Chimpanzees are a joy to watch. It is no wonder that seeing these incredible primates in the wild is on so many bucket lists. Spending an hour with a family of chimps can be a truly grounding and life altering experience. Africa is the best continent in the world to see chimpanzees in the wild and there are only a few excellent spots in East Africa which gives tourists from all over the world the best chances of finding them.
Chimpanzees can be found in forests and roam anywhere from sea level to around three thousand metres above it. They are very mobile primates making it hard to predict how far up the mountain they may be when you trek to see them so your trek may be five minutes or five hours! They like savanna woodlands, grassland-forest and tropical thick bush forest and generally move where the food is.
What is chimpanzee trekking?
Chimpanzee trekking, one of the most popular wildlife activities in Uganda, allows you to step into the world of chimpanzees in the wild. Uganda Wildlife Authority Interpretive Rangers lead a small group (maximum of 8) into the realm of the chimps.
The treks last about three hours and include a maximum of one hour with the chimps, during which you can expect to see them from a safe but intimate distance of 8-10 metres. Get up close and personal with the chimpanzees and discover their beauty, intelligence, and social structures.
The best places to see chimpanzees in Africa
Kibale Forest National Park Uganda
Kibale Forest is an undisturbed tract of tropical rain forest, set in a beautiful area of undulating green hills interspersed with volcanic crater lakes.
Within the forest little light filters down to the foot of the massive trunks smothered in lichen, whilst above epiphytes sprout off tree branches and lianas hang from the canopy down to leaf litter. Due to its location at the meeting point of the wet rain forests of West Africa and the drier East African forest, Kibale supports an unusually rich array of tropical plants and animals.
Often visited by tourists who go on Uganda safaris, Kibale is home to the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. There are 13 primate species found within the forest including chimpanzees, red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus and black-and-white colobus. There is also a healthy population of larger mammals including lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, although the dense vegetation means that these are not commonly sighted.
Nyungwe national park Rwanda
It extends for 970 square kilometres over the mountainous southwest of Rwanda and protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in East Africa. As such, it is a remarkably rich centre of biodiversity, harbouring 75 mammal species, 275 bird species, 120 butterflies and more than 100 varieties of orchid.
The main attraction of Nyungwe is the primates. Chimpanzee tracking can be arranged and several other monkeys are readily seen, including the Ruwenzori colobus in troops of up to 400 strong (the largest arboreal troops in Africa) and the beautiful and highly localised L’Hoest’s monkey. In addition to these there are silver monkeys, golden monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and more.
Nyungwe is also highly alluring to birders, the forest home to 26 Albertine Rift and endemic bird species. The stunning blue turaco is often seen gliding through the trees and forest hornbills can be heard wailing through the canopy.
Mahale Mountains national park Tanzania
The Mahale Mountains are the best place in Africa to track and observe wild chimpanzees. There is a population of around 1,000, one troop of which, the Mimikire clan, have been habituated to humans. Totally wild, this clan of 70-100 individuals can be tracked and observed from close quarters. Climbing up the leafy tracks in the misty morning and hearing your first shriek of a chimpanzee is a sound you will never forget. Crouching low, you can watch them grooming, drinking and playing. It is possibly one of the most intimate wildlife experiences known to man.
After a morning of chimpanzee-tracking you return to the shores of Lake Tanganyika, where sugar white beaches slope into gin-clear waters. There are over 500 species of cichlid fish in the lake in every colour of the rainbow and snorkelling and floating among them is the ultimate relaxation.
Kyambura Gorge Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
A delightfully secret cleft in the surface of the otherwise flat savannah bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is the third most popular chimp trekking destination in Uganda.
Situated in the far east of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is nicknamed ‘the valley of the apes. The product of centuries of erosion by the Kyambura River, the dense forest which covers the gorge sides is a prime habitat for chimpanzees.
As an experienced Ugandan Wildlife Authority guide leads you into this secret forest, you will feel like you have entered another world. Only 17 chimps inhabit the gorge and the chances of seeing them are about 60%. The sights and sounds of the forest generate suspense and make a sighting even more rewarding.
Taï National Park Ivory Coast
Taï National Park in Ivory Coast boasts a thriving population of chimpanzees. The park’s pristine rainforest provides an enchanting backdrop for chimpanzee tracking, offering a chance to witness their social dynamics and natural behaviours in a protected environment.
Embarking on a chimpanzee safari in Africa is a thrilling adventure that combines the wonders of nature with a profound understanding of our closest relatives. Whether in the dense forests of Tanzania, Uganda, or the Ivory Coast, these destinations promise an unforgettable and responsible experience, allowing visitors to connect with chimpanzees while contributing to their conservation. So, gear up for an extraordinary wildlife expedition and witness the magic of chimpanzees in their natural habitats.
Gombe Stream National Park Tanzania
Spanning just over 14 square miles on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream is Tanzania’s smallest national park. It is one of three places where you can see chimpanzees in Tanzania.
The park’s diverse topography comprises vast grasslands, dense woodland areas and tropical rain forest, bisected by steep valleys, rivers and streams of water. Famously, this is the site where Jane Goodall completed most of her pioneering chimpanzee research.
The resident primatologist spent many years in Gombe observing the behaviour of Chimpanzees, an endangered species. Gombe is home to many rare primates alongside chimpanzees. There are olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
Birds, butterflies, and a wide variety of rare forest flora can be spotted during forest walks and chimpanzee treks. There are no large predators in Gombe Stream, apart from the occasional leopard sighting.
Virunga national park Democratic Republic of Congo
Virunga National Park, located on the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the African continent’s first national park established in 1925.This biodiverse rainforest spans an area a little larger than the size of Delaware and is a sanctuary for gorillas, forest and savannah elephants, hippos, lions and chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee habituation started in 1987 but decades of civil unrest closed Virunga to tourism until 2014 when the park officially reopened. Habituation efforts supported by the Frankfurt Zoological Society endure. Chimpanzee treks to the communities approximately 32 habituated members are limited to just four persons, departing each morning at 6:00 a.m.
Budongo Forest Uganda
Depending on where you are in the forest, the landscape can change drastically, morphing between savannah, riverine marshlands, and woodland. The forest sits at a medium altitude of 1,100 metres, and the land slopes from southeast to northwest.
The Budongo Forest is famous for its population of chimpanzees. Chimp trekking is possible here, and sightings are around 80%.
Budongo Forest Reserve is on the southern edge of Murchison Falls National Park and is just under a 4-hour drive from Kampala. The nearest town to the forest is Masindi, and much of the surrounding area is occupied with houses, schools, and markets.
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve Uganda
In the western corner of Uganda, the Semuliki Valley is home to a small population of chimpanzees. Don’t expect it to be easy to find the chimps in Semliki. The dry and sparse forest environment means they have to roam far and wide to secure enough food.
The research programme here is on the cutting edge as they try to work out the relationship between the chimps walking on two legs and the evolution of our own species.
When is the best time to go for Chimpanzee tracking?
Chimpanzee habitats largely straddle the equator and operate year-round, so when we speak about the best time to go trekking, the conversation should centre on wet and dry seasons rather than temperature.
During the dry season, chimpanzee communities are more mobile, traveling deeper into the jungle in pursuit of sustenance. This means that while trails will be less mud-caked and hiking will be comfortably less humid, you may have to trek further to locate them. Dry season also tends to align with peak tourist season when the demand for permits increases. Dry season along equatorial African countries generally runs from June to October.
What is a typical day chimpanzee trekking?
Your scouts will go out at dawn to locate the chimps and then you will follow. Obviously, however, the chimpanzees are wild and so are free to roam around at will over a large area. This means that your trek can last from under an hour to several hours, depending on how far the chimps have ranged within the park or reserve.
As the terrain passes over slippery, muddy slopes and through thick vegetation, the trek itself has the potential to be fairly strenuous. Therefore, a certain level of fitness is required to cope although you do not need to be ‘very’ fit. Our specialists can advise you if you are unsure. In terms of clothing lightweight long trousers and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt are recommended.
Due to the risks of passing on human colds or other illnesses to the chimpanzees, it is essential that you are in good health if you want to see them. You are allowed to spend an hour with these fascinating creatures before you return to your camp.
What to pack for the chimpanzee tracking?
These are some of the things you need to carry for your chimpanzee tracking trip. These include A small day pack, Snacks, Water, A camera, Durable, lightweight water-resistant hiking boots with grippy soles, A water-repelling but ventilated jacket, layered clothing, long sleeves and long pants are recommended thanks to prickly foliage you may trek through, Insect repellents and gloves.
