Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the top safari activities to do on Uganda trips, especially for primate lovers visiting Africa. This is because the country has the highest population of chimpanzees living within their natural habitat and therefore offers the best opportunity to see them. Chimpanzees are amazing primates to track with about 98% DNA related to humans, making them man’s closest relatives after bonobos and really intriguing to see in the wild.


The African continent has about 300,000 chimpanzees left in the equatorial forests and Uganda is the single destination with a high population. The single habitat with the highest population of chimpanzees in Africa is in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park, over 1500 chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Along with several other primate species, the park gained the slogan “primate capital of the world”.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is very safe as the park hosts habituated chimpanzee groups and each group is guided by armed and well trained park rangers.

Chimpanzees Lifestyle

Chimpanzees are social primates that live in communities of up to 150 individuals. These groups are further divided into smaller sub groups each led by an alpha male.

Chimpanzees spend most of their day in the tree tops, sleeping, grooming and feeding. They also descend from the canopies and it’s during this time when you have the best chance of closely seeing them.

Their diet contains mainly of fruit, leaves and barks.

At night, they spend their time in the nests which they make with branches and vines on the trees safe from predators on the ground. If the troop isn’t on a move, the same nests can be used for several days.

Chimpanzees don’t become mature adults until around 13 to 15 years of age. The females mature faster than males.

They have an average lifespan of 40 years in the wild and 60 years in captivity. Chimpanzees have six main stages in life which are neonate, infant, juvenile, adolescent, sub adults, and adult

Best places to witness the chimpanzees in Uganda: Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

For chimpanzee trekking trips in Uganda, choosing the best or desired destination is vital. All the chimpanzee trekking spots in Uganda are natural habitats and these include Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest. Here are details on the best places for chimpanzees trekking in Uganda;

  • Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest hosts the highest total population of chimpanzees and best place for trekking chimps in Uganda. The park has over 1500 chimpanzees and is still home to over 13 primate species, that’s why it’s dubbed the primate capital of the world.

To trek chimps in Kibale forest, one can plan a morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking experience. Along through trails, trek through the forest for several hours searching for the chimpanzees as they go about their life in their natural habitat. Enjoy seeing the chimps and listening to them before trekking back.

To plan a chimpanzee trekking safari to Kibale Forest, you can customize an itinerary with Carmine safari experts. This can be a short itinerary or visit the park for a trek during a long safari including visits to other parks.

  • Budongo Forest

Budongo forest is the closest spot from Kampala-Uganda’s capital for tourists to trek chimpanzees. The forest is part of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. There are two habituated chimpanzee families that can be trekked by those interested in the activity.  You can choose to have a trip to the forest just for chimp trekking or as an added activity to a customized safari in Uganda.

  • Kyambura Gorge – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura Gorge is the only destination in Uganda where you will have to visit the chimps below sea level. The chimpanzees live in a gorge that is about 100m deep at its deepest spot. Unlike other chimpanzees, this population lives within the gorge and makes it an extraordinary experience to trek them. However, the chimpanzees here are few and therefore sightings are not that marvelous. If you want to have a magical experience, then trek in Kyambura you may never find this experience anywhere else. The trekking safari can be tailored with a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

  • Kalinzu forest

Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is situated in south-western Uganda in the district of Bushenyi. The forest is close to the Maramagambo forest of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The forest is host to numerous wildlife species with chimpanzees being the star attraction. Chimpanzee trekking in the forest is one of the top activities as it has a habituated group of chimps with about 50 individuals. There are also other chimps within the forest that are not habituated. Armed guides will lead each group of tourists to the forest for the trekking experience either for the morning or afternoon session.

For an amazing chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda, book your trip early and have an amazing experience. The minimum age is 12 years and a chimpanzee trekking permit should be booked early.