Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve
Experience the magic of getting up close and personal with endangered chimpanzees year-round. If you’re looking to meet these endangered Great Apes face-to-face in the wild, there are many opportunities to enjoy these magnificent creatures in the jungles of Budongo Forest Reserve. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve is a prime tourism activity because 600-700 of Uganda’s total 5000 chimpanzees call this Forest home. This makes Budongo one of the best places in Uganda to spot these Great Apes in their natural habitat.
Read on to find out how to go about your Chimpanzee tracking adventure, and where to stay on your next trekking adventure in our ultimate guide to chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve. Prepare to witness the magnificence of these Great Apes up close and personal, as they groom each other, forage, play, rest, and sing their enchanting calls.
Chimpanzee Communities in Budongo Forest Reserve
At least three chimpanzee communities (the Sonso Community, the Kaniyo-Pabidi Community, and the Waibira Community) have been habituated in Budongo Forest Reserve. However, only the Kaniyo-Pabidi community is open for visitors to trek to.
The Jane Goodall Institute habituated the Kaniyo-Pabidi Chimpanzee community and is now managed by the Budongo Ecolodge. This community ranges through the Northeastern area of Budongo Forest Reserve and often travels into the surrounding savannah and across the central region of the Forest Reserve. This community is on the road from Masindi to Murchison Falls National Park, and the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) supports the Ecolodge as a partner in monitoring these Great Apes’ health at Kaniyo-Pabidi.
The two other chimpanzee communities, Waibira and Sonso, are undergoing continuous research projects and aren’t visited by chimpanzee trekkers. In addition to the above three habituated communities, three others (Busingiro, Nature Reserve, and Waisoke) haven’t been habituated or studied and are not visited for research or trekking.
How is Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve done?
Enjoy guided chimpanzee trekking adventures in the verdant expanses of Budongo Forest Reserve, in search of the habituated community. This experience introduces primate lovers to the riveting human-like behavior of these Great Apes. Your experienced Ranger guide will provide detailed information on the different species of flora and fauna encountered along the way. As trekkers walk along the dense forest trails, it is advisable to keep all eyes on the playful primates, especially red-tailed monkeys, Black and white Colobus monkeys, and others, alongside the plethora of vibrant bird species.
Chimpanzee treks in Budongo Forest Reserve are available daily, with two viewing sessions (morning and afternoon) to maximize visitors’ chances of encountering them as they go about their daily routines. Typical chimpanzee treks span two to four hours, and there’s an 80% chance of seeing the chimps in Budongo. This also includes encountering them when successful, you have one hour to watch them go about their thrilling daily routines in their natural habitat. Use the allotted one hour to marvel at their incredible human-like behavior as they eat, play, rest, and groom each other amidst the verdant surroundings of Budongo Forest Reserve.
Guidelines for Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve
- Observe chimpanzees from a safe distance of at least 8 meters. Even when habituated, these Great Apes are wild and unpredictable, so approaching them too closely could harm both you and the chimps.
- The number of trekkers visiting any chimpanzee troop is limited to 8 visitors at any time (session).
- You have one hour to watch and photograph chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Therefore, the time spent observing individuals should be limited to 60 minutes.
- Remain quiet. Avoid making loud or sudden noises when trekking or in the presence of these Great Apes.
- Avoid sudden movement in the presence of chimpanzees, as that might startle them.
- Don’t touch chimpanzees, as you can place yourself and the Great Apes at risk.
Permits for Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve
Compared to Kibale National Park, chimpanzee trekking permits for Budongo Forest Reserve are cheaper and cost only $130 per person for foreign non-residents, $120 per person for foreign residents, and $85 per person for Ugandans during the high season. For the low season, chimpanzee tracking permits for Budongo Forest Reserve cost $120 per person for foreign non-residents, $110 for foreign residents, and $80 per person for Ugandans. These rates don’t include entrance fees for Murchison Falls National Park, which should be paid.
Packing list for your Chimpanzee trekking tour in Budongo Forest Reserve
So that you know, everyone should pack accordingly for a Budongo Forest Reserve chimpanzee trekking tour. For this reason, you need;
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Insect repellent:
One of the most important items used as a base layer underneath your clothing. An effective insect repellent will keep bugs, mosquitoes, and other insects at bay, and prevent itchy bites from making life miserable. Packaging insect repellent with a very low percentage of DEET is recommended.
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Footwear:
While Wellington boots might be provided at the briefing point, they can never be enough for everyone, so it’s recommended to pack your own. We recommend packing a pair of comfortable, rugged, waterproof, and lightweight hiking boots that can suit any jungle weather. Also, go for something with breathable material so your feet don’t get too hot.
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Backpacks:
Durability and flexibility are two crucial traits of what to pack for your chimpanzee trekking adventure in Budongo Forest Reserve. Rain can come at a moment’s notice, and chimpanzee treks expose cameras and other phones to adverse weather (rain, humidity, and sun), a triple threat for sensitive electronics. For this reason, a decent-sized backpack is your go-to bag when chimpanzee treks on foot are done. Waterproof is the primary concern; rain can seep in through zippers, making for a damp change of clothes when out and about in the forest.
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Toiletries:
You may need shampoo and body wash, face wipes, tissue packs, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hand and body lotion, hand sanitizer, hair comb/brush, and others.
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Camera equipment:
There are thousands of photo opportunities during chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve, so don’t forget to bring your camera equipment. Besides the Great Apes, there are so many colorful birds and animals, especially primates, in the Forest. However, many times they’re hard to capture without a zoom lens. Forest creatures are timid, so don’t expect them to pose for you, and for this reason, a good telephoto zoom lens will help you get closer to forest creatures without scaring them away.
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Personal items and essentials:
You need a good pair of sunglasses (because there’s more to walking through Budongo Forest Reserve than just shaded pathways), an after-bite cream, a refillable water bottle, a flashlight/headlamp, sunscreen, energy-giving snacks (nuts, chocolate, cookies, sweets, or chips), and a wildlife guidebook.
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Pair of binoculars:
The difference between a wildlife safari and a primate walk (like chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve) is how you spot the animals. On your chimpanzee tour, these Great Apes are unpredictable and most likely aren’t going to happen to be a couple of feet away so that you can get the perfect view.
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First aid kit:
Your Ranger guides will typically carry a basic medical kit for your group, but it is advisable to have a small one for minor cuts and blisters. It should contain gloves, antiseptic wipes, foot powder, assorted band-aids, wound dressing, tweezers, scissors, anti-diarrheal medicine, antibacterial wipes, and aspirin, among other things.
Where to stay during your chimpanzee trekking tour in Budongo Forest Reserve
Thanks to Budongo Forest Reserve’s location on the southeastern side of Murchison Falls National Park, you can choose to stay at Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Murchison River Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, or Red Chilli Rest Camp. You can also choose Masindi Town accommodations because it’s only a 45-minute drive away. These include Masindi Hotel and New Court View Hotel, among others.
In conclusion, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve is one of the unmissable activities during Uganda primate safaris. Proper planning is needed to know what to pack for the trip, how the activity is done, the best time for the adventure, where to stay, and how to book the safari. Please get in touch with us now for more details!
