Chimpanzee Tracking- A Primate Adventure Like No Other

Chimpanzee tracking is a great wildlife adventure available in a number of East African countries that include Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. This tourist activity presents tourists with an opportunity to encounter the closest living relatives to human beings in the wild. Below is a short overview of chimpanzee trekking in each of these East African countries.

Uganda

Location: Uganda has varying national parks and forests, all of which are known habitats for the chimpanzee. Places that one may wish to visit include the Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Experience: Chimpanzee trekking is guided hikes through lush rainforests and dense vegetation in Uganda. This walk will avail you with a chance to observe chimpanzee groups and their behaviors, such as social interactions, feeding, and grooming. Because of the high biodiversity in Uganda, you may expect other wildlife and bird species on your trek.

Permit: The chimpanzee trekking permit is a must-have, and just to be on the safe side, book in advance because they are few, so limited, especially for the high seasons.

Rwanda

Location: Though Rwanda is popularly known for gorilla trekking, yet again, it has chimpanzee trekking on offer in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Experience: Nyungwe Forest is a pristine rain forest and hosts a large population of chimpanzees. The trekking here involves dense vegetation in finding chimpanzee groups. It is fascinating to see these primates in a normal environment; notice how quick they climb trees and their social dynamism.

Permit: Just like Uganda, Rwanda has a chimpanzee trekking permit that, out of necessity, needs to be booked in advance.

Tanzania

Location: In Tanzania, the site for tracking chimpanzees is mainly at Mahale Mountains National Park, which is located along Lake Tanganyika shores.

Experience: Trekking at Mahale Mountains National Park is somehow unique and an adventure. Trekkers search in the rich mountainside forests and spend their time observing the natural behaviors whenever they encounter groups of chimpanzees. The stunning Lakelands backdrop of Lake Tanganyika adds to the good view of this experience.

Permit: It also requires permits for chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park, just like the other countries.

Kenya

Location: Kenya is more famous for its safaris and Big Five wildlife; however, it also offers chimpanzee trekking in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Experience: This is an experience one is going to get since Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a home for Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. It avails an opportunity to view rescued and rehabilitated chimpanzees, though not a trek as it would have been in the other countries. An individual will be able to view chimpanzees from a very close distance and safely while learning about their conservation and supporting their well-being.

Permit: Unlike in the case of other countries, the chimpanzee experience in Kenya involves an entrance fee rather than a trekking permit.

Such an activity of chimpanzee tracking is peculiar in their interaction with intelligent and social primates while at the same time assisting their conservation. It becomes important to follow responsible tourism practices and guidelines as a means of protecting chimpanzees and their habitats in each of these East African nations.

Please go through some of our packages below and join us on this journey into the world of discovery and adventure.