Chimpanzee Trekking

An expert guide to seeing chimpanzees in the Wild

An encounter with wild chimpanzees – our closest relatives in their natural habitat is one the most thrilling adventures you will ever experience. These remarkable primates are the most intelligent and social of all great apes.

Chimpanzees trekking is an immersive guided wildlife experience that involves through the East African jungle and observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat. On the trek you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who you will follow through the dense forest to locate a group of wild chimpanzees and observe them for one hour as they go about their day.

Chimpanzee trekking is typically offered in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, this exceptional experience offers a rare glimpse into the complex social world of these primates – our closest relatives.

Where to see chimpanzees in the wild

Kibale Forest National Park

Dubbed as the Primate Capital of the world thanks to its rich diversity of monkeys, Kibale Forest National Park is East Africa’s busiest chimpanzee trekking destination. Kibale Forest protects a 766 square kilometers tract of tropical rainforest in the far west of Uganda. The forest is home to around 1,000 chimpanzees, in addition to the chimpanzees, the park is also home to other 12 primate species including L’Hoest’s monkey, red-tailed monkey, Ugandan red colobus, black-and-white colobus, olive baboon and the endemic Uganda mangabey which you can also see one the chimpanzee trek.

The success rate of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest stands at above 90%, the highest of any comparably accessible venue. Also, expect to see a wide variety of monkeys and colorful forest birds, particularly if you do a guided walk at the community – run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary bordering the park.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a remarkable chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda, the park protects the largest montane rainforest in East Africa blanketing a series of mountains that tumble like monstrous green waves either side of the main road that bisects it.

Also, Nyungwe Forest harbors an exceptional biodiversity, thanks to an altitudinal span of 1,600m to 2,950m.

Trekking chimpanzees is the main and most remarkable safari experience in Nyungwe Forest, allowing one hour of being in presence of these playful primates and an opportunity to explore Nyungwe’s spectacular scenery, exceptional birdlife and primate diversity along a 180 km network forest trails. For more adventure, go on canopy walk on East Africa’s only suspended canopy walk.

Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains National Park is an idyllic located park on Lake Tanganyika below the stretch of Rift Valley escarpment caped by Mount Kungwe, whose peak is a round 1,700m. The park set among the spectacular, forest slopes of the Mahale Mountains, originally created to protect the thousands of chimpanzees that inhabit the region and is renowned for its fantastic sunset over Lake Tanganyika.

Mahale National Park differs from most chimpanzee trekking destination in that it mainly caters to fly-in visitors spending three or four nights in the park. Because it is possible to track on multiple days and departure times are flexible, which greatly increases your chance of an intimate chimpanzee encounter.

The cons of chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park is that, fly-in safaris are costly but it is worth the investment if you can afford it.

Kyambura Gorge

Found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is an underrated chimpanzee trekking destination protecting 141 square kilometers of hilly escarpment rainforest bordering the similarly extensive Maramagambo Forest.

These two forests collectively protect a population of around 600 chimpanzees including two habituated communities in Kalinzu.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is a well-organized community project and the success rate stands at around 90%. Also, guided walks to see forest birds and other monkeys are offered.

Kyambura Gorge is one of the quietest chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda and there is no need to book a chimpanzee permit in advance, and you are unlikely to encounter other tourists while in the forest.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is the most famous chimpanzee trekking destination in Africa. It was here, in the early 1960s, that Jane Goodall, a celebrated English primatologist established a pioneering research and habituation project now cited as the world’s oldest ongoing study of wild animals.

Gombe is a relatively small park supporting roughly 100 chimpanzees split between three different communities. It has a beautiful location on the forested eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika – the worlds’ longest, second deepest and reputedly least polluted major freshwater body and is sufficiently isolated that it seldom gets busy.

If you want to see chimpanzees hunting red colobus or other monkeys Gombe is where you probably stand the best chance.

Gombe Stream National Park is the best option for independent travelers with plenty of time and limited budget.

Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest forms a southern extension of Murchison Falls National Park, this vast and biodiverse rainforest is home to around 800 chimpanzees including one habituated community whose core territory lies within easy walking distance of a main road.

Despite the forest’s location close to the popular Murchison Falls National Park, it receives relatively few visitors, making it a great alternative for those seeking to avoid crowding. In addition to chimpanzees, large troops of olive baboons, smaller monkeys such as black and white colobus monkeys and the spectacular Abyssinian ground hornbill are often sighted.

Budongo Forest is a perfect choice for a chimpanzee trekking destination for those worried about their fitness. It is the flattest of East Africa’s chimpanzee trekking destination, and most of the time you will be walking on a well-maintained grid of researcher’s paths.

The success rate of chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is greater than 80%, lower than in Kibale or Kalinzu. Also, it may drop lower when the habituated community moves outside its core territory.

Chimpanzee Trekking: Need to Know

When to track chimpanzees

Chimpanzee trekking is offered throughout the year at most of the chimpanzee destinations (national parks and forest reserves listed above). However, the hiking conditions are generally best in the dry season, which varies from region to region, but broadly falls over June to August and December to February in Uganda and Rwanda, and August to October in the western Tanzania.

Costs

The cost of chimpanzee trekking greatly varies basing on the location, but it is invariably far cheaper than gorilla trekking.

In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking is currently at US$ 200 (including park entrance) in Kibale Forest National Park, US$ 50 at Kyambura Gorge excluding park entrance fees, and US$ 130 at Budongo Forest and Kalinzu Forest with no additional entrance fee.

In Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking is charged at US150 to non-residents (no additional fee) while at Gishwati – Makura it is included in the accommodation cost for Forest of Hope Guesthouse and campsite.

In Tanzania, chimpanzee trekking is included in the daily national park entrance fee of US$ 80 plus VAT for Mahale, US$100 plus VAT for Gombe and US$30 plus VAT for Rubondo, though in all cases you need to pay additional guide fee of roughly US$20.

Chimpanzee Tracking Permits

If you are traveling on an organized tour, the operator should book your permits. Traveling independently, online booking for Kibale and Kyambura Gorge can be made through the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

What to Expect

Chimpanzees are very mobile primates, always on a move, they most often betray their presence with a communal pant-hoot call, an explosive, frenzied vocalization that reverberates loudly through the forest interior. Once the chimpanzees have been located with a help of a ranger guide and tracker, you will often have to race breathlessly behind them through the tangled undergrowth before finally they settle down to groom quietly in a forest clearing or climb athletically into the canopy of a fruiting tree.

Conditions vary greatly from one site and one day to the next, but generally speaking, tracking chimpanzees is more challenging than tracking gorillas as they are very mobile. In both cases, expect to face a combination of steep, slippery paths and tangled undergrowth. But because chimpanzees are so much more mobile and less sedentary than gorillas, pursing them through the forest often requires a fair level of fitness and agility, and the success rate of tracking is considerably lower. That said, once you have located the chimpanzees, they may give you a bit of a run-around for a while, but four times out of five they will settle down at some point within the hour you will be allowed to spend with them.

Packing and Preparation for Chimpanzee Trekking

To track chimpanzees, a reasonable level of fitness is required. If you are able to walk at a brisk pace for two hours at home, you should be fine. If not, it is a good idea to get in some walking to build up your fitness.

Comfortable hiking boots are ideal for walking through the forest. Also bring a hat and sunscreen to protect you against the sun, as well as a poncho or raincoat in case of rain. I recommend wearing full-length trousers (ideally tucked into your socks to deter biting ants) and long sleeves and gloves for biting nettles. Most safari lodges will provide with walking stick or create a makeshift one by request.

It is hard to tell how long you will be out on the trail, but be prepared for anything from three to six hours in the jungle. So carry plenty of drinking water (ideally 2 litres) as well as few packaged snacks, and make sure your camera or phone is fully charged.