Facts about chimpanzees in Uganda : Chimpanzee are primates that share 98 percent of human DNA which makes them the closest relatives to human being.
There are over 500 chimpanzees that are found in different parts of Uganda and they can be viewed in different national park and wildlife reserves such kibaale national park, which harbors the biggest number of chimpanzees, budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth national park, kalinzu forest, Toro-semiliki wildlife reserve, Ngamba island among others.
Chimpanzee characteristics
Chimpanzee in Uganda have a body covered with long black hair, long arms which help them in searching for food and protection when an enemy comes across, they have short legs and have no tail. Chimpanzee in Uganda becomes sexually mature at an age of 8 to 12 years of age, chimpanzee live in groups of 30-80 individually and the groups are made of males and females. It is said that chimpanzee in Africa live about 50-70 years life span in captivity. Chimpanzee estrus cycle of about 34 to 35 days and during this period they experience body change for example the skin on the bottom become pink, bare and swollen.
They have the same gestation period with human beings of about 9 months, give birth every 4 to 5years and give birth to one baby which will stay with its mother until about 3years of age. They are quick and fast climbers hence they build their nests high in the tree branches, lining tree edges with twigs and forming a platform.
Chimpanzee diet.
Chimpanzee are omnivorous creatures in that they feed on plants, fruits, leaves, buds, blossoms, flowers, seeds, insects, hunting small among others. While feeding, chimpanzee eat seeds, berries from the stem with the lips and pick fruits and flowers with their hands. Their diet consists of about 80 different plants and use tools like rocks to crack nuts, sticks to gather termites from leaving which water they soak up in water while drinking water from tree holes.
Communication to chimpanzee.
The chimpanzees are among the noisiest primates and use facial expressions, body language to communicate with each other using sounds like hooting, screaming, hunting drumming among others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting activity in Uganda where visitors move into forests in search for chimpanzee families and once found spends about an hour with them in their nature habitats. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is the second most popular activity carriod out in Uganda after gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahiga gorilla national park. Chimpanzee trekking can be carried out in several destinations in Uganda such as kibaale national park.
Kibaale national park.
Kibaale national park is located in southwestern Uganda and it’s on of the major chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda in that it harbors the highest number of chimpanzee which is equivalent to over 1500 chimpanzees.
Kibaale national park offers two schedules sessions of chimpanzee trekking where the first session is done in the morning and another one in the afternoon but all seasons are done with the briefing about the expectations, rules and regulations at kanyachu information center. After briefing you will be provided by the guide with making groups of les that 5 people per group to trek each chimpanzee family depending on physical fitness. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be given an hour to spend with them learning about their behaviors, habits taking plenty of photos and recording.
Kaniyo pabidi, Budongo forests.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can also be done in kaniyo pabidi which is situated in budongo forest southern part of Murchison falls national park which is the largest and most visited national park in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking in kaniyo pabidi can also done either in the morning or in the afternoon and start with briefing about the rules and regulations. Trekking takes about 2 to 4 hours or even more an once the chimpanzee have been found, you will spend one hour with them taking photos, recording videos and learning about their habits, behaviors among others.
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is located in the eastern park of Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park visited in Uganda. Kyambura gorge is also known as the valley of apes and during chimpanzee trekking you will spend one hour with the chimpanzee in their natural habitats and also view other primates like red tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey among others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Klinzu forest
Kalinzu forest is located in southwestern in Uganda in Bushenyi district close to maramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth national park. The forest harbors about 6 primate species and it’s the second best chimpanzee trekking in kalinzu forest starts early morning or afternoon with the briefing and it takes about 3 to 4 hours in the steep and muddy slopes. Chimpanzee in their natural habitats learning about their lifestyle, taking photos and recording the moments to show people back home after safari.
Trekking permits
Chimpanzee trekking permits in all destinations is valid for one that and allows you to spend one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees. However the chimpanzees trekking permits should be booked in advance so as to avoid the misunderstanding especially during the peak seasons when the permits are compentives and usually get sold out.
When to trek chimpanzee in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking can be done in Uganda anytime thought the year though the dry season is always the best time to trek chimpanzees in Uganda in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry seasons there is less rainfall and due to the fact that chimpanzee trekking is done in the jungle the trekking trails will be wet seasons when the trails will be muddy and slippery. Chimpanzee trekking can also be done in wet seasons of march to April and October to November in that the lodges are always cheap and favorable according to travelers budget and chimpanzee will be easily spotted in that there will be plenty of food for them in the forest.
