Tracking chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge

Tracking chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge: Kyambura Gorge is home to chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the western part of Uganda. It’s a deep valley gorge comprising thick vegetation cover of different types, and these act as a habitat to chimpanzees. The area is also a habitat of different bird species and several primate species, which can be seen during trekking activities.

Kyambura Gorge is one of the most visited places in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and this is because seeing chimpanzees is every person’s dream come true. Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to human beings, with over 99% DNA shared. Tourists from different parts of the world visit Kyambura Gorge to get close to the chimpanzees in their natural habitats.

On a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, tourists will only need trekking permits to be part of the chimpanzee trekking activity. The activity will enable the trekkers to meet the chimpanzees and watch them carry out daily activities like hunting, nesting, mating, and breastfeeding, to mention a few. Armed ranger guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority help trekkers search and locate the chimps in the deep gorge.

Chimpanzee trekking experience in Kyambura Gorge

This is an activity carried out in Kyambura Gorge every day in the morning and afternoon hours. The gorge has one chimpanzee troop so far habituated, allowing 8 people to trek per session. Early in the morning, trekkers first go through a briefing where they are taught the rules and regulations of the activity. Later, armed ranger guides are assigned to lead the trekkers in the jungle, where they use a number of trails to search for where the chimps could be.

Searching for the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge is done in the deep gorge where these chimps live. Searching and locating the chimpanzees takes 2 to 5 hours, and once spotted, trekkers are given time to be around them. This allows them to learn about their habits and watch them carry out daily activities. Trekkers are allowed to capture videos and pictures for future memories.

After meeting the chimpanzees, trekkers are taken out of the gorge and awarded trekking certificates. Trekkers join their guides for a transfer back to the lodge or drive to their next destination. A successful chimpanzee trek is a dream come true for most travelers, as they get to see the chimpanzees in their natural habitats.

Cost of tracking Kyambura chimps

To trek the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge, tourists need to pay the entrance fee to Queen Elizabeth National Park and then buy the trekking permits. Entrance to Queen Elizabeth National Park costs $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, $25 for the rest of Africa, and UGX 20,000 for citizens of East African member states.

The chimpanzee trekking permits for Kyambura Gorge cost $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents, and UGX50,000 for citizens of East African member states. Tourists who are interested in trekking permits can use local tour operators to buy them permits, which are sold at the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala.

When to go chimpanzee tracking?

Tourists can go chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge all throughout the year, for the area is always open for visits. The best times are, however, the dry season months, which occur from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine, which keeps the trekking trails dry and easier to walk through.

During the dry season, the vegetation is short and scattered, giving good views of the chimpanzees and other attractions. Tourists can still visit Kyambura Gorge for trekking in the rainy season, for the area will be open. This season, however, receives plenty of rainfall, which might make the activity less interesting.

From March to May and October to November, tourists find the trekking trails muddy and slippery, which can delay the location of the chimpanzees. The vegetation is tall, which can lead to unclear views of chimpanzees and other attractions within the gorge. Tourists who travel in the low season, however, get discounted tour packages since lodges reduce prices to attract a few tourists.

Where to stay on a safari to Kyambura

Tourists who are looking to trek the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge have a lot of accommodation facilities where they can stay. Where to stay depends on someone’s budget, as these range from budget to mid-range to luxury options. They include Buffalo Safari Lodge, Pumba Safari Cottages, Elephant Hub Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Enshama Lodge, and Warujojo Safari Lodge, to mention but a few.

When to book a safari to Kyambura Gorge?

A safari to Kyambura for chimpanzee trekking needs to be booked early enough. The forest has a maximum of 8 people trekking in the morning and another 8 in the afternoon, and these are a few permits compared to the number of people who dream of seeing these apes in their natural habitats. Tourists need to book permits 6 months or even more before the safari to avoid missing out on seeing chimpanzees.