Primate experience in Uganda

Uganda is known as the primate capital in East Africa, where one can experience the ultimate Gorilla and chimp trekking.

 Habituated Gorillas and chimps are found in Uganda.

Chimpanzees in Uganda are located in different places, but habituated chimpanzees only exist in Kibale National Park, located in western Uganda; Kyambura Gorge, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park; Kalinzu Forest, located closer to Queen Elizabeth National Park; and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, located in Northern Uganda. We also have orphaned chimpanzees in Ngamba Island, which is approximately 23 km from Lake Victoria and can be accessed by boat.

On the other hand, habituated gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. According to the 2013 mountain gorilla census, it was discovered that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has almost half the number of mountain gorillas in the whole world, while the other population of gorillas is in the Virunga Ranges shared between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gorilla and chimp trekking experience compared?

When compared, gorilla tracking is a more organized activity both in Uganda and Rwanda, and the chances of seeing gorillas are above 90%. This is because gorillas live in families, each headed by a dominant silverback. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the activity is so organized in such a way that early in the morning, there is an advanced team that goes to the forest to look for where the gorillas would have slept and once they find them, then they communicate to the park head quarters to inform the guides where gorillas are.  It’s from here that tourists, plus their guide, will start the trek to look for gorillas, starting from where they slept the previous night until they find them. Once they have found them, they are given one hour to observe and take photographs.

Chimpanzee trekking, on the other hand, is not as organized as gorilla trekking, and chances are high in Kibale National Park and Budongo forest, to other places such as Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu forest. The same process of having an advanced team applies to chimps, but chimpanzees, on the other hand, live in communities of around 100 individuals or more, and during the day, these communities break up into small parties to reduce food competition. Each party is therefore tracked by 8 people. Once you have found the chimpanzees, you are allowed only one hour to view and photograph them.

A Gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs, while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga costs, while Chimpanzee parties in Kibale National Park are restricted to only 6 people. While a habituated gorilla family can only be seen by a maximum of 8 people per day, chimpanzee parties are trekked twice in a day (morning and afternoon). Taking a close look at chimp trekking in Kibale National Park, a maximum of 18 people trek chimps both in the morning and the afternoon. It is arranged in such a way that each chimpanzee party is trekked by 6 people, thus 3 parties for 18 people. The fact that chimpanzees keep on breaking into small parties and regrouping, at a given point, you might find yourselves trekking with the same party (18 people) they can join together. This tends to confuse tourists if not briefed very well. This sometimes leads to congestion and kills the whole experience as expected by clients.

Mountain gorillas tend to be on the ground in most cases, and depending on the height of the vegetation, they are better seen compared to chimpanzees, which are, in most cases, up in the trees (Not all the time though, as so many people have found them on the ground).

What to pack for gorilla or chimp trekking?

Both gorilla and chimp trekking require one to have hiking boots, garden gloves, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, rain jackets, sunglasses, huts, a hiking stick, and some energy-giving foods to give you that extra strength when needed. You might not need a porter for chimp trekking in Kibale, but we highly recommend one for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek.

Gorilla and Chimp permits Costs?

Uganda is commonly known for primate experience, gorilla and chimp trekking. In Uganda, you require a permit to either trek gorillas or chimpanzees. A gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs USD800.00. Uganda Wildlife Authority is offering low-season discounted gorilla permits in the months of April, May, and November 2024 at USD450.00, enabling you to save USD150.00. The above includes trekking gorillas, a guide for the trek, and park entrance fees. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary according to where you will be trekking them. In Kibale, a permit is USD250 while in Kyambura it is at USD100.00 per person and includes a guide, park entrance, and viewing chimps.

Distances to the tracking location

Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi and Mgahinga, and they are approximately 10 hours from Kampala or Entebbe international airport, while driving, and it also depends on which side of Bwindi you are going to. If you are flying, then it might take you about one and a half hours to Bwindi or Kisoro. Kibale National Park is about 5 hours from Kampala, Kyambura Gorge is approximately 7 hours’ drive from Kampala, while Budongo is also approximately 5-6 hours’ drive to northern Uganda.

Prime Experience in Uganda