Kibale Forest has the highest concentration of primate in East Africa, and contains a large habituated chimpanzee community. Here you will have the chance to trek through the forest in search for its most famous inhabitant, with your expert guide leading the way making signs and calls to locate the chimps, you will have a 90% or higher chance of sighting them in their natural habitat thanks to many years of research and habituation efforts in the area, the chimpanzee are used to human presence, and is the reason that Kibale is the most popular area for chimp trekking in Uganda. On the trek you will sight other primates, such as grey-cheeked mangabeys and red-tailed monkeys.

For visitors wishing to spend more time observing the chimpanzee interactions, the Chimpanzee habituation experience is highly recommended. With a special permit, visitors can spend up to four hours with the chimps, gaining a deeper understanding of their daily routines and lives in the forest. All chimpanzee experiences are expertly managed by Uganda wild life authority operators, and obtaining permits is essential.

Budongo Forest part of Murchison Falls National Park is East Africa’s largest tropical forest and home to over 600 wild chimps. Expert guides and rangers leading the way making signs and calls to locate the chimps, through the lush canopy to visit the Kaniyo-Pabidi chimp community, one of three troops being studied and monitored by the Budongo Conservation Field Station.

The Kaniyo-Pabidi chimp community, consists of 100 individuals, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to observe these intelligent and social creatures in their natural habitat. Chimp treks can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, covering up to 8km, and once located, visitors spend an hour with the troop, witnessing their daily lives, playing, feeding, and napping.

For a longer experience, Budongo Forest offers chimpanzee habituation experiences. This unique opportunity allows visitors to assist in the process of acclimating unhabituated chimps to human presence. Under the guidance of professional guides, visitors follow one of the unhabituated troops, observing and recording their behavior. This experience can last up to a whole day and provides a thrilling opportunity to track and encounter these iconic species in their forest world.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park, offers a unique experience. Kyambura's unique scenery with a sunken underground rainforest surrounded by cascading cliffs and arid savannah, is a major draw. On your trek witness chimps swing effortlessly from branch to branch, high above the forest floor, the trek can last 2 to 3 hours and requires some agility and fitness, as you descend the steep gorge and navigate log bridges over the river.

This biodiversity hotspot is also a birdwatcher's paradise, with numerous rare species calling Kyambura home.

For those interested in exploring other chimpanzee habitats, nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve offers chimpanzee trekking opportunities, home to a community of about 40 habituated chimps.

Chimps in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary:
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, established in 1997, provides a safe haven for over 40 orphaned chimpanzees. Located on a 100-acre island, 98 acres of which are forested, the sanctuary offers a unique opportunity to observe these incredible creatures up close. Visit the island and witness either a morning or afternoon feeding from the safety of the visitor's platform, accompanied by an informative talk from sanctuary staff. Additional activities include swimming on the equator, exploring a nearby fishing village, birdwatching, and relaxation time on the island

Day Trip Highlights at Ngamba Island
- Transfer to the pier for a scenic 45-minute motorized speed boat ride to Ngamba Island
- En route, stop at the Equator for photo opportunities
- Welcome briefing by your guide upon arrival
- Observe chimpanzee feeding at close distance from the raised visitors' platform
- Witness chimpanzee behaviors: eating, playing, and resting
- Informative talk by sanctuary staff about the chimpanzees
-- Best time to visit: Morning or afternoon feeding times (10:00 am or 2:00 pm)

What else to do in Chimpanzee Paradise?
1. Caregiver for a day Experience
This is a unique program where visitors get the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Chimpanzee Caregiver by being Caregivers themselves! As a chimp caregiver, you will get the exciting opportunity to not only view the chimps feeding, but to participate in preparing their food and feeding them. You can assist the staff with any activities happening at the sanctuary that day – medical checkups, research and monitoring, preparing the holding areas for the chimps and administrative work, whereby you can help to type in the chimp stories and any other activities that your skills and experience can be used for. This is a program aimed at helping our visitors understand and appreciate what it takes to look after our orphaned cousins on Ngamba Island as well as raising funds for their well being. The staff will work with you to show you just what is involved in taking care of these animals, how individual they are, and what makes them so special.
As a caregiver, you get to meet and interact with all the chimps on the Island but DIRECT CONTACT with them is not guaranteed but possible under close supervision of a resident Caregiver. Excursion is subject to various inoculations & pre-approval from CSWCT).
Please contact us to get more details on this program

2. Behind-the-Scenes Program at Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC):
Get an exclusive glimpse into the lives of UWEC's resident chimpanzees. This program includes:
- Guided tour of the chimpanzee enclosure
- Insights into chimpanzee behavior, habitat, and conservation
- Opportunities to interact with UWEC's animal trainers and caregivers
- Participation in enrichment activities for the chimpanzees

1. Chimpanzee Adoption Program: Support conservation efforts by adopting a chimpanzee through organizations like the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT).
2. Research and Volunteer Opportunities: Join research projects or volunteer programs with organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute or UWEC to contribute to chimpanzee conservation.