Chimpanzee tracking is one of the rare primate experiences you should expect in East Africa. It is the most preferred safari experience by primate adventure seekers on East African holiday. The unique bit about chimpanzee tracking is that you have a chance to witness chimpanzees in the wild. It is only in East Africa where you get such a unique opportunity.
Imagine wondering through the lush tropical rainforest in search of chimpanzees and finally you come across them. Chimpanzees have a close relationship with humans, sharing over 98.8% of DNA with man. Up close with these primates provides a sensational encounter and exploration in the African jungle.
What is chimpanzee tracking/trekking?
Chimpanzee tracking/trekking is a guided walking excursion where you get a complete immersion into the lush rainforest. The trek with chimpanzees takes a shorter hour than mountain gorillas. This primate adventure is largely conducted through the natural habitat where you stand a chance to locate already habituated chimpanzee community. Like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking is conducted with the lead of an experienced and knowledgeable ranger guide. Once you have found a troop of chimpanzees, expect to watch them at a close range and learn more about their unique behaviors as well as taking pictures.
Where to go for Chimpanzee Tracking
East Africa, there are key places to consider visiting for you to interact with these intelligent species. Top places to visit for chimpanzee trekking in East Africa include Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda
Uganda is where majority of chimpanzees reside. A total of 5050 chimpanzees are all inhabited in the various habitats in Uganda with key sites including Kibale National Park, Kalinzu Forest Reserve, and Kyambura Gorge. Budongo Forest is the other exceptional destination to consider for your chimpanzee treks in Uganda.
If you are targeting to visit Kibale National Park chimpanzees, then ensure that you have a chimpanzee permit booked in advance. Each permit is issued at US Dollars 250 per person when you visit as a foreign non-residents, USD 200 per visitor for foreign residents, and shs. 180,000 (approximately USD 50) per person for East African citizens.
At Kibale National Park, you can engage in the morning or afternoon chimpanzee tracking session. The standard chimpanzee treks involve visiting mainly the already habituated communities of Kibale chimpanzees. This can take between 2-4 hours of winding through the forest and expect to enjoy a special one hour of interacting with chimpanzees and also taking pictures.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Rwanda
Visit Rwanda for not only mountain gorilla encounters but also chimpanzee treks. In Rwanda, the enriching places to explore on guided chimpanzee tracking include Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Like Kibale, Rwanda chimpanzee trekking experiences involve interacting with fully habituated communities in the respective parks.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Tanzania
Tanzania safaris offer more than the Great Migration and Big 5 experiences. Tanzania is an ideal destination to enjoy the chimpanzee encounter. In Tanzania, expect to explore different chimpanzee destinations including Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe National Park.
When to go for Chimpanzee Tracking
To enjoy thrilling chimpanzee treks, consider visiting Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania during the peak dry season. It is during the drier months when the weather conditions are ideal for you to wind through the jungle in search of chimpanzee communities. The East African travel calendar indicate that the peak dry season starts from June to September –for the long dry spell. The shorter dry months begin from December, January, to February and these are the best for you to trek through the rainforest to see chimpanzees.
The wet or rainy season is also available and can be used to plan or book chimpanzee tracking safari in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The challenge though with the peak wet months is that it is mainly characterized by heavy rains.
Packing for chimpanzee tracking
The ideal items to pack for your Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania include insect repellents, bottled drinking water, a camera, a bottled drinking water, long-sleeved shirts, a pair of trousers, a daypack, a safari hat, and extra camera battery. Valid chimpanzee trekking permits, visas, passports, a rain jacket, a sweater, and others are essential for you to include on the packing list. When packing, we encourage that you do it light. Take only essentials to make it easier for you to enjoy your hike while searching for chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee tracking regulations to follow
The common regulations or rules to expect to respect during a guided chimpanzee trek in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania include;
- Visitors should respect the social distance of 8-10 meters from chimpanzee community.
- In the wild with chimps: Cover the mouth when coughing & nose when sneezing. Generally, avoid visiting chimpanzees when you feel sick or ill.
- Avoid any temptation of feeding chimpanzees in their home range.
- Respect the guide’s instructions or rules when interacting with chimpanzees.
- Burry the human wastes (faeces) 30cm deep or as recommended by the park official.
- Consider visiting chimpanzees when you are 15 years and above.
- Do not use a flashlight camera when taking pictures of Uganda/Rwanda/Tanzania chimpanzee community.
- Keep low your voice while in the forest interacting with chimpanzees in Uganda, Rwanda/Tanzania.
- Book a chimpanzee tracking permit to be allowed to visit chimps.
How fit should you be to go chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is not as exhausting as mountain gorilla trekking. The level of difficulty may vary depending on the destination. For instance, Kibale National Park, Budongo, or Uganda chimpanzee safari destinations in general offer less-strenuous chimp treks. It is Nyungwe National Park where certain level of fitness is required to enjoy a round trek with chimpanzees given a relatively high altitude.
Chimpanzee tracking Vs chimpanzee habituation
Chimpanzee tracking focuses on exploring the already habituated community of chimpanzees. Chimpanzee habituation takes you through the search for the semi-habituated chimp community. During the guided chimpanzee habituation experience, you can opt to spend half day or entire day with chimpanzees. This primate adventure allows you to follow and observe closely how chimpanzees behave and taking photos.
Chimpanzees are interesting primates to interact with. They often stay in troops of 10-100 members and each community can be led by a mature adult male also referred to as an alpha. Book your chimpanzee tracking experience with Rivo Safaris and get a chance to explore the iconic destinations in East Africa.