Where is the Best Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

The Best Chimpanzee Trekking Parks & Places

Where in Uganda is the Best Chimpanzee Tracking found with sure sightings?

Where is the Best Chimpanzee Trekking in Ugan da? Uganda is known worldwide as the premier primatedestinationt, and what is unknown is where to track Chimpanzees in Uganda. Tourists.

We have put together a list of the Best Chimpanzee Trekking. You can evaluate which chimpanzee tracking destination in Uganda is the right choice for you. We cut through the tourist hype and give it to you straight. Each Chimpanzee Tracking destination is evaluated and includes the pros and cons for each location,

You will find it easier to find the Best Chimpanzee Trekking parks that suit you in Uganda. Further, we inform you about the quality of the chimpanzee tracking experience and costs.

Uganda is the Best Chimpanzee Destination in East Africa. Regarding chimpanzees, Uganda, with over 5,000 chimpanzees, is number one in East Africa.

Not only that, but Uganda also has more Parks and Places where you can track Chimpanzees. Additionally, Uganda offers more Chimpanzee Trekking Choices and a higher percentage of sightings. Regarding trek difficulty, Uganda provides the most accessible Trekking in East Africa, but there are also more challenging treks.

Where is the Best Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

Number 1 – Kibale Forest:

For the Best Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda, Kibale Forest wins hands-down. If you want to see Chimpanzees on a Trek or during the six-hour Chimpanzee Habituation Experience.

Kibale Forest is the best Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda, not only in Uganda but all of East Africa.

None of our Clients have ever missed seeing the Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, home to 1,500 Chimpanzees plus 12 other primates, making it a primate lover’s paradise. The success rate for Chimpanzee sightings approaches 100% success.

Another advantage of spending more time with the Chimpanzees on the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX). The permit price is $250 instead of $200 for regular Trekking, and the Minimum Age for chimpanzee trekking is twelve in Kibale Forest.

Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Advantages:

Best Chimpanzee Sighting Rate (almost 100%) in East Africa.
Trekking Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest takes less effort and is doable by most.
There are 12 other primate species found in the park besides Chimpanzees.
Hiking Trails are there for bird and butterfly enthusiasts.
It is the only park where you experience the Forest at night on a nocturnal walk.
The Bigodi Wetlands Swamp Hike borders Kibale Forest and is a must-add-on.
A wide array of Lodging is available.
A Children Wilderness Experience is available for those below 12 while the parents track Chimpanzees.

Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Disadvantages:

The Chimpanzee Trekking Permit Price is $200. The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is $250 for Visitors.
Unlike the Gorilla Habituation Experience, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience does not always meet the expectations of trekkers.
Permits are in short supply during peak season months.
You will see more tourists. However, the number of trekkers is limited.

You will find more information about Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trekking and other activities.

Number 2 – Kalinzu Forest:

Kalinzu Forest is the second-best area in Uganda for Chimpanzee Trekking. It is near Queen Elizabeth Park, and Chimpanzee Trekking can be incorporated into a visit to Queen Elizabeth. It is also the closest Chimpanzee Trekking location to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Japanese Researchers have habituated the Chimpanzees here for over 25 years and have done an excellent job habituating them here.

There are six other species of Primates found here. Birders and Butterfly enthusiasts love hitting the trails in the Forest because of the abundance of species found here.

There are no quality lodging facilities here, so you must stay at a lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Not only do we rate it as the second-best chimpanzee trekking, but the esteemed Bradt Guide to Uganda does the same. Though second-best, it means Trekking without the tourism crowd.

Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Advantages:

The Forest has become the second-best chimpanzee trekking location in all of Uganda, and Kibale Forest is deemed the Number One.
You can easily combine Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Tracking with Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable. It is the closest chimpanzee tracking site to Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
It is easily combined with time spent in nearby Queen Elizabeth Park.
The critical reason to track chimpanzees here is the $50 Permit, which is a fraction of the price it would cost you in Kalinzu Forest. Also, there are no daily park fees to be added if you track chimpanzees here.
The success rate of sighting Chimpanzees is about 90% of the time, which is exceptionally high and the second-best in Uganda.
Typically permits are readily available even during peak season months.

Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Disadvantages:

Chimpanzee treks are more challenging and require that you are in reasonable shape.
Lodging is not available in or just outside of the Forest, and you have to stay in the northern area of Queen Elizabeth Park.

You will find more information about Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trekking and other activities.

Number 3 – Budongo Forest:

Budongo Forest is the third best place for Chimpanzee Trekking. Budongo Forest is the largest forest reserve in Uganda, and portions of the Forest are part of Uganda’s largest wildlife conservation area, Murchison Falls National Park.

Budongo Forest is home to between 600 to 700 chimpanzees. Other primates found here include black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Nocturnal primates have potto and several forest galago species. Rarely will you see the tree pangolins that are here.

More significant wildlife venture into the Forest from Murchison, such as elephants, lions, and leopards, rarely seen by chimpanzee trekkers.

There are six chimpanzee communities in Budongo. Three have been habituated, meaning they are used to being around humans. The Sonso and Waibira Chimpanzees are the subjects of continuous research, and tourists cannot visit them.

The Jane Goodall Institute habituated the Kaniyo-Pabidi Chimpanzee community or Troop. It is this large Troop that trekkers visit in Budongo Forest. The KaniyoPabidi community not only roams the Forest but ventures out into the surrounding savannah. The probability of seeing this chimpanzee community exceeds 80%.

Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Advantages:

The Forest is the third-best Chimpanzee Trekking Location, with a sighting success rate of 80%.
You can Chimpanzee Trekking with a Safari to Murchison Falls National Park. Additionally, you can track Rhinos on foot at nearby Rhino Trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
You can have more time with the Chimpanzee on a Habituation Experience Trek during the off-season months.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest costs $100, lower than in Kibale Forest. You do have to pay an additional park entrance fee of $40. The minimum age requirement is 12 years.
Besides Chimpanzee Trekking, this is one of Uganda’s hotspots for birding. Additionally, Butterly enthusiasts will find the Forest a treasure trove for them.

Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Disadvantages:

Budongo Eco Lodge is the only lodge here with budge and mid-range options, and
Chimpanzee Trekking is the second highest in the country.

You will find more information about Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking and other activities.

Number 4 – Kyambura Gorge :

Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s fourth best place for chimpanzee trekking. Although it has the smallest Chimpanzee, Trekking brings most to descend into the Kyambura Gorge. The price of tracking permits is a fraction of what it is in Kibale Forest. The chance of seeing chimpanzees hovers is around 60%.

Despite the lower odds of seeing the chimpanzees, the Chimpanzee trek is well worth it. Most do see, hear, see and observe the chimpanzees. The terrain and the one-of-a-kind experience are worth it. You will see other primates such as black and white colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, and other primates.

Chimpanzee Trekking brings most to descend into the valley of apes, the Kyambura Gorge. The price of tracking permits is $50 plus a daily park entrance fee of $40. The chance of seeing chimpanzees hovers is around 60%.

There are reasons for that. One, there is a smaller than 30 chimpanzees habituated Troop found here. It is an isolated community from other nearby forests like Kalinzu and Maramagambo. Chimpanzees travel to other woods, searching for food, habitat, and mating. Most of the chimpanzees in the Gorge tend to be males, meaning there are few off-springs. However, efforts are underway to change that.

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking Advantages:

The main reason for Chimpanzee Trekking is the setting, and you are descending into a mysterious underground forest with all kinds of treasures besides chimpanzees.
The convenient location of being inside one of Uganda’s most visited parks.
It is a kind of experience.
There is a wide array of lodges to choose from

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking Disadvantages:

A sighting success rate of 60%.
The fewest Chimpanzees of any chimpanzee trekking location.

Here is more information about Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking and other activities.

Number 5 – Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve:

The Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is known for birding, tropical jungles, the Semliki River, and Chimpanzee Trekking in what is more like the Congo than Uganda.

Chimpanzee Trekking takes place on a primate walk in the Mugiri Forest, a spillover of the vast Congolese Ituri Forest.

There are about 70 Chimpanzees, and they have been semi-habituated by researchers from Indiana University.

The Primate walk takes 3 to 4 hours and is conducted near Semliki Safari Lodge. Experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers will lead you. On this walk, you will see various primate species, including Chimpanzees, Red-Tailed Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Grey Mangabey monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and Olive Baboons. Additionally, you might encounter Waterbuck Antelopes, Warthogs, Bushbuck Antelopes, and Uganda Kob Antelopes. Buffaloes and Elephants.

Toro-Semliki Trekking Advantages:

The setting is in the spectacular Semiliki Valley framed by the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon.
Chimpanzee Trekking takes place in an area where the only Tropical lowland forest is found.
The Primate Walk is well worth it if you are into birding.

Toro-Semliki Trekking Disadvantages:

Lowest Chimpanzee Sighting Success Rate.
Limited Lodging

Uganda’s 5 Best places for Chimpanzee Tracking

Though we have ranked the five parks and places where Chimpanzees can be tracked, it does not mean that one cannot have an excellent Chimpanzee encounter at a lower-ranked place or park. We ranked the sites by the likelihood that you will see chimpanzees, and we did not rate the experience found in each park.

Best Advice about Chimpanzee Trekking:

Your Safari in Uganda will determine where you trek Chimpanzees. If you plan to track Gorillas and combine them with Chimpanzee Trekking, the logical places to include would be Kibale or Kalinzu Forest. Kibale Forest has the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience called CHEX.

Uganda is the best East African Country for Chimpanzee Trekking, with more Chimpanzees and more trekking locations. Plus, it is the only country where the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is offered.

Those that want more than one Chimpanzee can do so in various locations in Uganda.

Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris can be done as a stand-alone activity, or chimpanzee trekking can be included in a more extended Safari. You can combine Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking with wildlife and other activities such as Volcano Climbing.