Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda & Rwanda

The Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda – all you need to know on your Chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda.

A safari to the pearl of Africa is more famous for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park however the country is a safari insider with a lot of adventure to explore that includes the chimpanzees, human’s closest relatives.

These massive creatures share almost 97% of DNA with humans making them the closest relatives to humans. Chimpanzees are massive creatures that are absolutely fantastic to watch in their natural habitats as they search for their food, participate in their daily activities with their young ones.

The chimpanzee trekking experience offers a massive opportunity to wildlife enthusiasm to learn the behavior of chimpanzees and perhaps take photographs for memories of the incredible Ugandan wilderness alive forever.

Where to go for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

Kibale National Park

The Kibale National Park is a great home to chimpanzees in the country with remarkable numbers here. The trails in the National Park are remarkable with wildlife sighting commonly encountered are the diurnal monkeys however the stars of these trails are the chimpanzees.

Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8 am and 2 pm and last an average of three hours, depending on various factors. The Chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale Forest National Park cost around $150 per person.

The perennially popular primate walk provides the chance to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kanyanchu’s groups are accustomed to human presence – some have been observed for over 25 years – and the chance of locating them is over 90%. Walks leave Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08.00, 11.00, and 14.00 and last between 2-5 hours.

Kalinzu Forest

– Another destination in Kalinzu Forest, located near Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, there are around 290 chimpanzees, and over 70 of these are habituated. As mentioned, the minimum age you can trek with the chimpanzees here is lower than the normal – it is 12 years old. The permit cost is also considerably cheaper as it is owned by different management – the cost is $35 per person. The downside to the Kalinzu Forest is that there is no good accommodation here so you would need to head back to Queen Elizabeth National Park to stay there, and more often than not, do the chimpanzee trekking as a day trip.

Budongo Forest

A final place you can see the chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, found in the Murchison Falls National Park. The mahogany trees in the Budongo Forest provide perfect shelter for these intelligent chimpanzees, as well as other species of primates. There are approximately 100 habituated chimpanzees available here, and visitors can also opt for the whole day chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo.

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo offers a 7 am morning session and an afternoon session at 2 pm.

The best time to track chimpanzees in Budongo is between the months of May and August which are rainy seasons (which may sound contradicting to most safari destinations).

This is because, during the dry season, the chimpanzees move deep into the forest looking for scarce food, water, and shelter, and this migration/movement reduces the chances of seeing them significantly because you have to trek a lot further to try and find them.

The chimpanzee permits cost $85 in Budongo and because you are in the area for Murchison Falls, it can easily be combined with a safari and an experience at Murchison Falls National Park.