Track wild chimps as they move through the forest
Visit Kibale Forest or Ngamba Island for some of the best places to see chimpanzees in Africa
Kibale Forest
Guided chimpanzee tracking in Uganda can be experienced in Kibale Forest National Park, which borders Murchison Falls National Park at Budongo Forest Reserve, and the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A two to three hour walk along well-defined hiking trails will usually lead you to a family of habituated chimpanzees that are used to seeing humans. The chimps tend to be livelier and more vocal than the gorillas and often display superb acrobatics high up in the canopy to shouts and cries from their peers. A chimpanzee tracking experience compliments a gorilla trek really well, without the enormous cost, and is something not to be missed.
Chimpanzee Permit Prices: tracking permits cost $60 per person.
Ngamba Island
Alternatively, you can get close-up with an excursion to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary to visit a community of orphaned chimpanzees, most of which were confiscated from poachers.
Located in Lake Victoria and only 23kms from Entebbe, Ngamba Island was officially opened to visitors in October 1999 and is currently home to around 50 orphaned chimpanzees. The sanctuary provides these orphaned chimpanzees with a secure home to live out their lives, since a return to their natural habitat is not possible. It also educates visitors and local communities about this remarkable species and the importance of conserving its fragile forest habitat.
Guests have the opportunity to view two daytime feedings of the chimpanzees, as well as morning and evening feeds at the holding facility. Optional activities include observing some of the island's 154 recorded bird species, visiting a local fishing village, taking a sunset cruise, or simply relaxing by the lake, enjoying a memorable African sunset.
