Gorilla Trekking Tips

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla Trekking Tips

Gorilla trekking can be done in Uganda, Rwanda or Democratic republic of Congo. in Uganda, gorillas are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. In Rwanda gorillas are found in Volcanoes national park Rwanda and Virunga national park in eastern democratic republic of Congo.

Trekking gorillas in their natural habitat is a wonderful wildlife experience. Visitors are accompanied by guides and rangers into the forest hiking on foot in search of the habituated gorilla families. The chance to see gorillas in the wild is 99%. However it can be challenging due to a number of factors such as terrain, season thus it requires thorough preparation and planning.

Assess your fitness levels for gorilla trekking

The chances are 99.9 % seeing gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda or Rwanda. But on the flip side, believe that hiking on foot through the tropical forests in search of the habituated gorillas is not easy; it requires physical strength and good health condition. How long does it take to see gorillas is the number one question asked by so many elderly visitors.

Mountain gorillas live in dense and steep forested mountains and move wherever they want looking for food.  Thus it’s difficult to predict how easy, short or longer a gorilla trek will be. It can range anywhere between 30 minutes to more than 8 hours when the trek gets longer. However you can still track gorillas regardless of your fitness level. Mental preparation is important too.

There are some visitors who get problems along the way and end up being airlifted to and from the gorillas on emergency, though that incurs extra high cost paid to the porters. Visitors who feel are not fit enough can hire porters to assist carrying backpack and giving you a push where necessary.

Take not of the altitude and terrain. Bwindi forest is divided into four sections which are located at varying altitudes. Basing on your fitness level, getting to know the gorilla tracking sectors it can help determine which sector to book for a gorilla permit. For instance Buhoma Sector north of Bwindi forest lies at lower altitudes of 1100 meters and the trekking can be relatively easy. While the southern sectors including Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga lies at higher altitudes 2200 meters thus treks can be difficult.

In Rwanda, volcanoes national park is dominated by steep virunga volcanoes but the vegetation cover is not thick as it is in Bwindi. Trekking in Rwanda isn’t strenuous as it can be in Bwindi.

 

Generally, you don’t have to be in a shape of an athlete. Anyone including visitors of 70 years old age plus can have a successful and memorable gorilla trekking experience.

Book a gorilla permit in advance

Plan your gorilla tracking adventure well in advance at least 3-5 months in advance. No limit you can even book a year in advance. The reason for that is to have first choice of the gorilla permit at a preferred destination. Due to many travelers planning for gorilla tracking, often times gorilla permits are sold out and one can’t find out availability during the peak season for gorilla tracking between December to February and June to September. That’s true for those planning to track gorillas in Bwindi; you have to book in advance to secure a gorilla permit at one of the park’s gorilla centers as well as accommodation of choice.

If you are planning for Rwanda, gorilla permits may be available all year round but advance booking for accommodation is required. So check with your operator.

What else to do besides gorilla trekking?

Once you select your destination and secure gorilla trekking permits, it’s time to look to other activities you can whether its game viewing or cultural tour. It takes an itinerary tailored to your needs, budget and time by a safari expert. One day gorilla tracking is only possible in Rwanda due to the short drive time from Kigali to volcanoes national park. While it’s impossible to have such in Uganda, It’s possible to have 2 days gorilla trekking in Uganda only if you arrive at Kigali Rwanda. But if you arrive at Entebbe airport Uganda, the shortest itinerary is 3 days gorilla trekking safari. If you have more time, when visiting Uganda for gorilla tracking, it’s recommended to add Queen Elizabeth national park for game drives and boat rides to view elephants, tree climbing lions, hippos, and lots of game which can take 5 days itinerary. There are many options for those extending their gorilla safari in Uganda up to 7 days and it can include chimpanzee tracking in kibale forest national park.

When is the best time to track gorillas?

The months of December to February and June to September mark the peak/ dry season, which is the best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. During the dry season, the tropical forest trails are drier and easier to navigate on foot while searching for gorillas. Nevertheless, make sure to bring a rain jacket because rainfall is unpredictable. It can rain any time of the day in Bwindi. The dry season is great for wildlife safari if you’re combining gorilla trekking with other activities such as game drives, birding, and hot air balloon safaris.

On the other hand, the wet/ rainy season from April to May and October to November are characterized by short and heavy rains. This season has its own advantages, despite the rains; gorilla trekking can be spectacular too. Visitors should expect and prepare for drizzles, heavy rains, muddy forest trails and a lot of plant foliage.

Special Credit for the featured picture: @Rod Waddington

Golden Monkey Tracking

Golden monkey

About Your Golden Monkey Tracking Safari in Uganda and Rwanda

Would you go on a primate adventure to see some of the old-world monkey species in Africa? If yes, you have a chance to enjoy close encounters with golden monkey without risk as in the scenario above.

Golden monkeys inhabit the Virunga volcanoes at elevations of 2,227 m and 4,127 m along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and democratic Republic of Congo. This area is also home to mountain gorillas.

GET UP CLOSE TO GOLDEN MONKEYS

Your trip to Rwanda or Uganda can include golden monkey tracking. And it is pretty affordable at $90 per person in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and $60 pp in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda.

 

Some troops of golden monkeys have been habituated in the respective parks where you are sure to have close-up encounters with them in their natural habitat. Golden monkeys spend most of their time in bamboo vegetation. Therefore, the hike to see them is not strenuous as with a gorilla trek.

Expect the hike to you through the vegetation in the parks comprised of bamboo combined with fairly dense tropical forests. On the lower slopes of the volcanoes the altitude range for your trek is between 2000 meters to 2500m above sea level.

 

Golden monkey permits give you access to visit the primates and spend 1 hour.

Exclusive golden monkey habituation permits allow you to spend almost full day with these primates. Golden monkey habituation experience is only available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at $100 per person.

That’s way too little money compared to gorilla tracking. And it gives you a hand to add more optional community tours.

 

In Mgahinga, there are ancient human tribes… the BaTwa pygmies. You would watch them tell stories around campfire or walk the BaTwa trail and there are a couple of ancient cultural practices to witness like fire making, collecting water using bamboo. You will learn more deeply about these ancient hunter gatherers. BaTwa trail can take 3-4 hours.

Rwanda is famed for its Instore cultural dance. While in volcanoes national park take full advantage to visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village for a truly authentic Rwandan cultural experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Bird Watching Uganda

Bird watching

The global bird watching weekend October 2021

The second annual competition of the global bird watching activity of 2021 was participated on 9th/Oct to 11th /Oct. This epic and astonishing activity unites the world’s most popular birders to tick the checklists of all birds around there destinations just to update of how the conservation gear really is.

Who represented Uganda?

Team Uganda was represented with many bird watching teams with different destinations of the pearl and Uganda being one of the most popular bird watching destination in the world, with almost half of Africa’s bird species from the Albertine rift endemics to the forest dwellers and down through to the rare Shoebill stork.

EBS Tours and safaris representative

Ebs Tours & Safaris  was represented by Shafic Buyondo who joined the team of other nature conservationists and wildlife guides to search for special bird species of Lutembe Bay.

On 9th/Oct/2021 and just as you could imagine how special Lutembe is, it really never disappoints when it comes to birds, from residents to Pale-arctic winter visitors and this unique destination rewarded us with more than 120 bird species just in a single day.

Here are some of the species we ticked:

1.Meyers parrot

2.Grey Eastern plantain eaters

3.African thrush

4.Common bulbul

5.Red eyed dove

6.Red billed fire finch

7.Red cheeked cordon bleu

8.African Yellow white eye

9.Green headed sunbird

10.Scarlet chested sunbird

11.Marico sunbird

12.African grey parrot

13.Double toothed barbet

14.Hadada ibis

15.African goshawk

16.Speckled mouse bird

17.Village weaver

18.Nubian wood pecker (dots on the belly)

19.Red headed love bird

20.Northern black flycatcher

21.Golden backed weaver

22.Northern puff back

23.Copper sunbird

24.Viollett’s weaver

25.Grey crowned cranes

26.Winding cisticola

27.Black and white manikins

28.Black headed weaver

29.Bronze manikins

30.Black headed gonolek

31.Long crested eagle

32.Little egret

33.Red chested sunbird

34.Black headed heron

35.Grey backed fiscal

36.White throated bee eater

37.Great blue turaco

38.Pin tailed whydah

39.Sooty chat

40.African fish eagle

41.Marabou stork

42.Little bee eater

43.Spur wing lapwing

44.Grey back warbler

45.Rüpels starling

46.Rufous napped lark

47.Yellow throated greenbul

48.Yellow throated long claw

49.Plain backed pipit

50.African palm swift

51.Barn swallow

52.Fawn waxbill

53.Yellow wagtails

54.Scarce swift

55.Yellow fronted canary

56.Lizard buzzard

57.Red backed Scrub robbin

58.Willow warbler

59.Yellow billed stork

60.Brimstone canary

61.Yellow throated greenbul

62.Common buzzard

63.White browned robin chat

64.Brown crowned tchagra

65.African pipit (laccum sub species)

66.Yellow wattled lapwing

67.African jacana

68.Blue cheeked bee eater

69.Long toed lapwing

70.Cracking cisticola

71.Diedrick’s cuckoo

72.Cattle egret

73.Fan tailed widow bird

74.White -faced whistling duck

75.Yellow billed duck

76.Speckled pigeon

77.Black crake

78.Malachite kingfisher

79.Blue breasted bee eater

80.Pied kingfisher

81.Common sand piper

82.Klass’ cuckoo

83.Grosbeak weaver

84.African blue fly catcher

85.African paradise fly catcher

86.Slender billed weaver

87.Grey backed camaroptera

88.Black and white shrike fly catcher

89.Palm nut voluture

90.Broad billed roller

91.Pigmy kingfisher

92.Common waxbill

93.white browed cucal

94.Tawny flanked prinia

95.Brown throated wattle eye

96.Woodland kingfisher

97.Papyrus gonolek

98.Great cormorant

99.Northern Brown throated Weaver

100.Purple heron

101.Great egret

102.Grey heron

103.Mash sand piper

104.Ross’ turaco

  1. temminck’s stint

106.Gul billed tarn

107.kittlitz’s plover

108.common winged plover

109.Green shank

110.Black winged tarns

111.Glossy ibis

112.Wood sand piper

113.little stint

114.White winged tarn

115.collared pranticole

116.Open billed stork

117.Angola swallow

118.Blue headed coucal

119.Swamp flycatcher

120.Mash tchagra

121.African green pigeon

122.Yellow breasted apalis

123.Golden breasted bunting

124.Levillian cuckoo

 

All copyrights, @EBSTOURS&SAFARIS

Guide for a Uganda Safari

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK

A First timer’s guide to Uganda- and what to expect

Uganda is a landlocked country situated across the equator in East Africa. Due to its geographical location, a Uganda safari is one of the best things you should not miss while in East Africa, with dry and rain seasons in a year. North eastern parts, Karamajong region experiences dry spells in its semi-arid Kidepo valley national park the true African wilderness.
In the western region where the altitudes are high, cold weather and high amounts of rainfall are expected due to tropical rainforests such as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the large amounts of snow on the peaks of Ruwenzori Mountains.

Uganda is a country of diverse wildlife and culture and is commonly referred to as the pearl of Africa. In the travel media, Uganda is well known for its mountain gorillas and most visitors would travel to this beautiful country mainly for gorilla tracking experience. There are 10 national parks and 13 wildlife reserves protecting diverse wildlife including more than 1000 species of birds and big 5 mammals. There are also interesting geographical points such as the official source of the Nile the world’s longest river and Lake Victoria the largest fresh water lake with tropical islands.

Beyond the wildlife and natural beauty, the people of Uganda are very friendly and welcoming and their country is politically safe and secure for travelers. You can obtain visa on arrival at Entebbe international airport given you have your documents, apply online or at Uganda diplomatic embassy, thus traveling to Uganda is hustle free. The capital city Kampala is located 40 km away from the airport.

When traveling to Uganda for the first time, you need an understanding of what to expect on a trip. You could land on information that’s little confusing about the political situation. But if dealing with the right kind of tour operators, your research will pay off. And you will arrive in Uganda aware of the culture, common words in local language and the nature of transportation.

Survival tips for a Uganda safari

Don’t show off your valuables such as money, smartphones, computers or cameras. Keep all your belongings and don’t leave them un attended in public places.

Carry cash in dollars and local currency Uganda shillings because payments in local markets, craft shops are made both in cash but credit cards are also use in lodges and hotels.

TRANSPORTATION IN UGANDA

Uganda now owns a national carrier in Uganda Airlines . However there are several airlines which travelers use to fly to Uganda including Rwanda Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Emirates, Brussels, British airways, Royal Dutch among others.

Upon arrival, most travelers spend their first day/ night in Kampala city or Entebbe town which is an opportunity to explore Kampala or Entebbe by night. The following day you embark on a safari to your destination.

Getting around the country is reasonably easier with many tarmac roads and highways linking national parks and remote areas. While major roads are tarmac, it is not the case you expect to drive on rough dirt roads connecting national parks with dust and mad if it’s a rainy season.

And also expect long journeys from one destination to the other. However, in between long drives, you find amazing stopovers and en route attractions. For instance, Kampala to Bwindi national park in southwestern Uganda can take 9-10 hours’ drive.

Depending on the nature of your trip, there are options to travel around. Most tourists use private tour companies which provide a car with a tour guide/driver to take you on a trip.

There also public buses which can be used from Kampala going to different parts up country if you know where to get off. Payments are made in Uganda shillings as you enter the bus you are given a receipt which you must keep for verification.

Taking taxis in Kampala. There are two different taxis; the public taxis and private carbs. Carbs are highly recommended for visitors especially for pick up at Entebbe airport. Carbs are also good for privacy and safety.

When you are in Kampala, you will encounter traffic jam in the morning or evening hours. Bodaboda/ motorcycles are the most reliable and efficient way to beat traffic. Local people use Boda or taxi apps such as Uber, Safe Boda, Taxify which you can download and order a ride online at ease.

LANGUAGE

English is the official language of Uganda however local languages like Luganda is widely used too. Other international languages like French, German and Chinese are taught in schools and they are hardly spoken save for a few special linguistic tourist guides. No matter the language, Ugandans are always willing to help tourists out of any situation.

As a survival tip, we encourage travelers to try hard and master a few local language phrases such as greetings in Luganda.

ACCOMMODATION

There are different types of accommodation in Uganda. In Kampala and around Entebbe town there are a variety of accommodations ranging from budget friendly hotels, mid-range and deluxe to luxury hotels.

In and around Uganda national parks, accommodations are unique. There are lodges, tented camps with traditional style such as grass thatched lodges, home stays which offer a taste of Uganda culture. Most accommodations provide free Wi-Fi in the main lounge but rarely in rooms. For those who prefer low cost accommodations, there are also guest houses.

The service level and amenities are different depending on the type of the accommodation. Generally amenities provided in rooms include drinking mineral water, sandals, bathing soap, bath tabs services. Personal items like tooth brushes are not provided.

WHERE TO VISIT

The best places for safari are the Uganda national parks where visitors enjoy wildlife viewing and natural scenery. The capital Kampala is a great introduction to Uganda’s culture and hospitality. The city itself is located in the Buganda kingdom, a traditional dating back from 13th century. Because of its cultural significance, there are several cultural and historical attractions. Mengo royal palace and Bulange building on Mengo are the official places for the Kabaka of Buganda kingdom. The Buganda tourism board has done a great job creating beautiful monuments along the royal mile walk where visitors can learn history and culture of Buganda.

The Uganda national museum and other places of worship such as the Uganda martyrs shrine Namugongo.

THE POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS

A Uganda safari takes you to 10 of the country’s national parks most of which are located in western Uganda. These are destinations for wildlife viewing safaris. The most popular are primate tours which include gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking and golden monkey tracking activities. Game viewing safaris include game drives, boat cruises, game walks.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The best of a Uganda safari destination  is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where tourists are guaranteed to see mountain gorillas in the wild. The park is home to 430 gorillas about half of the world’s mountain gorillas including 17 gorilla families that are habituated for tourism. Gorilla tracking is the main activity and visitors are allowed to spend 1 hour up close with gorillas in their natural habitat. Those planning their gorilla safari must first book a gorilla permit through a tour operator or Uganda wildlife authority. The Park also has over 350 birds including 23 species endemic to Albertine rift valley.

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Who does a Uganda safari and doesn’t visit the mighty Murchison falls, visitors looking for famous big 5 safari experience should consider a 4 days trip to Uganda’s largest conservation area-Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison falls is home to 79 mammals and 451 species of birds including Nile crocodiles and large pods of hippos. The park is bisected by the River Nile which forms the Murchison falls, the world’s strongest waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy game drive safaris and boat cruises on river Nile to view wildlife including elephants, zebra, buffalo, lion, leopard, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, topi, errand, spotted hyena. A trip to Murchison falls is about 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala. Along the way, there’s Ziwa rhino sanctuary home to 23 southern rhinos. Before going to Murchison Falls, make a stopover at Ziwa for rhino tracking on foot with a ranger.

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Located in the great east African rift valley in the shadow of the mountains of the moon, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most visited park in Uganda because of wildlife and beautiful scenery. Big 4 mammals including the rare tree climbing lions are found in the park’s southern Ishasha wilderness along with several antelopes such as Uganda kob and topi.

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Kibale forest national park is one of the best destinations for a Uganda safari and it is home to 13 species of primates including chimpanzees. There are several groups of chimps that are habituated, making the park one of the best chimpanzee tracking safari destination. Guided chimp walks allow visitors to see chimpanzees and also spot several species of primates.

LAKE VICTORIA ISLANDS

A Uganda safari is not only about wildlife, with the great Lake Victoria around, it  is the largest tropical lake in Africa. It’s shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Ugandan section of the lake has scenic tropical islands which include Sesse islands, Bulago islands and Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary. Sesse and Bulago have white sand beaches where visitors can relax and chill after a safari. While Ngamba is exclusively a chimp rehabilitation sanctuary where visitors can participate in chimpanzee feeding and care giving. These islands are located off Entebbe airport shoreline and accessible by boat ride or ferry.

Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions

ishasha tree climbing lions

Tree Climbing Lions in Uganda, what you did not know

Uganda wildlife authority identify about 5 prides of Lions that have a behavior of climbing fig trees in Ishasha wilderness, Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This park receives the highest number of visitors in Uganda, because of its combination of activities such as game drive safari, boat cruise on Kazinga channel and chimp trekking.

So why do Ishasha lions climb trees?

So among the big cats, only leopard and jaguar can climb trees efficiently but we have lions that climb trees also.

National geographic explorer Alexander Braczkowski visited Uganda in 2018 to prove why Ishasha lions climb trees. Firstly, he found that there are stinging insects in Ishasha that fly close to the ground. As a result, lions learn to climb trees where its comfortable to relax especially after a kill. Secondary, the lions also climb to the tree branches to get a good view of prey.

These lions climb trees at different times of the day. Between 9:00am, 11:00pm, 1:00pm to 3:00pm most visitor going through Ishasha spot the lions. However, it’s also true that a number of visitors miss to see them as well.

Lions with a behavior of climbing tree have also been reported in two Uganda national parks – Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison falls national park. Around East Africa, tree climbing lions are also reported in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. It’s not clear if the reasons for Ishasha lions to climb trees are same for lions else in East Africa.

Best Chance to see ishasha lions?

Queen Elizabeth national park is divided into two sectors.

They include; Kasenyi area in the north includes Kazinga channel, Mweya peninsular, kyambura gorge, several crater lakes including Lake Katwe where salt mining takes place.

Ishasha lies in the south west of the park. So  most visitors drive through Ishasha from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi forest or from Bwindi to coming Queen but if you are just driving through, you may or may see tree climbing lions.

However, if you overnight in Ishasha it gives enough time for game drive and high chance to see tree climbing lions. Likewise, when you leave Kasenyi early morning, it gives you enough time for game drives in Ishasha before you continue further southwest.

Lion Tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kasenyi plains has lions that do not climb trees. Although it’s no guarantee to see lions, the Experiential Lion tracking does. Paying for lion tracking allows to go off road (what other visitors are not allowed to do) to look for lions and get close to them for 2 good hours.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Over 79 mammals live in Queen Elizabeth National park.

Large mammals include African elephant, cape buffalo, hippo, leopard. Antelopes include Uganda kob, waterbuck, topi and there are also over 600 bird species including flamingos.

Do not expect to see large herds of animals such as those in Masai Mara kenya or Serengeti Tanzania.

However, on game drives in the park, you will be able to spot wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, Uganda kobs, buffalo and other wildlife in the park.

Also you will be able to sight a lot of other mammals while on the boat cruise along the famous Kazinga channel but also the scenery of the park is beautiful particularly the crater lakes, Ishasha, rift valley and a backdrop of Rwenzori mountains.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Besides game drives and boat cruise, there are a number of activities. Experiential tours include lion tracking, mongoose tracking, bird counts and hippos census.

These are booked in advance and you can visit lake Katwe to see the process of salt mining and you can also do Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve.  Nature walks are available in Kyambura gorge. Community and cultural tours are available as well mostly outside the park. Kasoga community experience is found in Hamukungu landing site on the shores of Lake George. The experience offers several activities such as canoe rides, village walks and fishing tours.

How you can help save the tree climbing lions of ishasha

It’s unfortunate one pride of 11 lions was poisoned in 2018 after attacking livestock in the community. Along with the Uganda Wildlife Authority community conservation programs, National geographic explorer Alexander Braczkowski who had been filming the lions started GoFundMe, a charity that is raising money to compensate local people that loose livestock from predator attack.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

chimpanzee trekking

How to choose your destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

If you desire to do chimpanzee trekking, Uganda offers the best chances than any other place in East Africa. Because, there are four places which you can visit to see chimpanzees.

Where to see chimpanzees in Uganda

1. Kibale Forest National Park

Home to over 1400 chimpanzees and 12 primate species, Kibale forest is regarded as the primate capital of the world. There are more than 10 troops of chimps that have been habituated since 1993. They are accustomed to humans which means the chance to see chimps is almost 100% guaranteed. Chimpanzee trekking permit is $200 per person. Chimpanzee trekking can be done during the morning at 8:00am or 2:00pm afternoon. Visitors spend up to 1 hour with chimps. It’s great and definitely one of your must do activities in Uganda. Besides chimp trekking, Kibale forest offers chimpanzee habituation experience where you observe chimps for full day at $250 USD per person. Optional activities to view more primates in Kibale include Bigodi community swamp walk and night walk.

2. Budongo Forest Reserve

This eco-tourism spot is home to over 700 chimpanzees including 6 troops that are habituated for tourism. The chance to see chimps in Budongo forest is high because of there are no reports of visitors missing to see chimps despite the time of the year. Chimpanzee trekking at Budongo is done in the morning session starting 08:am or afternoon at 2:00pm. This forest reserve is located south of Murchison Falls Conservation Area which presents an opportunity to view more wildlife in Murchison falls national park. Options also include visiting Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

3. Kalinzu Forest Reserve and Kyambura Gorge

The two central forest reserves located in Queen Elizabeth, Uganda’s most visited National Park. Kalinzu forest is the most popular for chimp trekking than Kyambura gorge because of the following reasons Kyambura gorge also known as the valley of apes has a rough terrain that make it difficult to locate chimps. On the other hand, the terrain of kalinzu forest is gentle and undulating making it relatively easier to search for chimps. The chance of seeing chimps is high like 80% and while in Kyambura its 50% thus the price to see chimps is $50 USD per person.

4. Toro-semuliki Wildlife Reserve

The number of days you wish to spend on safari in Uganda will determine where to see chimps. Sample itineraries for chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.

For shorter trips less than 4 days, you can still see Chimps and view Wildlife.

This is suitable for travelers with less than a day in Entebbe or Kampala and includes a boat cruise on Lake Victoria.

What is the difference between Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation Experience?

The two offer visitors a chance to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat. However, chimpanzee tracking provides the chance to observe chimps for 1 hour. At Kibale forest, it is done in 2 secessions. The morning secession starts at 8:00am and the 2:00pm in the afternoon.

On the other hand, chimpanzee habituation experience involves watching chimpanzees for a full day starting between 6 to 6:30am in the morning when chimps leave their nests up to 7:00pm. There’s much more to learn about chimps and their behavior because visitors can observe chimps leaving their nests as they begin their day to hunt for food. Chimpanzee groups allocated for habituation are less accustomed to humans than those for tracking. In East Africa, the other places to see chimps include Nyungwe Forest National Park Rwanda, Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

 

1
2