Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda is among the highlights of any Uganda safari besides mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking can be done in quite a number of protected areas in Uganda including, kalinzu forest reserve, kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth national park, kaniyo pabidi forest and budongo forest in Murchison falls national park and kibale national park. Kibale national park is the best place for chimp trekking in Uganda with over 1000 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species to supplement your primate safaris in Uganda, in order to have an unforgettable experience.
Whereas Gorilla trekking in Uganda is 700 USD, however, Chimps are at cheaper cost for the entire day in kibale national park or even other chimpanzee trekking destinations in the country. The chimpanzees are more exciting than the other primates, probably, because, they share 98% of the human DNA; closest mammals to human beings. And when habituated, the chimpanzees get familiar to human encounter and the interaction gets better, because they come down of the trees and stand closest to you waiting for you to take their photos.
ABOUT CHIMPANZEES
According to wildlife, the chimpanzees are categorized under the endangered primate next to the mountain gorillas. However, there are still quite a number of chimpanzees, scattered in a number of destinations in Uganda; Uganda has approximately 5000 chimpanzees in total.
The chimpanzees are the closest animals to humans with about 98% human DNA. This makes them quite intelligent and communicative animals, so you would not want to mock them in any way or else they might strike back at you. The chimpanzees are also highly sociable and live in quite bug groups; the smallest has about 20-50 members and the largest can comprise over 200 members.
The chimpanzees are found of dense forested areas of central and West Africa. However, Uganda is the most populated destination for chimpanzee trekking with most concentration in kibale national park. Most chimpanzees are 4 feet tall, and they weigh about 80 kilograms. The female chimpanzees are shorter and a little smaller as compared to the male chimpanzees; usually weigh about 30 kilograms.
You can track chimpanzees for one hour just as the mountain gorillas, but the chimpanzee trekking permit is cheaper compared to mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda. And chimpanzee habituation is more thrilling as you get more intimate with the chimpanzees for just a few dollars. Chimpanzee habituation is done in kibale national park in Uganda. It is a more charming adventure however the number of the participants per shift is restricted since their habitats are more sensitive. Two groups of six people each are allowed to have some good time with the chimpanzees in their natural setting.
Chimpanzee trekking is better done in the morning when they are coming down from their nests up in the trees, around 7:00 am east African time. So is chimpanzee habituation, however, it goes on and on through the daylight until your feet says no to your mind. Chimpanzee habituation is led by the chimpanzees themselves as they take you anywhere they want to go and all you got do is follow up until the evening drops in. The chimpanzees are unpredictable to know where they are going but uphill, downhill or even on the ground. Therefore, chimpanzee habituation might be a little tiresome, however the experience surpasses all the fatigue of the day.
