Gorilla vs chimpanzee tracking in Uganda
In the world, gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest is the most popular tourist adventure activity followed by chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, Mountain gorillas are the biggest land primates in the world. In Uganda, the endangered mountain gorillas can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga provide the perfect natural habitat and conducive environment to view gorillas.
Chimpanzee tracking is not as popular in the world, this is because chimpanzees are more in number and there can be accessible if different parks in Uganda Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest Reserve of Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elisabeth national park Karinzu Forest Reserve which makes chimps less popular compared to mountain gorillas.
What are the differences: Gorilla vs chimpanzee tracking in Uganda
Similarities between gorilla tracking vs chimpanzee tracking, both activities are done daily in a small group of 8 people goes into the forest to hike with well-experienced ranger/guides to see and spend time with a gorilla family or a chimpanzee troop in their natural habitat, mountain gorillas are much bigger compared to chimpanzees, chimps are also easy to trek compared to gorillas.
Another difference between gorilla trek and chimpanzee trek is that during chimps trekking you will find them in trees most of the time while gorillas are usually on the ground compared to chimps which spend most of the day up in the trees, chimpanzees are also easy to trek because they live in lower altitude compared mountain gorillas who live in the high altitude in the mountains, chimpanzee live in the big group (called troops) of about 40 to 150 individuals while mountain gorillas live in the group (called family) of about 5 to 20 individuals and both chimps and gorillas live in the tropical rain forest
Whoever is planning a safari to Africa to see both chimps and mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, Uganda is the best country in Africa to visit if you are interested in primates, Uganda is the only country with 2 national parks where you can trek gorilla and about 6 forests where you can see chimpanzees.
Where to find Mountain gorillas in Uganda
Uganda has two national parks where one can find mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, among the 2 national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to more than half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the world, Bwindi Forest is located in southwestern Uganda the district of Kisoro, Kabale, Rubanda and Kanungu.
As of 30th April 2023, Bwindi impenetrable forest national 20 habituated gorilla families/groups open for tourism, Bwindi gorilla families vary in size, relationships, and location because Bwindi Forest is divided into 4 sectors which include the Buhoma sector in the north, Ruhija sector in the East, Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector both in the southern part of the park. Gorilla tracking is done daily throughout the year, it starts with a briefing at the sector headquarters before the trek, there after park rangers/guides will assign each tourist to a gorilla family that you will be trekking and the trekking varies between 2 to about 6 hours, however trekking time depends on which gorilla family you have been assigned to because some gorilla families are much closer to the starting point others are deep in the forest. Park rangers can gauge where each family is so elderly and those who can walk for a long time or are not fit enough.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: is another place in Uganda where to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, Mgahinga has only one fully habituated gorilla family that is open for tourism, Mgahinga is located right in corn of Uganda at the border of Rwanda and DR-Congo, Mgahinga it is one of the smallest at (33.7km2) and less visited national park in Uganda, this park is also home to rare and endangered golden monkeys, distinctive flora and fauna among others.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also home to three volcanoes: namely Sabinyo Volcano (3645 meters), Gahinga Volcano (3,474 meters), and Muhabura Volcano (4,127 meters), this also has an amazing landscape and endangered species, with rich cultural which includes Batwa Pygmies who are the first tribe of the forest or call them the gatherers of the forest. Mgahinga is the only park in Uganda and Africa where you trek both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys hence the nickname “where Gold meets Silver”
Cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda
As of 30th April 2023, for anyone to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, you must first acquire a trekking permit. Currently, Uganda has only 168 gorilla permits available per day for both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for 21 habituated gorilla families, only a maximum of 8 people get to see one gorilla family per day and the minimum for gorilla trekking is 15 years old and above.
Currently, the gorilla permit price in Uganda as of 30th April 2023 is $700 per person for international visitors, this is half the price if you compare to Rwanda’s gorilla permit price which costs $1,500 per person which means Uganda has the best, and most affordable gorilla permit price in Africa.
Where to see chimpanzees in Uganda
Due to a number of reasons Uganda was nicknamed “the primate’s capital of Africa,” because it’s the best country in East Africa to see habituated chimpanzees, alongside, golden monkeys and the famous mountain gorillas, 90 percent of tourist who visits Uganda every year primate’s activities are on the top of the list which makes Uganda popular destination when it comes to primate’s safaris in Africa. Uganda has over 5,000 habituated chimpanzees which is open for tourism, there are two main activities to do with chimpanzees one is the standard chimp tracking and chimpanzee habituation experience. With standard tracking, tourists are allowed to spend only one with chimps while with habituation experience tourists are allowed to spend half a day with chimps.
Cost of Chimp tracking and habituation experience?
The price of seeing chimps in Uganda is very affordable by almost most tourists and other visitors, standard chimp tracking permit costs $200 per person while a habituation permit costs $250 per person, the permit prices include park entrance fees on the day you will be tracking and the minimum age for chimp tracking is 12 years and above no maximum age limit.
Chimp trek & habituation in Kibale Forest?
Apart from Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda has a few other destinations where you see habituated chimpanzees which includes Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge, however, Kibale Forest remains the best destination in Africa and in the world for chimpanzee tracking and habituation experience, this forest is not only home to chimpanzees but also to other 12 different primate’s species which make Kibale Forest the primates’ capital of Africa. Kibale forest is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees living in their natural habitat in this forest and the success rate of seeing chimps in Kibale forest is 100 percent on a daily basis.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest
Kalinzu Forest is part of Maramagambo forest in Rubirizi District bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest has one troop of about 75 to 80 individuals of habituated chimpanzees that are open for tourism. For those who wish to see chimps in Kalinzu forest, trekking can be done any day throughout the year.
The cost of seeing chimps in Kalinzu forest is very to almost every travel, in order to be allowed to trek chimps in Kalinzu forest you must pay a ticket (permit) at only $40 per person.
The minimum age for chimp trekking in Kalinzu forest is 12 years and above with no maximum age limit. The Chimpanzee permit cost for Kalinzi forest is also considered the cheapest in Uganda and Africa compared to $200 per person if you trek in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking and habitation in Budongo Forest?
In this article on gorilla vs chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, As we mentioned Uganda has different options on where to see chimpanzees, here is our final place where you can go for the chimp trek and habituation experience Budongo Forest, this forest is part of Murchison Falls National Park so is very easy to combine with other activities in Murchison Falls.
Budongo forest is dominated by mahogany trees which is the perfect shelter for the man’s closest relatives, Budongo forest has approximately about 100 troops of habituated chimps open and available to visitors, this forest also is the second option for chimpanzee habituation experience after Kibale Forest National Park.
The cost of trekking chimps in Budongo forest is $130 per person for foreign nonresidents, $120 per person for foreign residents, and $85 per person for nationals and other East African citizens during the peak season in the month of June, July, and August, October, December, January, and February, this means during low season in the months of March, April, May, and November you can get a good discount, contact Kisoro Tours Uganda for discounts on chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest during low season.
Chimp in Kyambura Gorge-Queen Elizabeth National Park
This Gorge is on the edge and party of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura Gorge It’s pervading by a tropical rainforest which is home to over 20 chimpanzees living in this Gorge. Kyambura Gorge in the early days was connected to Kalinzu forest and Maramagambo forest before it was cut off by ever-growing communities.
This gorge is very beautiful, for birdwatching lovers Kyambura gorge is home to many different bird species with few other primates like black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys with a large number of baboons.
Trekking chimps in Kyambura Gorge will cost $50 per person for both foreign nonresidents and foreign residents while Ugandans and other East African nationals pay 30,000 shillings per person. Kisoro Tours Uganda recommends that you book the trekking permit in advance between 6 months to a year because the number of permits is limited to a specific number to avoid last-minute disappointment.
For more about gorilla vs chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, you can reach out to Kisoro Tours Uganda for more detailed information or a safari quote.
