Kibale Forest National Park is located just east of the Rwenzori Mountains, near the town of Fort Portal. Chimpanzee tracking is excellent thanks to several walking trails and a large number of resident Chimp families in the forest. There is also a wonderfully diverse concentration of other primates (of any forest in East Africa in fact), including: Red Colobus, Red-tailed Guenon, White-nosed Monkey, Gray-cheeked Mangabey, Blue Monkey, L'Hoest's Monkey, and the Black and White Colobus Monkey. In addition, you may see Olive Baboons, Bush Babies and Nocturnal Pottos, as these animals have been the subject of long-term research projects, and so they are used to human presence.
Chimp tracking is also possible in the beautiful Kyambura Gorge (Queen Elizabeth National Park) and Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls National Park), though the chances of sighting them are slightly lower (50-70%), as the populations are smaller. That said, with Uganda being a primary destination for sighting Chimps, join us on a trip with Matoke Tours and discover the delights of our wonderful cousins. We'll ensure that you have a Chimp'tastic experience!! What's more, all fees paid go directly towards supporting the conservation of their natural habitats, as well as ensuring their ongoing survival.
Chimpanzees can be located in 21 countries throughout Africa, but are most easily sighted in Uganda due to their dense populations. There are currently 4,950 Chimpanzees left in Uganda. Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes making them our closest living relatives. Ngamba Island (Jane Goodall institute) The Ngamba Island project is a collaboration between the Chimpanzees Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Jane Goodall Institute, The Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre and Zoological Board of New South Wales. The island is situated off Lake Victoria and provides a sanctuary to orphaned and rescued Chimps, for which a return to their natural habitat is not possible. Visitors may watch and learn about Chimpanzees from resident researchers, and with prior arrangement, it is also possible to join the younger Chimps on a forest walk or act as a 'Care Giver' for the day, learning about the work that goes on behind the scenes. It is a wonderful experience to get up close and personal with the Chimps and see their behaviour at first hand. Their playfulness and willingness to clamber all over you - or even hold your hand - is a true delight!