Travel tips

Uganda is known as the “Pearl of Africa” due to its gorgeous wildlife environment and location as a landlocked country in east-central Africa. It gained formal independence on October 9, 1962, yet it is populated by huge, welcoming ethnic groups from other locations.

Uganda as a country embraces various eco-systems, from the tall volcanic mountains of the eastern and western borders to the densely forested swamps of the Albert Nile and the rain forests of the country’s central plateau; additionally, it is well known for its largest lake in East Africa and the source of the Nile, which attracts many tourists from all over the world.

The three main regions are: Northern, where tourists explore the Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park; Eastern: Sipi Falls, Mountain Elgon National Park, Source of the Nile, Itanda Falls, Victora Nile, Nyero Rock paintings; and Western: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semuliki National Park.

Chimpanzee tracking is a popular experience for tourists to do while visiting Uganda. It is widely done in three parks and reserves where chimpanzees roam freely, such as Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, and Kyambura Gorge. Most chimpanzees live in Kibale Forest National Park more than any other protected area in East Africa, making it one of the best areas in the world for chimpanzee tracking adventures. In addition, the park provides various activities, which include bird watching and forest nature hikes.

However, trekking chimpanzees while following a knowledgeable and armed UWA ranger or guide into the forest to trek them in their natural habitat is the goal of the activity. It’s always advised to keep in mind that chimpanzee trekking is highly regulated to minimize any detrimental impacts on chimpanzees and their natural habitat, and strict regulations and procedures must be followed.

Other chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda rather than Kibale Forest National Park

More than 800 chimpanzees call the Budongo Forest Reserve in Murchison Falls National Park home. It is a fantastic location for nature walks and birdwatching as well. A group of habituated chimpanzees live in the scenic and verdant Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It has a diversified ecosystem. Despite being less well-known than the other reserves previously listed, the Kalinzu Forest Reserve in western Uganda is a fantastic location to search for chimpanzees.

What to pack for this tracking safari in Uganda