Chimpanzee trekking in kyambura gorge; Chimpanzee trekking is an exciting and amazing activity in Uganda that involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzee families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Kyambura gorge is located in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda located in western region in four districts namely Kasese, Kamwenge, Rukungiri and Kamwenge. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home of other wildlife species including the tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, leopards, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs and more than 600 bird species. Apart from Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, chimpanzee trekking is also done in Kibale forest national park, Kalinzu forest, Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve and Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide who is well conversant with chimpanzee trekking trails. During chimpanzee trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, you will be able to view other primate species like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, bird species, mammals among others. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their habits, lifestyle, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed young ones, hunt, rest, play, take photos and record videos to show people back home thus Chimpanzee trekking in Kymbura gorge .
Cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge
A chimpanzee trekking permit is a legal card that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated chimpanzee family in Kyambura gorge. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge costs 50 USD per person for foreign non residents, 50 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens which is much cheaper compared to Budongo forest where a chimpanzee trekking permit costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents and Kibale forest national park where a chimpanzee trekking permit costs 200 USD per person for foreign non residents.
How to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority by contacting the head offices in Kampala or park offices through email or telephone calls. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When booking through a tour operator, you will contact us with the dates when you wish to visit the chimpanzees. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability 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 Kyambura gorge
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be thin which allows you to view chimpanzees and other wildlife species clearly and the chimpanzee trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery.
Where to stay during your chimpanzee trekking safari in Kyambura gorge
There are a number of accommodation facilities where you can stay during your chimpanzee trekking safari in Kyambura gorge-Queen Elizabeth national park. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange and budget including Kyambura Tented Camp, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Pumba Safari Cottages, Elephant hab lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Irungu Forest Safari Lodge, Parkview Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Lake Chibwera Camp, Katara Lodge, King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba, Kitandara Hippo Hill Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge among others.
How to get to Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national
Kyambura gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth national park and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala through Mubende- Fort Portal or Masaka-Mbarara road to the park headquarters and then connect to Kyambura gorge which takes about 6 to 7 hours’ drive.
Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights with Bar Aviation Uganda or Aerolink Uganda limited from Entebbe international airport to Kasese or Mweya airstrip and then connect to Kyambura gorge by road.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge can be combined with wildlife viewing in Lake Mburo national park. For more information about chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website to book various chimpanzee trekking packages.
