The wildest sound in the world might be the cacophony of shrieking sounds that chimpanzees make when they find their breakfast. On the morning I went chimpanzee trekking in Uganda I stood in the middle of a dense forest listening to 100 chimps hoot and holler from the trees in every direction. The hair stood up on my neck, and it felt like the air was sucked right out of my lungs.
Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is always an exhilarating experience. I love feeling like I’m just an errant human visitor in a magical kingdom of animals, like in the Jungle Book. But seeing primates in the wild is particularly special. We share over 98% of our DNA with chimps, so their behavior is incredibly human-like. And the fact that they’re an endangered species and that just by being there you’re contributing to their future as a species makes the experience even more meaningful and awe-inspiring.
Planning the perfect Uganda Itinerary – gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
For many travelers, gorilla trekking is their first priority in Uganda. It’s fairly easy to combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (check out my separate complete guide to gorilla trekking in Bwindi) with chimpanzee trekking. You should plan for at least five nights in Uganda, and I highly suggest doing the chimp trekking first. I’m a professional travel advisor so you can plan your trip with me and I will handle all of your logistics, or you can plan the trip yourself.
A suggested itinerary for chimp and gorilla trekking would be:
Day 1 – International flight arrival in Entebbe, overnight at a hotel near the airport.
Day 2 – travel to Fort Portal which is near the chimps. You can fly or travel by car.
Day 3 – Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4 – travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You can fly or travel by car.
Day 5 – Gorilla trekking
Day 6 – Travel to Entebbe for evening international flight departure
So you can see that in order to do just one day of chimp trekking and one day of gorilla trekking you will likely need to spend five nights in Uganda. For just chimp trekking Many people opt to do more than one trek. There are also lots of other activities that can be planned on the travel days, or after the treks, including visiting community tourism projects, bird watching tours, guided interactions with local indigenous tribes, shopping for local crafts and art, hiking, boat rides, and more. You could easily spend 10 days or two weeks exploring all that the “Pearl of Africa” has to offer in terms of wildlife and cultural experiences. There are just so many incredible places to visit in Uganda.
Quick Facts about Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
I’ve included many general tips for traveling in Uganda in another post linked here. Here is a snapshot of facts specific to tracking chimps:
Where to go Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
The best place to see the chimps is Kibale Forest National Park, near Fort Portal. It’s easy to get to and there are a few high end accommodation options here. Most of the habituated chimpanzees in Uganda live there. There are two other places in Uganda to track chimps – one place called the Kalinzu Forest which is near Queen Elizabeth National Park, and another (Budongo Forest) is near Murchison Falls. There are less accommodation options and less chimps in each of these.
Permits
Just like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking requires a permit and capacity is limited. You should buy your permit at the same time as you plan your itinerary and hotel bookings to ensure the trip fits together properly. Permits typically cost $150 per person though there are sometimes lower costs during certain times of year.
Rules and restrictions
The minimum age for chimp trekking in most of. There are no exceptions. Compared to the minimum age for gorilla trekking which is 15. Travelers are led in small groups with an armed ranger and guide, and are allowed a maximum of one hour in the presence of the chimps. You also have to stay several meters/yards away. The chimps move quickly and there are so many of them, it’s practically impossible to really maintain that distance but you should try to give them their space. Remember, you’re visiting them in their home!
Note on Covid-19 – at the time of publishing this, Uganda is open for tourism however due to the unpredictability of the pandemic this could change at any time and you should do research before booking any component of a trip.
How long to go for?
Unlike gorilla trekking which is a full day experience, Chimpanzee trekking is a half day experience usually lasting around three hours including entering and exiting the forest and your one hour with the chimps. There are two starting times per day, at 8AM and 2PM. I recommend going in the morning. You can plan to start after an early breakfast and you won’t even need to pack a lunch, you can have that back at your lodge or at a nearby restaurant.
Difficulty
Chimp trekking is not very challenging if you’re reasonably fit. Kibale Forest is much flatter than Bwindi where the gorillas live. On the day of my trek I got out of the car, entered the forest from the road, and within 30 minutes I was surrounded by chimpanzees! It was fairly hot and still tiring, but for travelers who are fairly active and healthy it’s not likely that it will feel very challenging.
Terminology – Is it Chimpanzee trekking or tracking chimpanzees?
A quick note on terminology as there is sometimes confusion about the difference between trekking and tracking both for chimps and mountain gorillas. Chimp trekking is the general term for the experience travelers are looking for when they plan a trip. When you go chimpanzee trekking or gorilla trekking it’s a full day tour where you are led by expert local guides and rangers into the forests on foot to find the animals and spend time in their midst.
Tracking on the other hand is the actual act of finding the chimps or gorillas. You, as the traveler, are participating in this, but the experts who are in charge are the ones who are doing the actual tracking. There are people employed by the national parks who spend their time learning the habits of the different primate families and know how to track them well enough to lead travelers to them for a fun and fairly relaxed adventure.
Sustainability and chimpanzee conservation in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking is a wonderful example of sustainable ecotourism. When you pay for a permit to do the experience your funds are directly supporting the running of the parks, the conservation projects to protect the species, and the livelihoods of local Ugandan people who are trained and employed to do this important work. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is an excellent resource for learning more about wildlife in Uganda and conservation efforts. Spending your money in the local communities at lodges, restaurants and shops further supports the local economy for both entrepreneurs and people employed by businesses.
What to expect on the day of your chimp trekking adventure
Getting to Kibale Forest National Park
You should plan to arrive in the Fort Portal area the day before and sleep at a lodge in the vicinity of Kibale Forest so you can get up early and start your trek in the morning. There are regional flights from Entebbe or from Kisoro, if you see the gorillas first (but I really recommend seeing the chimps first!), or you can travel by road, or even by private helicopter. In the morning your guide/driver will drive you to the visitor’s center at Kibale in time for the briefing. Depending on where you stay it could be an hour drive, or walking distance. See below for more details on where to stay.
Briefing at the visitor’s center and walking to meet the chimps
You’ll wake up early and have breakfast and then your guide and/or driver will take you to the Visitor’s Center at Kibale Forest National Park. You’ll sit through a briefing where you’ll learn about the chimpanzees in the park and the rules associated with going into the forest to hang out with them. You may have to drive a short distance again to enter the park. Then, your small group will be led by an armed ranger and trackers into the forest. As soon as the chimps are near, you’ll know! You’ll hear their hoots and hollers before you see them. They might act a bit silly, staying up in the trees, even sometimes peeing or throwing poop down from the treetops! It’s all just part of the experience.
Your hour with the chimpanzees
When we found our chimpanzee family we heard them first and then within a couple of minutes we could see them all around us, but they were spread around a lot. They made a lot of noise from the beginning, at first their calls were slow and at a lower decibel. Then something crazy happened – a chimp swung by a small group of us and began shrieking as though the world was ending. That sounds dramatic, and it was. At first it was a little jarring – it felt like a danger call. But what was it actually? He had found a bountiful breakfast of tree fruit and was alerting the rest of his family to let them know it was time to eat.
After that, we walked around and watched as they ate, played together, groomed each other, and then relaxed. Some of them went off by themselves to nap or just chill in the shade. They looked like they were contemplating life or maybe thinking about their next big adventure, just like us humans. After the hour was up we started making our way out of the forest. Since the chimps had spread out quite a bit, we were treated to some extra time among them because we kept finding them along our path. The anticipation of coming across a hairy humanlike being on the side of the walking path was definitely a little added bonus.
We took the long way out of the forest and our ranger/guide offered lots of interesting stories and details about his job and about the chimps. Connecting with locals who are passionate about the animals and conservation is definitely a highlight of the experience.
Where to Stay Near Kibale Forest National Park
There are several lovely boutique, eco-friendly properties where you can stay when you go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. I spent time at both of the below properties. They are both great, with very different atmospheres and are likely ideal for two different types of traveler. My complete guide on boutique lodges and hotel properties in Uganda is coming soon.
Ndali Lodge
Ndali has an absolutely breathtaking setting, with a crater lake on one side (the lake is famous – it actually appears on Ugandan currency!), and views of the Rwenzori Mountains. The lodge is not modern – it has a rustic country charm, an old fashioned kind of elegance, and a homey vibe. Yellow floral canopy beds, antique writing desks, hammocks in the garden. Every part of the property was designed to take in the spectacular scenery. You can even gaze out at the sun setting behind the mountains from the bathtub in your cottage. Cottages are separate and private from the main house, most of them have two queen beds. The food was delicious. My favorite part of the experience was the full English breakfast on the veranda.
Ndali is owned by an English family who is committed to making a positive impact on the local community. They have their own coffee plantation (I bought some while I was there), they run a school on the larger property and also donate funds to educating local children (education is not free in Uganda). Ndali Lodge is a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from Kibale Forest National Park. It’s further than Primate Lodge (below) but the atmosphere was worth the extra time and driving through the local village was an experience on its own. I stayed at Ndali Lodge for two days.
Primate Lodge
Primate Lodge is more modern and more minimalistic than Ndali Lodge. The main building areas are completely open air and include a massive dining area and lounge with a bar, as well as a more casual lounge space that feels more like a library. Both are completely open on one side, and the property is in the middle of the forest. So while there are no views of mountains or epic scenery, you really do feel connected to nature under the forest canopy. The cottages are very modern (at least some of them were renovated in 2019) and huge, with wide wooden decks that jut out into the forest. There is no pool at Primate Lodge but there is an outdoor area with fire pits for hanging out. Primate Lodge is conveniently located within walking distance of Kibale visitor’s center where you start your chimpanzee trekking experience.
Other Things to do near Kibale Forest National Park
Seeing the chimps takes a few hours and is best in the morning. You can also do the experience in the afternoon in order to accommodate flight or driving arrival times. Or if you’re trying to be really economical with your time. After my morning trek I went for lunch at a lodge called Primate Lodge, different from the one I was staying at which was Ndali Lodge.
Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX)
If you’re a really adventurous and curious traveler you may want to do a chimpanzee habituation experience. You must plan this in advance. This is where you as a traveler join researchers and scientists to spend time among a family of chimpanzees who are not yet as accustomed to being in the presence of humans. It’s more unpredictable and more challenging. The day is longer, starting at dawn when you join the pros in finding the chimp nests and observing them in even the most mundane behaviors – eating, napping, grooming, etc. It makes the most sense to stay a bit longer in the area and do two treks: a typical chimp trek as described above, and then a habituation experience on a separate day. The habituation experience requires its own separate permit, and an open mind.
Other primates to see
Kibale forest is inhabited by over a dozen primate species including red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, gray cheeked mangabays, and more!
Bigodi Wetlands – Community Project and Birdwatching
In the afternoon we visited a community tourism project called Bigodi Wetlands where a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable local guide lead us on a bird watching tour through a beautiful tropical forest. It was flat and fairly muddy, and hot and humid. If you’re exhausted from your morning activities with the chimpanzees it might be a lot to go on a bird watching tour, but I enjoyed it.
Ndali – Crater lake and community walk
Ndali Lodge sits in a breathtaking spot next to a famous crater lake, amongst coffee terraces, and banana and vanilla plantations. A guided walk is a great way to casually explore the beautiful surroundings and the local community.
Comparing Chimps vs Gorilla trekking
One reason it’s worthwhile to see both the chimps and the gorillas in Uganda is the experiences could not be more different! Both species are great apes, and the experience to see them is a safari on foot. But in looks and behaviors they are very different. Mountain gorillas are pretty quiet creatures and they move somewhat slowly and stealthily through the forest. They live in families with up to about 25 gorillas. Chimpanzees on the other hand are loud, fast, and gregarious! Being around them you want to chuckle, whereas I would classify seeing the gorillas as a heart-stopping, breathtaking experience. Both experiences are incredibly moving.
Other wildlife in Uganda
Mountain gorillas are of course the other main attraction! But during my time in Uganda I also saw elephants, hippos, baboons, zebras, giraffes, and so much more! There are also places where you can see predators, like tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Predators are not as abundant in Uganda’s national parks as they are in other destinations that are popular for traditional safaris, like South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya. I highly recommend combining a trip to Uganda with one of these other destinations if you have the time.
Planning your Uganda Itinerary
If you have questions about planning and booking your trip, I would love to help! Contact me.