A Guide on Primate Trekking in Uganda
When one thinks of Uganda, the richness of its scenery and of course the remarkable primate treks instantly come to mind. Although these primate safaris come a close second to the iconic wildlife safari game drives, many travelers attest the glory of the experience of primate trekking to some extent even an incomparable adventure to any other kind of safari.
Uganda’s rainforests are home to the world-famous Mountain Gorillas and teeming with beautiful birds, with savannas populated by big game nearby. The country is also blessed with an impressive natural beauty that has stunned millions of visitors including Sir Winston Churchill who dubbed Uganda as “the Pearl of Africa.”
Primate trekking
Do you know that there are only about 900 Mountain Gorillas left in the world? More than half of them reside in the lush jungles of Uganda along with other primate species like golden monkeys, olive baboons, patas monkeys and, our closest relative, chimpanzees. The exciting news is, visitors have ample opportunities to explore the jungle and observe these primates in their natural habitat!
Gorilla trekking
What could be more exhilarating than a trek to Uganda’s mystical rainforests and then meeting a family of endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat? Gorilla treks are usually a highlight to any African trip. The experience of being in the wild jungle, hearing the playful cries of the monkeys, the blend of animal sounds and songs of birds; discovering the mystery of each twigs and large leaves along the way… everything is just magical. Like seeing the Tarzan movie come to life.
In Uganda, gorilla trekking can go as long as 5 hours, more or less, depending on how early you track a gorilla family. As you hike through the forest, expect to get dirty as you traverse through a wild jungle, often creating your own path with the assistance of your guide/rangers. Once you meet the great apes, you will be allotted at least 1 hour to observe, take pictures and befriend them from a certain distance (7 meters, as officially required).
Recommended Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
Come face-to-face with mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest during this four-day adventure in Uganda.
Where to experience this?
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is among the many highlights of East Africa. It is considered as one of the most diverse and unique natural forests in the planet, showcasing an impressive wealth of flowers, trees and significant populations of mountain gorillas. The forest is also home to 347 bird species, making it a premier birding destination.
MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK
Declared as a game sanctuary in 1930, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park promises an interesting experience in the forest. It is the smallest park in Uganda but despite its size, it offers magnificent experiences especially when it comes to gorilla trekking. Mgahinga is part of the Virunga mountain range, covering three of its volcanoes: Muhavura, Sabinyo and Gahinga.
Recommended Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
Discover the wildlife wonders of Uganda on this 8-day adventure through the country’s storied kingdoms.
Chimpanzee trekking
Did you know that chimpanzees are our closest animal relatives? Scientists found that the DNA of these cheeky monkeys is 98% identical to ours. So, if you want to say hello to them, chimpanzee trekking is your biggest chance! Not only will you be able to see a lot of them, but you will also be able to explore some of the wildest jungles on Earth.
Chimps are very unpredictable and agile, swinging from one tree to another as if they don’t run out of energy. They can sneak away so fast and so tracking or keeping up with them can be very challenging. During a chimp trek, guides and rangers will help you navigate the forest and as soon s you find a group of chimpanzees, you will be able to spend some quality time with them. You can even observe their nest building on top of the trees! And Remember that scene in Jungle Book when Mowgli was dancing with the monkeys? This scene could very much be true!
Where to experience this?
KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Kibale Forest National Park is a dense forest renowned to host the most varied and concentrated primate population in East Africa. About 13 primate species have been recorded in the forest, in which the most famous ones are the 1,500 chimpanzees and good number of golden monkeys.
KYABURA WILDLIFE RESERVE
A part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s top destinations, Kyabura Wildlife Reserve is dubbed as “the valley of apes.” It is sometimes called Chambura Game Reserve, too. Apart from chimpanzees, other primates you can find in this reserve include red-tailed monkeys, white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and more. The bonus is, you get to enjoy Queen Elizabeth National Park as well! And this park is famous for good reason. It offers splendid boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel, stunning views made of savannas, forests and crater lakes, and features various wildlife including a hoard of hippos and some unique tree-climbing lions!
Golden monkey trekking
A lot of people are intrigued by these lovely creatures. The name itself sounds intriguing, yes? But what makes this trek even more intriguing and absolutely thrilling is how these high-spirited monkeys move around so fast with their striking golden fur coats. Price-wise, golden monkey trekking costs more compared to gorilla and chimpanzee trekking but if money is not an issue, this should not be missing from your bucket list!
Where to experience this?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Kibale Forest National Park
It is only natural for every traveler to want to experience the most unique adventure as possible when visiting a new place like Uganda. With Uganda safaris, you will not only witness a perfectly-mapped contrasting landscape, you will also be able to enjoy fulfilling primate trekking adventures that are worth remembering for a lifetime.
Recommended Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest on this four-day adventure to spot critically endangered mountain gorillas.
Gorillas of Bwindi Adventure Safari
3 Nights | 4 Days Safari
$3,038.0 *Price From
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