibale Forest National Park, which holds the highest concentration of chimpanzees in East Africa. The park is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, with more than 1,000 individuals already habituated to human presence, making chimp tracking here highly successful. In fact, the chances of spotting these magnificent apes in Kibale are an impressive 96%. Beyond chimpanzees, Kibale is rich in biodiversity, offering sightings of 12 other primate species and over 350 bird species. The forest itself, with its lush, dense vegetation, is a prime habitat for these chimps, and the experience of trekking through it to observe them in the wild is unparalleled.

Kalinzu Forest

Another excellent location for chimpanzee tracking is Kalinzu Forest, located near the Mweya sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu hosts one of the largest chimpanzee communities in Uganda, with over 320 individuals. While not as famous as Kibale, it offers a more serene and less crowded experience. The forest is also home to a variety of other primate species, such as red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons. Its proximity to Queen Elizabeth National Park means that visitors can also enjoy views of other wildlife, including lions, buffalos, and antelopes, making it a great destination for those interested in a more diverse safari experience. However, Kalinzu’s terrain is relatively steep, and the chimpanzees are highly mobile, often swinging from tree to tree, which means trekkers need to be physically prepared for a more challenging adventure.

Kyambura Gorge

For those looking for a truly adventurous and rugged chimpanzee experience, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a top choice. Known as the “Valley of Apes,” this gorge is an extension of the park’s savannah ecosystem, and offers a unique opportunity to track chimpanzees in a more varied and dramatic landscape. Kyambura is home to a smaller population of chimpanzees, but the tracking experience is one-of-a-kind, with the lush gorge providing an exciting backdrop of cliffs and dense vegetation. The gorge is also teeming with other wildlife, including buffalo, bushbuck, and leopards, making it a fantastic location for wildlife photography and bird watching. While the chimps in Kyambura are less habituated than those in Kibale or Kalinzu, this only adds to the sense of adventure.

Budongo Forest

If you’re traveling towards Murchison Falls National Park, another excellent chimpanzee tracking destination is Budongo Forest. Budongo is not as well-known as Kibale, but it offers a similar chimpanzee tracking experience, with a population of around 600 chimps. Located along the way to Murchison Falls, the forest is home to one of the largest remaining tropical rain forests in Uganda, providing the perfect habitat for chimpanzees. The forest also supports several other primate species, including red-tailed monkeys and colobus monkeys, and the tracking here is less crowded than at other parks, offering a more intimate experience. However, tracking in Budongo can be physically demanding, and trekkers should be prepared for muddy and slippery conditions, especially during the rainy season.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

For a more unique and less conventional chimpanzee encounter, consider visiting Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, located on Lake Victoria. This sanctuary is home to 52 orphaned or rescued chimpanzees, many of whom were victims of poaching or illegal pet trade. The sanctuary offers a unique opportunity to observe chimps in a semi-natural setting, while learning about their rehabilitation and the efforts to protect them. Visitors can take a boat ride to the island, where they can interact with the chimpanzees through feeding sessions and educational talks provided by the sanctuary staff. While this experience is not the same as trekking in the wild, it offers a closer, more personal interaction with these fascinating creatures, and the surrounding lake scenery adds to the charm.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)

Lastly, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe offers another excellent opportunity to see chimpanzees up close, particularly if you’re interested in supporting chimpanzee rescue and conservation efforts. The center is home to several rescued chimps, and visitors can engage in various activities, including chimpanzee feeding and learning about their rescue stories. It is a family-friendly destination, perfect for those traveling with children or anyone keen to learn about wildlife conservation.