Wondering where to see primates in Uganda? Primate trekking is the number one travel activity for mots traveler visiting Uganda. The Pearl of Africa is home to the highest number of primates in Africa, which make it a best primate trekking destination for the primate lovers. The country is home to different categories of primates found in different destinations across the country. Do you want to see the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees or the playful golden monkeys? Uganda is your best destination to meet and interact with these endangered primates in their natural habitats. Interestingly, you can trek all primates on a single trip to enjoy this lifetime experience. Primate trekking in Uganda is done along other travel experiences such as game viewing in savanna parks, bird watching, community visits and mountain climbing. A combination of these activities makes a complete Uganda safari package to meet and satisfy your travel interests. The top places to see primates in Uganda include:
Kibale Forest National Park
Located in western Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is a primate capital of Africa. The park is home to the highest population of endangered chimpanzees, which make it a best place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Besides chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is home to other 12 primates, which include the red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Black and White Colubus, Blue monkeys, Golden monkeys, Baboons, grey-cheeked Mangabey, Mantled guereza, and Pottos. A 3 Days Kibale Chimpanzee tour is a suitable package to trek the endangered chimps in Kibale Forest National Park. You can combine your chimpanzee tour in Kibale with a nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary ad a community tour to the local people. More so, Kibale forest National park is a center of chimpanzee habituation experience which allow a traveler to spend half a day with the endangered primates. Africa Adventure Safaris offers customized chimpanzee trekking and habituation safaris to Kibale Forest National Park at affordable rates.
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura gorge is another place to see primates in Uganda. Located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura gorge is an underground forest, which houses over 50 chimpanzees habituated in one community. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is an experience of its own kind where travelers move down in the under ground forest with streams of water and a cold environment. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is an add on adventure to game viewing and boat cruise experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
If you want to trek mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is your best gorilla trekking destination. With over half of the world’s total gorilla population inhabited in Bwindi, the Impenetrable Forest is the number one gorilla safari destination. Interestingly, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest is pocket friendly compared to the neighboring Rwanda. Each gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. You can trek Uganda gorillas in Bwindi Forest starting from either Entebbe Airport of Kigali Airport in Rwanda. For travelers with limited time, Rwanda to Uganda gorilla trekking is a best option. Fly into Kigali Rwanda and cross to Uganda, trek gorillas in Bwindi Forest and drive back to Kigali for your return flight. You can even do a 1 Day Bwindi gorilla with an early pick up from Kigali at 3:30am, drive to Bwindi, trek gorillas and in the morning depart to Rwanda for your connecting flight. However, a 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla tour is a prefect package to trek and have enough time with the endangered gorillas. The first day is for arriving at the park, second day for gorilla trekking and third day for departure. Still in Bwindi Forest, you can take part in the four hours gorilla habituation experience, which give you extended time with these endangered species. Gorilla Habituation experience is the act of training wild gorillas to make them familiar with human presence and its only done in Rushaga sector south of Bwindi Forest National Park. Africa Adventure Safaris is the number one gorilla safari company in Uganda with over 15 years of arranging and organizing gorilla safaris to Bwindi Forest.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where “silver meets gold”. This small park is located in Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda and cross to Kigali Rwanda. The small park is home to the endangered Nyakagyezi gorilla family that is available for trekking. More so, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to golden monkeys! A primate safari to Mgahinga Park therefore gives you chance to see mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys at the same time.
Other places to see primates in Uganda include Budongo Forest for chimpanzees in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu Forest and Toro Semliki Valley.
