Primate and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda

Uganda is one of the best places in Africa to see a variety of primates in their natural habitat, including gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, gorilla and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is one of our most popular activities.

Numbers overall have suffered because of a number of factors such as poaching and loss of habitat but today, thanks to the tireless efforts of local conservationists, the primate population of Uganda is growing.

Gorillas in Uganda

Uganda is home to a group of endangered mountain gorillas and the Venture Uganda team can arrange for guests to view them at either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

An experienced guide will brief visitors before leading a trek through the forest to find the gorillas. Once found, guests then spend an hour watching them go about their daily activities of playing, eating and relaxing.

Alternatively, our visitors can also see the mountain gorillas by travelling alongside researchers as they carry out gorilla habitation work. Unlike gorilla tracking, there is an opportunity to spend slightly longer with the gorillas as well as ask plenty of questions from the researchers who work so closely with them. A permit – booked well in advance – is necessary to take part in both experiences.

We can also offer enhanced activities including tracking with gorilla vets, taking part in night-time trekking and visiting community projects.

Chimpanzee tracking and habituation experiences

Begin the day with a briefing from an experienced guide before trekking deep into lush forests in search of a chimp family. Once you’ve found the habituated chimps, guests spend around an hour watching these amazing creatures.

Just as with gorillas, it is possible to take part in a habituation experience. Spend a day with a group of chimpanzees, entering the forest early in the morning to find them as they wake up. As you learn about their behaviour and how to identify the individual chimps, these primates become more habituated to humans which makes it easier for tourists to track them and for researchers to observe them.

Where can I see chimpanzees in Uganda?

There are several locations where you can see chimpanzees:

• Kibale National Park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Budongo Forest

Meanwhile, other primates to be found in Uganda include olive baboons, black and white colobus, red colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s and grey-cheeked mangabey.

If you would like to experience primate tracking as part of a tailor-made holiday to Uganda, contact us by completing our enquiry form or emailing us at enquiries@ventureuganda.org