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How to get to Kalinzu Forest Kalinzu forest is situated along the Kasese – Mbarara highway, 10km in Bushenyi district west of Ishasha within the area of Queen Elizabeth national park. The reserve’s reception centre is situated in a favourable position for both visitors coming from Queen Elizabeth national park or going to Queen Elizabeth national park. There are different ways of reaching Kalinzu forest by using either public transportation, private or aero. Public transport like the bus or taxi, boarding from Kampala bus terminal takes about 5hrs, and fares range from 25000ush to 35000ush. Visitors that use public transport get off at Butare and walk a short distance to Kalinzu forest reserve. You’ll hear interesting sounds from the forest as you’re walking to the forest reception. Private transport like the safari vehicle of the company you booked your trip with, will allocate you a vehicle with a tour guide that will transfer you to Kalinzu Forest reserve, and the other destinations on your travel itinerary. For a Kalinzu Forest memorable wild adventures try to include nature walks in the forest, and a wildlife game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. Some tourism activities in Kalinzu forest will stretch your legs from the long drives in the safari vehicle during the game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. In tourism small details matter and you wouldn’t want to miss out on the sensational exposure of nature within Kalinzu forest reserve. As you’re embarking on the activities in Kalinzu forest, these are the regulations you need to know; A maximum of 6 visitors in a group are allowed to trek into the forest. Always keep your voice low when in the forest. Remember to keep on the trekking trails. Do not stay at a particular place unless you’re ready to get company from the primates. Do not leave or drop your garbage in the forest. Do not feed any primates in the forest, These regulations were put in place for nature’s sustainability

Why Should I go For Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda? Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of the underrated adventures, and we want to change that. Let’s start with a chat about things like where to trek to see them, how difficult the hike is during the trek, and what the experience of trekking is actually like. If you’re keen on trekking for mountain gorillas in the wild, chances are you’d equally like to see chimpanzees in the wild. Trekking to see the endangered chimpanzees in the wild is a marvellous excursion to add to a trip while in Uganda. We advise clients to include it in their top 20 things to do in Uganda on the definitive list.   Differences between gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda Similar to gorilla trekking, in chimpanzee trekking, a small group of tourists goes on a hike with trained rangers to see and spend time with the chimpanzee troop in the wild. Chimpanzees are similar to gorillas in many ways, but also, have easily noticeable differences. One of the main differences between a chimpanzee trek and a gorilla trek is that chimpanzees live primarily in trees whereas gorillas live on the ground. This means chimpanzees are a little harder to spot and photograph during the trek. The best times of year for chimpanzee trekking are the same as for gorilla trekking, November to February, and June to October. This makes it easy to take on both treks during your trip to Rwanda or Uganda. Chimpanzees live in much larger troops than gorillas, chimpanzee troops constitute about 50 to 150 individuals.   Where in Uganda you can go chimpanzee trekking? There are several places where you can trek and see chimpanzees in Uganda. The most popular places in the country are Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge. Both of these trekking areas have groups of habituated chimpanzees. Clients can also go chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest.   Kibale Forest The beautiful Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda is one of the best places in East Africa to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kibale Forest national park is about 230 km from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kibale Forest is home to around 1,200 chimpanzees. The forest park also hosts 12 other species of primates, namely: red-tailed monkeys or red-tailed guenons. black and white colobus monkeys Uganda red or ashy colobus monkeys L’Hoest’s or mountain monkey Vervet monkeys olive baboons Uganda Mangabey Patas monkeys blue or diademed monkeys grey-cheeked Mangabey Prince Demidoff’s bush babies galagoes’ Bosman’s pottos Kibale forest national park is a remnant of was once huge central African rainforest. The forest covers 776 km at the end of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is one of the most diverse and varied rainforests in Africa and East Africa. There are several habituated groups of chimpanzees in Kibale and they trekked in groups of up to eight people to see them.   Kyambura Gorge Kyambura Gorge is found on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, filled with the diverse tropical rainforest vegetation that is home to approximately 19 chimpanzees. The forest is cut off from the larger forests around the region like Kalinzu forest and Maramagambo forest where other chimpanzees live, a fact that has led to them being known as ‘the lost chimpanzees of Kyambura’. The forest is beautiful and home to many species of birds as well as primates, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobuses, baboons and vervet monkeys. Please note that it’s a steep hike down into the gorge. And what goes down, must make its way back up. Trekking to see the lost chimpanzees of Kyambura is thus a laborious enterprise, but also incredibly rewarding.   Budongo Forest Budongo forest is also a possible destination to trek to see chimpanzees near Murchison Falls. The forest is a beautiful rainforest which is home to over 800 chimps. This forest is the largest remaining tropical forest in the East African region, covering 825 km. the forest is under the protection of the Jane Goodall Institute, housing several habituated chimpanzee groups.   All about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda Here are some facts about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda which we feel should answer some of your practical questions. Chimpanzee trekking permits cost US$200 per person. 2 departure times per day are offered for chimpanzee trekking at 8 am and 2 pm. Chimpanzee groups are limited to a group of six people per trek and chimpanzee group. Clients are briefed by a park ranger about the trek and what to expect as they’re setting off. Clients can hire a porter to carry their backpacks and help them over any difficult and slippery sections. Once briefed, your group sets off into the forest, led by a ranger. The forest is alive with birdsongs and the calls of monkeys. Once you reach your chimpanzee troop, you’ll spend one hour with them. Clients can, alternatively, book a chimpanzee habituation permit for $250. This permit gives you 4 hours with the chimpanzees. Habituation treks usually start at 6 am.

What do I need to know about Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda? Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of the popular wildlife tourism activities in Uganda, which allows you to step into the world of chimpanzees in the wild. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Interpretive rangers led a small group of tourists (maxi of 8) into the forest to trek for chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda lasts about 3 hours and includes a maximum of 1 hour with the chimpanzees, during the hour with the chimps, you’ll be expected to see them from a safe but intimate distance of 8-10 m. To get up close and personal with the chimpanzees to discover their beauty, intelligence, and social structures go for chimp habituation.   What is Chimpanzee Habituation? Chimpanzee habituation is a fully engaging activity and experience in the country’s tourism. Clients join the researchers of the habituation team on a half or full-day excursion deep into the forests. Unlike the trekked chimpanzees, which are less used to human presence and their experience is sometimes unpredictable. In chimpanzee habituation, chimps engage with humans more hence being able to discover their beauty, intelligence and social structures. Whilst, it sometimes can be challenging to follow the lead of these acrobatic primates. Though the experience is thoroughly rewarding. The main difference between the standard chimpanzee treks and the habituation experience is the time spent with the chimpanzees. The habituation experience gives you up to 4 hours to spend in the company of the chimps.  Whereas trekking gives you 1 hour in the company of the chimps.   Where can I go to see Chimpanzees in Uganda? 1 Kibale Forest Home to about 1,500 chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is the main chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. The park is located in the South-West of Uganda, the rainforest is easily accessible from Kampala or Entebbe using aero or road transport. The park is also accessible via Rwanda Kigali. The forest park has a great chimpanzee population, it has also become synonymous with chimpanzees. The chances of sighting chimpanzees in this park are at 90% or more, the park also sits along the south-western safari circuit which is easy to combine with other experiences like gorilla trekking, bird watching and wildlife sighting in Queen Elizabeth national park. The chimpanzee tracking excursions in the park depart twice a day at 08:00 am and 2:00 pm, the morning excursions are the busiest since many itineraries combine them with the afternoon visit to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. To trek chimpanzees in Uganda, a tracking permit is required at the entrance of the park, permits can be booked through a tourism operating company in Uganda. Chimpanzee habituation experiences are possible at Kibale forest park. For clients joining for the full day, you will join the chimpanzees when they break their nests at 06:30 am until nesting again for the night at 7:00 pm.   2 Budongo Forest in Murchison falls National park. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s top safari destination. The park provides a diversity of experiences that the incredible park offers. A single visit to the park can have a combination of game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, hikes to the top of the waterfalls and landscapes, and sundowners at boutique lodges that are overlooking the savannah. Murchison has two sectors north and south, separated by the river Nile. In the woods of the southern sector of this breathtaking park, is where the Budongo Forest Reserve, in which chimpanzee tracking is carried out. Budongo’s trekking rate is 80% which is higher than that of the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whilst chimpanzee sighting chances are higher at Kibale forest park due to its intense number of chimpanzees, the lower the number of visitors, the more it makes the experience more personal. The activity preferred by visitor while on chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda is sitting with the chimps on their turf. The chimp trekking guides are particularly good at Budongo, trekking groups per day are 6 in groups of 3 people each group to track the chimps in the morning and afternoon. The forest has a historical association with the Jane Goodall Institute, which means that the interpretive guides are excellent at telling wilder stories about the chimps and the forest. The chimpanzee tracking excursion lasts for 3 hours, and contact is usually only 1 hour with the chimps. A full-day habituation experience is also possible for adventurers who seek an extended encounter with the chimpanzees.   Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park A delightfully secret cloven in the surface of the flat savannah bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park is where the Kyambura Gorge is found. The gorge is also a popular chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. The gorge is situated east of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is commonly known as ‘the valley of apes’. As a product of centuries of erosion by the Kyambura River is where the dense forest that covers the gorge sides is the prime habitat for chimpanzees. As the experienced park ranger leads you into this secret forest, you’ll feel goosebumps for entering another world. An aerial view of Kyambura Gorge from Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most breathtaking scenery in the region. About 17 chimpanzee troops inhabit the Kyambura gorge and the chances of sighting them are 60%. The sights and sounds of the forest generate suspense, making the sighting of these apes even more rewarding. Kyambura Gorge is usually included as an add-on to a safari in Queen Elizabeth national park since the park has outstanding biodiversity. Clients usually visit the park for game drives, boat cruises, and the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector.   4 Semuliki National Park In the western corner of Uganda, the Semliki Valley is home to a small population of chimpanzees. Don’t expect to easily find chimpanzees in this national park. Due to the dry and sparse forest of the park’s environment, means that chimpanzees have to roam far and