Chimpanzee Tracking In Queen Elizabeth National Park

When we talk about chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, many people often think of Kibale Forest National Park. The park is often referred to as the primate capital of Africa because of the high concentration of primates in the same park. But when tourist consider the cost of chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park, many are left wondering whether there are no other options of chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.

The short answer is, there are several chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda. Among these include but not limited to Kalinzu forest near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, Bugoma forest in Hoima and finally Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National park.

What You Need To Know About Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura gorge is a forest corridor with in the Queen Elizabeth National Park savannah grass land. The gorge’s life stems from its woodland and swamp eco system similar to some part of Kibale forest national park. The river with in the gorge is at the center of almost all the activities that go in the gorge. This river also attracts hippos and elephants once in a while.

In this thick forest with in the savannah, there are several other inhabitants besides the chimpanzees. These are the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and the black & white colobus monkeys. While some people simply enjoy viewing the gorge from a far away view point, chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park offers you the first hand chance to explore the gorge on your quest for the chimpanzees.

Kyambura gorge is one of those places in Uganda where chimpanzees were edging extinction. Looking back to about 20 years, the chimpanzee population was believed to have declined to up to 15 chimpanzees and only five of these were female. But in less than 15 years, the population had only doubled. The only challenge that was posed was that most of the chimpanzees that were produced during this time were male which partly hindered the multiplication process.

Currently, there are less than 100 chimpanzees living with in the Kyambura gorge forest. However efforts are being made to ensure that the gorge is connected to other chimpanzee habitats to ensure free migration and breeding. For instance, Maramagambo forest is one of those places where some none habituated chimpanzees are residing. So far, there has been one official record of a chimpanzee migrating and making its way to Kyambura.

Some of the chimpanzees are coming from places where they have already been interacting with people making the case of habituation a none serious issue since they are already used to having human beings in their natural environment.

There are two ways to get to the gorge, you can hire a car from 4x4uganda; drive through Kasese and connect to Queen Elizabeth National park. Alternatively, you can drive through Mbarara and connect to the national park through Rubirizi.

Chimpanzee Tracking In Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura gorge is slowly but surely becoming one of the most sought chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda besides Kibale forest national park. The forest’s strategic location in Queen Elizabeth national park makes it possible to do a savannah game drive but as well as go for a forest walk in the Kyambura gorge.

Each chimpanzee tracking permit in Kyambura gorge goes for $100. However it is important to note that this is not inclusive of the park entrance fees. In short chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge will cost somewhere around $140 for foreign none residents.

Similar to chimpanzee tracking in several other destinations in Uganda, there are often two session, the morning tracking session where you are usually required to report by 6:30am and the afternoon tracking session where you are expected to be at the briefing point by 1:00pm. Most travelers recommend the afternoon tracking session because this is during the time when the chimpanzees are more relaxed than in the morning where they are often setting off for their food quest.

Kyambura Gorge Vs Kibale Forest

There are several chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda but the ideal is Kibale forest national park. If we are to compare any chimpanzee tracking, it should or ought to be in light of Kibale forest national park. Kyambura gorge does not offer similar chances of seeing chimpanzees on any given day. Some trackers once in a while visit the gorge and fail to see the chimpanzees.

The advantage of tracking in the gorge is the scenery and its strategic location that makes doing other activities easy. If you can afford a chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale, I would recommend Kibale above Kyambura gorge but if you can afford to track in both location, then that would work out better just in case you fail to meet the chimpanzees in the gorge.