Uganda Primate safaris – Trekking to see primates of Uganda

Uganda Primate safaris – Primate trekking is one of the top safari activities that many tourists to Uganda participate in especially gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking. The Pearl is home to a diverse range of primates – a major highlight of Uganda safaris.

Uganda is home to 20 different primate species. 13 of the 20 primates in Uganda can be found in Kibale National Park which is the highest density of primates in all of Africa within a single destination. Uganda Primate safaris will allow you to witness these beautiful animals in their natural habitats and perhaps have great moments for photography and learning a few things about them.

Primates in Uganda include the mountain gorilla, chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, I’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey bush babies, potto, golden monkey, and olive baboons.

Gorilla Trekking

Top primate tracking destinations in Uganda – Uganda Primate safaris

Uganda is blessed to be a top destination for primate tracking or trekking in Africa with the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees on top of the list. Uganda has a big population of chimpanzees living within their natural habitat as well as half of the remaining mountain gorilla population still living within their natural habitat.

Our Uganda Trekking Tours will allow you to trek and see the gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitats – such a unique experience worth having! Many travelers would prefer to have a trip that makes it possible to see all of these. Trekking or hiking through the tropical rainforests is an awe-inspiring experience and a great opportunity to explore these primates’ different habitats. Here are some of the top places to visit for your Uganda primate adventure;

1. Budongo Forest – Murchison Falls National Park

Budongo forest is the closest chimpanzee trekking destination from Kampala-Uganda’s capital. The forest is part of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. There are 2 habituated chimpanzee families that can be trekked by those interested in experiencing the activity.  For Budongo forest chimpanzee trekking, a well-developed and extensive trail system with a length of 115km in total is found in the forest, the trail will offer you with awe-inspiring sightseeing opportunities. The forest offers a great chimpanzee trekking experience. Within the forest is also 465 plant species, all offering a great jungle experience which is a natural habitat for the chimps living in the forest. Chimpanzee sightseeing is guaranteed in Budongo Forest.

2. Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is the primary primate trekking destination in Uganda, with the highest total population of chimpanzees. The park has over 1500 chimpanzees and is still home to over 13 different primate species, that’s why it’s dubbed the “primate capital of the world”.

Kibale is also famous for the chimpanzee habituation experience where tourists accompany researchers and habituators (those that take the chimpanzees through the habituation process) into the forest. For chimpanzee habituation, the groups that are visited are less accustomed or used to the presence of human beings than those that are visited during chimpanzee trekking. During the habituation experience, those involved follow and view the chimps as they exhibit their characters.

3. Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge is the only destination in Uganda where you will have to visit the chimps below sea level. The chimpanzees live in a gorge that is about 100m deep at its deepest spot. Unlike other chimpanzees, this population lives below the gorge which makes it an extraordinary experience to trek them. However, the chimpanzees here are few, and therefore sightings are not that marvelous. If you want to have a magical experience, then trek in Kyambura you may never find this experience anywhere else.

4. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is home to about 550 mountain gorillas as of the last census, this is the highest of any other mountain gorilla park. Gorilla trekking is the prime activity in Bwindi and while here, sightseeing is really guaranteed.

Bwindi also offers a gorilla habituation experience on top of the normal gorilla trekking. The experience is an exhilarating way of learning about the elusive mountain gorillas. Bwindi Forest in Uganda is the only national park where the gorilla habituation experience can be undertaken by tourists. It is an opportunity to meet a group of wild gorillas that haven’t been fully habituated and therefore behave like they would before getting familiar with humans. This is a better way of learning the lifestyle of the mountain gorillas within their natural habitat.

5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park just like its name portrays is a gorilla habitat, home to 1 habituated mountain gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi gorilla group. Tracking the Nyakagezi gorilla group is amazing with the fact that this group is big and social compared to many other habituated gorilla groups. The Nyakagezi family is one of the easiest to track given the fact that it prefers a narrow home range for feeding, nesting, relaxing, and recreation.  In case you are not ready to hike for a long distance, Mgahinga is a better option since they can be found after a short time of trekking rather than those of Bwindi which may require a longer time to trek.

Let us help you experience the magical primate adventure in Uganda, contact us to help you plan a safari to Uganda and East Africa at large.

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