Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest – Murchison falls national park
Chimpanzee trekking in budongo forest; The forest is located in Murchison falls national park and one of the destinations that offers the adventurous chimpanzee trekking activity where tourists will be able to move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Murchison falls national park harbors other wildlife species like the big four of the big five mammals which are lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, other animals like waterbucks, Uganda kobs, oribi, bushbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs, giraffes, hippos, Nile crocodiles and variety of bird species. Apart from Budongo forest, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is also done in Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest and Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve.
Chimpanzee trekking experience in Budongo forest
Chimp tracking starts very early in the morning with a briefing at around 8:00am about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a park guide who is conversant with chimpanzee trekking trails and start trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located. During chimpanzee trekking, you will be able to view other primate species like black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, view different plant and tree species, birds among others. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which helps you to learn more about their behaviors, lifestyle, habits, watch them feed, play, hunt, fight, breastfeed, groom young ones, rest, take photos and record the incredible moments.
Budongo forest also offers chimpanzee habituation experience where the wild chimpanzees are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation experience takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and it’s only carried out in the wet/ low season during the months of March to May and October.
Cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest
A chimpanzee trekking permit is a card that allows any visitor to visit a habituated chimpanzee family in Budongo forest. A chimpanzee trekking permit in the forest during the peak/ high season costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents and 85 USD per person for East African citizens. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest in the low season costs 120 USD per person for foreign non residents, 110 USD per person for foreign residents and 80 USD per person for East African citizens.
A chimpanzee habituation permit in Budongo forest costs 230 USD per person for foreign non residents, 160 USD per person for foreign residents and 90 USD per person for East African citizens.
Both chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation permits in Budongo forest can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris by contacting us with the dates when you wish to visit the chimpanzees. After contacting us we will check for permit availability depending on your dates and if there are permits available on your desired dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permits. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf.
Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
Chimpanzee trekking can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the wet/ low season in the months of March to May and October to January because during this period there is plenty of food/ fruits for the chimpanzees due to heavy rainfall therefore visitors will be able to view chimpanzees easily compared to the dry season when the chimpanzees move deep into the forest in search of food.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest can also be done in the dry season during the months of June to September because during this period there is less rainfall in the forest therefore chimp tracking trails will be dry and passable.
Where to stay during your chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo forest
There are a wide range of accommodation facilities, Murchison falls national park and Masindi forest where you can stay during your chimpanzee trekking safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Budongo eco lodge, New Court View Hotel, Hotel Victory Bijja, Kabalega Resort Hotel, Masindi Hotel, Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Simbiya River Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Twiga Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Kabalega Wilderness Lodge, Murchison Falls Bamboo Village, Murchison Tree House among others.
Chimpanzee trekking is an exceptional activity that can be combined with a tour in Lake Mburo national park where you will engage in interesting activities like game drives, nature walk, horseback riding, sport fishing among others. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for affordable chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safari packages.