Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda : chimpanzee trekking is one of the best activities that is done by many tourists who come to Uganda it involves tracking through the forest in search of the chimpanzees that keep on moving from one tree to another and this tracking activity in Uganda mainly takes place in kibale national park , queen Elizabeth national park in kyambura gorge, Semliki wildlife reserve and kalinzu forest found in Bushenyi , and they are over 5000 chimpanzees found in these different tracking points and usually starts in the morning and it takes about 2 to 3 hours and then afternoon tracking begins at 3pm that is in kabale national park and each group has 6members.on Uganda primate safari one can also encounter other primates like white and black colobus monkeys, baboons mammals like Elephants and different bird species to mention but a few.
Chimpanzee trucking permit in Uganda
Chimpanzee trucking permit is a legal document that will give you access to the chimpanzees. And you can get one from Uganda wild life headquarters and few permits are printed in order to reduce congestion over interaction with these chimpanzees, they are prone to diseases that why interaction is limited chimpanzee
Costs for permits of different residents.
Kibale national park
Foreign non-residents 250USD
Foreign residents 200 USD
East African countries 180000 UGX
Queen Elizabeth national park in kyambura gorge
Foreign non-residents 100USD
Foreign residents 80 USD
East African countries 50000 UGX
Or visitors can also try these places like kalinzu forest and there are over 290 chimpanzees, Semliki wildlife reserve and it has a population of over26o chimpanzee, Budongo forest located in Murchison falls national park and it has over 800 chimpanzees and it is the third best place to do trucking.
What to carry when going for chimpanzee trucking
shoes
Comfortable shoes with good grip for navigating through muddy roads and stepping into the bush without getting injuries.
Clothing
Put-on long-sleeved clothes that can help you and protect you from sharp thickets and also take rain jackets in case the weather changes
Insect repellent
Since the trucking is done in the thick forests so insects can not miss one has to carry the repellent in case of the biting or stinging.
Binoculars
You don’t have to miss some of the details because these mighty apes love moving from one tree to a norther so not miss any step carry your binoculars see them from every angle.
Packed snacks or water
In case one gets hungry before the trucking gets done though it does not take long it is not the habituation which takes 4 hours.
Rules and regulations to follow while going for chimpanzee trucking safari in Uganda
Book your chimpanzee permit in advance especially in the peak seasons to avoid inconveniences.
Children under the age of 12 years are not allowed to truck the chimpanzee the is in case something chases them like elephants they can’t run.
Don’t litter in the forest while trucking because it will cause you to pay some fines
When you have flue or cough your not allowed to do trucking because chimpanzee are susceptible to human diseases.
Don’t eat when your near chimpanzee because they may grad your food and sometimes cause injuries in the process of trying to take what you’re eating.
Noise or speaking on a higher tone it’s not allowed because you be chasing chimpanzees away and provoking them.
Taking photos using flash lights it is prohibited.
Smoking while trucking is not allowed because may get to the bush where they live and get burnt and even smoke it disturbs them.
Do not urinate or defecate in the park like in those areas where trucking is done from because these animals may fall sick.
Other things to do while on Uganda chimpanzee trucking
Bird watching
Kibale national park has over 370 birds recorded in the and this activity is best done in the morning or evening with an experienced birding guide and birds like yellow spotted nicator, black Bee eater, sunbird, Great blue turaco, slender billed weaver and many more will be seen.
Nature walks
Take a guided walk in the rain forest or national parks where chimpanzee trucking takes place which will give u a deeper understanding of the eco system and it will give u a chance to spot other wild life, reptiles and various insects.
Visiting local people or cultural tours
It will help a visitor to learn about Ugandan traditions and culture for example Batwa who will teach you how to make fire locally, hunting and others.
Chimpanzee habituation
Chimpanzee habituation it is where visitors spend more time on with chimpanzee because in this process, they are trained on how to stay or associate with humans.
Where to sleep when you are going for chimpanzee trucking in Uganda
When trucking is done in Kibale national park one can sleep at
Primate lodge
It is located inside the park near the headquarters in kanyanchu, it is a luxury accommodation facility. It offers 8 cottages and a camping ground with in the same premises it has restaurant inside, parking area and it is a starting point for almost all activities in Kibale national park because it nearby. But you can as well sleep in these ones in case primate is fully booked. kyaninga lodge, chimpanzee forest guest house, chimp nest to mention but a few
When one is trucking in kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth national park
Kyambura gorge lodge
This lodge it is the nearest and inside kyambura gorge it offers a luxurious and comfortable stay and gives a chance visitors those who want truck the chimpanzee it is so close to chimpanzee making it most preferably to visitors than other lodges, though there are other options like mweya safari lodge, Simba safari camp, elephant plains lodge.
