Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge : Uganda is unique in its aptitude to syndicate a huge variety of wildlife and safari practices along a single journey. Chimp tracking in Uganda is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences available on the landform. There are 3 major chimp tracking destinations in Uganda: Kibale Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. And a subsection of Queen Elizabeth called kyambura gorge.
Chimpanzee tracking is possibly the most gorgeous thing to do in Kyambura Gorge; Chimpanzees are man’s closest relations and are highly bright related to most primates.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge Large groups is divided into smaller groups that feed distinctly before getting back to the group before night. They build nests on top of trees for rest in the afternoon and at night.
Building the nests takes a very short time and is done by bending several tree branches together to form a relaxed chimp couch. The most active part of the day for chimps is after getting out of their temporary nests in the morning. They start by picking up fruit randomly in the morning becoming very selective as they get fuller in the afternoon. Because of their high level of intelligence, Chimps will use stems to fight off enemies including humans. The same stems can be used to remove/lure termites out of their holes.
Chimp Tracking in Kyambura Gorge for thousands of years, the chimps in Kyambura Gorge would cross over to feed and mate other chimp communities in forests like Katsyoha- Kitoma, Maramagambo and Kalinzu through a natural and smaller forest corridor. This forest corridor was completely destroyed by humans through deforestation and setting up new settlements. The chimps became trapped in the gorge. The only path to the other forests is through the Savannah which is full predators like lions, leopards and hyenas. The chimps had no substitute but to remain in the gorge and furnace a life for themselves. Expert fear that inbreeding could lead to changes and slow birth rates.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge has two sessions (Morning and afternoon). The first sessions start early in the morning with a briefing at the visitors Center close to the Gorge. To track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, one needs to first acquire permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authorityin order to be permited to carry out the trek.
Permits are got from the park offices in Mweya. The Authority issues only 8 permits for each session hence a total of 16 permits per day. From Mweya visitors need to drive to the gorge for briefing. After the briefing, visitors are assigned a walking stick and Guides to lead them down the gorge. The first task is to go down the 200 meter slope up to the river down the valley. Chimps are very vocal and their location can be identified by following their hoots and distant cries. In case they are quiet, their Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge footprints (in mud) and poop can help in locating them.
Once you locate them, you will be able to watch them play, breastfeed, mate, rest and even fight. The chimps in Kyambura Gorge have a remarkable habit of getting down the trees each time they see visitors. This allows for great photos from a close distance. Apart from the chimpanzees, hiking down the gorge exposes visitors to unique and amazing biodiversity. Visitors will have an opportunity to spot rare vegetation and tall tropical trees. The gorge is also home to mammals like hippos, elephants and other smaller primates. The whole activity takes between 2 to 3 hours.
Facts about Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge
All the chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge are habituated. Chimpanzee permits in Kyambura Gorge cost about $50 for international visitors. Ugandans, East African nationals and foreign residents residing in the country pay about 30,000 shillings each. It is important to book the permits in advance so that you don’t get disappointed at the last minute.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge is very demanding because it involves hiking up and down a valley. You might also need to follow the primates for long periods once you reach down the gorge. One needs to be fit to complete the activity without much strain on the body. However, the activity is highly rewarding for those who love nature. Exploring an underground forest with amazing flora and fauna is a very rare treat
The chances of seeing the chimps are not as high as in Kibale forest. This is because the chimps sometimes head too far into the gorge which makes it impossible to reach them on time. However, most guests do see the chimp and only rarely do they miss out
Primates and other wildlife viewing: Apart from chimpanzees, Kyambura Gorge is home to baboons, Vervet Monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and Colobus monkeys. You can start seeing the primates Activities in Kyambura Gorgeand birds feeding down the valley from the edge of the gorge or while still on the Savannah. This view from the surrounding Savannah is a wonderful experience. In fact, instead of sloping down the gorge, visitors can simply walk around the edges of the gorge to marvel at the scenery below. If you decide to go down the valley, expect to encounter many forest creatures including hippos, antelopes and elephants. Lions, hyenas, buffaloes, leopards and other mammals visit the gorge occasionally too.
Nature Walks in Kyambura Gorge Nature and Forest Walks: Kyambura gorge is an amazing place to explore. Many tourists concentrate on the Savannah and the wildlife while visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park. Little do they know that they are missing nature’s great wonder at work Apart from its natural beauty, you get this feeling that you are in another world – Somewhere mysterious and intriguing. Guided nature walks can be done alongside chimpanzee tracking or separately on foot to see some of the forest creatures like large forest hogs, Colobus monkeys, re-tailed monkeys and hippos. Nature walks in Things to do in Kyambura Gorge Kyambura Wildlife Reserve will introduce you to a completely different world. From the hot Savannah surrounding the gorge, you are suddenly introduced to cool underground forest with beautiful tree canopies and amazing creatures. Your Guide will share information about the valley including its history, the animals and birds. The nature walks are organized in two shifts – in the morning and afternoon. Early morning nature walks start at 08:00am while the afternoon walks start at 13:00pm from the fig tree camp. Only two groups can take part in the nature walks during each session. Each group normally has 4 individuals.
Bird watching: Kyambura Gorge is a birders paradise. The gorge is attractive to the birds because of the tall trees and scenery. The trees are filled with fruits and insects which the birds love. Many of the birds are forest dwellers but there are also countless birds that go to the gorge purposely to feed and then retreat to their nests in the Savannah or wetlands close to Lake Albert and George. The common species include the African broad bill, Martial Eagles, falcons, African fin foot, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, African skimmers, White-tailed Lark, Bar-tailed Godwit, black headed bee-eaters, Pinkbacked Pelican, Shoebill storks, Corncrake, papyrus canary, Chapin’s Flycatcher, papyrus gonolek, Black-rumped Buttonquail, white winged warbler and flamingos.
How to Access Kyambura Gorge
The distance to the Gorge from Kampala through Mbarara town is about 420 kilometers. If using the Kampala Fort Portal route, the distance is 410 Kilometers. Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park by Tracking Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorgeroad generally takes about 6 hours. To avoid the long distance by road, tourists can book a chartered flight from Entebbe international airport to the airstrip in Mweya. The flight takes about an hour. From the airstrip, a private car can be arranged to pick you up by your Tour Company or hotel up to the visitors Centre in Mweya. After paying for the tickets in Mweya, you will then be transferred to Kyambura Gorge. Kyambura Gorge is located 30 kilometers away from the Mweya Visitors centre. The Kyambura Gorge has its own small Visitors Center at Fig Tree camp just at the edge of the Gorge.
in case of the desire to visit kyambura gorge you can get in touch with a Uganda safari get yourself booked up for the trek and off to the safari lots of fun and adventures a wait you to experience.
