Most people will know that gorilla tracking in Uganda is the country’s prime primate tourist draw but few consider a stop to also visit our cousins, the chimpanzee.
Chimp tracking can be done in a few places in Uganda and, though not as popular as gorillas, it’s still pretty cool.
Where to See Chimps in Uganda
I did my tracking in Kibale National Park which is meant to be the top spot but you can also look for them in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks.
Best Time to Go
I went in late November which was a good time to go but you can book every month. Africa overland tours run all year round if you would like to see more of Uganda and the region.
Cost
Chimp tracking permits in the Kibale National Park cost US$150 which includes a guide and entry fee. At less than the price for gorillas, it’s a great quasi-budget option if you want some primate action but can’t justify shelling out 500 big ones.
Uganda Chimp Safari Tours
I was part of a safari trip that was taking in various spots around the country and therefore had a vehicle to take me to the park. You’d have a very hard time getting there on your own and, even if you did, you might still be asked to drive further in your own vehicle to where the trail starts.
So, in short, you’re not going to be able to take the bus to this place. Your best bet is to organise a vehicle in Kampala or in nearby Fort Portal (which seems like a nice town to hang out in for a few days anyways).
Once you get to the park and pay your fees you’ll be given a briefing including such valuable information as what to do when a chimp charges you. This takes about 10 minutes and then the group will be divided up and sent with individual guides. There were 13 people total and were divided into three groups and off we went.
After a short drive to the start of the path we entered the thick forest with our guide who as sporting an AK-47 in case of elephant or buffalo encounters – both of which are very rare and neither of which I was hoping to see that morning.
Our guide was slightly surly but answered questions when asked. She said they tracked chimps by listening to their calls and, if they weren’t making much noise, she said they looked at the trees. I asked what she looked for when looking at the trees and she laughed and looked puzzled. It turns out she had actually said they ‘look in the trees’. So I guess when they weren’t talking, the best way to find chimps is simply to look up and hope for the best. Who knew?
After walking for around an hour we heard some calls and stormed off in that direction. They were moving fast so we had to be quick to catch up to them. After several incidents of ants in my pants and dancing down the path hitting my legs (make sure you have your pants tucked into your socks), we caught up to our friendly cousins, some of whom were taking a drink from a small stream.
I hadn’t expected to see the chimps on the ground at all. For some reason I thought most of our time would be spent craning our necks to see black, fuzzy blobs way up in the trees. As it turns out, they spent most of the time (groups get to spend a maximum of an hour with them) on the ground grooming each other, wandering around, snoozing and just basically chilling out.
At one point they let out some squeals and the chimps stormed off to investigate a baboon sighting so off we went after them. Eventually it was time to feed and they all shot up into the trees and fruit seeds and pee started to rain from the skies.
I was surprised at how close we were able to get to the chimps and how many there were. I put my phone away for most of the encounter (the evidence is in my terrible photos) and just enjoyed being around them. Binoculars would be an advantage so you can zoom in on their facial expressions but, even without them, it was an amazing experience and you will certainly notice how human-like they are.
Plan a Trip to See Chimpanzees in Uganda
Add chimp tracking to your list of things to do in Uganda. The forest is beautiful and the encounter is one that you’ll remember for a long time. Especially if one of them pees on your head. If you need help arranging a trip view my tips for choosing a safari.
Thanks to the county’s efforts to grow its tourism numbers, travel bloggers and influences are often invited on press trips to showcase some of the county’s many attractions.
View more recommendations for things to do in Africa with my travel guides.
