The mighty Kyambura Gorge is an atmospheric underground rainforest situated at the flow of the great western arm right valley in Queen Elizabeth national park, it’s magnificently stretches about 16 kilometers and 100 meters deep. The steep Gorge was created by thrashing waters of the Kyambura River this panoramic valley is sometimes know as “The valley of Apes”.
Kyambura Gorge is home to many great apes providing you with a thrilling chimpanzee trekking experience, the chimpanzees at Gorge were given names to describe Uganda’s beauty and to ease their identification, the chimpanzees are said to be over 20 in number.
Kyambura Gorge has got one of the best breath taking views of the world boasting with Rich biodiversity the chimpanzees trekking experience is very fascinating as you learn the behavior of chimpanzees man’s close relatives in their natural environment. The Kyambura Gorge tree canopy provides exceptional climate being showed by tall trees you would not believe it’s surrounded by Savannah grasslands from the top.
Kyambura Gorge is endowed with beautiful bird species some of which are endemic to this area, the chattering of the birds will welcome you to this dramatic valley as soon as you start trekking some of the birds you will see here are; African skimmer, Ovampo sparrow hawk, Papyrus Gonolek, white winged warbler, martial eagle, greater and lesser flamingoes, African crake, secretary bird, vereux eagle, low land akalat and black bee eater among the rest.
Earlier on before the chimpanzees got trapped in the Kyambura Gorge, they used to connect to Maramagamboforest and Katsyoha- Kitomi forest and to Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park the gorge used to be their transit route and due to human settlements the chimpanzees had no choice but to remain in this tropical rainforest good enough the forest is adaptable to them because of the many fruit trees
Kyambura Gorge was formed as a result of volcanic activity causing the middle part to sink down with it’s forest and a fault line below was created this led to the formation of the Kyambura river that drains this rain forest with water supplied by the streams from Bunyaraguru and Buhweju hills.
Chimpanzee treeing is the main tourists activity doesn’t at the splendid Kyambura Gorge, there are many trails that have been set up for chimpanzees trekking offering you the best chances of I serving the great apes, the best time for trekking is always in the morning hours. The gorge is covered by Savannah at the top and swamps towards the Kazinga channel.
The Kyambura Gorge also offers visitors a wildlife experience a part from chimpanzees trekking tourists can come along other primates likeOlive baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys other things that will dream your attention at Gorge are butterflies, insects, gigantic trees, spider webs uniquely tapestried and many wild flowers.
Kyambura Gorge is also home to other animals like; water bucks, stripped jackal, African elephants, giant forest hogs, bush bucks and giant forest hogs to mention a few.
While at Kyambura George it’s good to connect your safari with visiting Queen Elizabeth national park for better wildlife viewing experience where to sleep will depend on the tourist’s choice and budget. Some of the hotels where to sleep are park view safari lodge, Kyambura Gorge lodge and many more
Kyambura Gorge can be accessed through the Kyambura Bridge and Kakumbagaro. Kyambura Gorge is 440 kilometers from Fort portal- Kasese route and approximately 420 kilometers south west of Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara- route. Tourists can also opt to fly to Mweya or Kasese airstrips from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield in Kampala.
