Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest

Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest : Chimpanzee trekking is an exciting and active Uganda wildlife adventure which you can do in Budongo Forest, this adventure takes you on a hike deep into the heart of the rainforest.

Budongo Forest is part of the Great Murchison Falls Conservation Area and is the southern extension of the famous Murchison Falls National Park, the forest ranks among the best chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda as well as East Africa region.

The forest spans about 826 square kilometers dominated by medium – altitude rainforest on the edge of the Albertine Rift, this vast forest reserve is home to a diverse variety of forest birds, monkeys, butterflies and plants.

Budongo Forest is a totally different forest from the typical Africa safaris experiences and major attraction in the forest is the chimpanzees which share 98.7% of our DNA and have many human-like behaviors.

About Chimpanzees In Budongo Forest

In Uganda, chimpanzees are tracked in different areas and Budongo Forest Reserve is one of the few remaining stronghold for chimpanzees in the country as well as the whole of Africa.

Chimpanzees are highly endangered and as of 2023, between 170,000 and 300,000 chimpanzees are believed to exist in the wild. In the early 1900s, the chimpanzee population decreased by 1,000,000 individuals.

Budongo Forest is home to around 700 chimpanzees and a community of 100 are habituated for tracking, the chimpanzee populations are rapidly decreasing due poaching, habitat loss and diseases.

The conservation efforts play a vital role in protecting chimpanzees and their habitat, national parks and reserves have been set up to offer a safe place for chimpanzees to thrive while local communities are involved in sustainable tourism initiatives. By going on a chimpanzee trekking adventure in Budongo, you actively support these conservation effort.

The revenue generated from chimpanzee trekking tours helps fund research, anti-poaching patrols and community development projects.

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is a golden opportunity to make positive impacts that contribute to the long – term survival of chimpanzees and their ecosystems.

What To Expect On Your Chimpanzee Trekking Tour In Budongo Forest?

 Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is run twice a day, once at 8 am and again at 2 pm

Pre-trek briefing: when you arrive at the Kaniyo Pabidi eco-site, you will receive a briefing from your guides who provide essential information about safety, conservation and the behavior of chimpanzees.

Trekking through the forest: after briefing, you will walk or drive to the trailhead for the start of your exhilarating trek of 3 to 4 hours through dense vegetation. The trails can be relatively challenging at times, but the anticipation of spotting chimpanzees keeps you motivated. Along the trek, your guide will enthrall you with stories and facts about the Budongo and her inhabitants including monkeys, birds, trees and butterflies.

Close encounters with chimpanzees: upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend a precious hour observing and photographing these incredible creatures. Please keep a respectful distance and follow your guide’s instructions to avoid disturbing their natural behavior.

Learning about chimpanzee behavior: During the trek, your guides will share insight into the behavior of chimpanzees. Please keep a respectful distance and follow your guide’s instructions to avoid disturbing their natural behavior.

Learning about chimpanzee behavior:  during your trek, your guides will share insight into chimpanzee behavior and conservation efforts. This educational aspect adds depth to the experience and fosters a greater appreciation for these intelligent beings.

How Much Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Budongo Forest Reserve?

To take part in chimpanzee trekking, you will need to purchase a permit before you can attend a chimpanzee trek. A chimpanzee trekking permit is issued to visitors above the age of 12 years and above.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo Forest costs as follows

High Season

130 USD per person for foreign nonresidents

120 USD per person for foreign residents

85 USD per person for East African citizens

 Low Season

120 USD per person for foreign nonresidents

110 USD per person for foreign residents

80 USD per person for East Africa citizens

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

For travelers wanting to spend a little longer with the chimpanzees, you can join the chimpanzee habituation experience. Budongo Forest and Kibale Forest National Park are the only two places in Uganda offering chimpanzee habituation experience.

This immerse adventure starts at 06:30 am, visitors join a habituation and research team that goes out every morning to study and habituate the chimpanzees.

With an early start, you get to watch the chimpanzees waking up and de-nest, search for food, rest, play and start making new nests in the evening to go to sleep again. With habituation, you will spend an entire day with these amazing primates and learn about their way of life. The research staff leading the trek is very learned in forest botany, chimpanzee behavior as well as the personalities and interactions of the individual chimpanzees.

In Budongo Forest, a chimpanzee habituation permit costs

230 USD per person for foreign nonresidents

160 USD per person for foreign residents

90 USD for east African citizens

How Does Budongo Compare With Other Uganda Chimp Trekking Reserves?

Best places to see chimpanzees in Uganda

Budongo Forest is one of the best places in Uganda to track chimpanzees with chances that are not as quite as high as it is at Kibale National Park, but it competes favorably with most other chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda.

As with its counterpart – Kibale Forest, the chimpanzee community visited in Budongo Forest was first habituated in the 1990s, so it is very used to tourists and relaxed in their presence. Of all the chimpanzee tracking reserves you might visit on a Uganda Safari, Budongo Forest probably has the flattest terrain and the best networks of footpaths.

This is a plus for relatively unfit travelers as it means they are less likely to need to scramble along distances through the undergrowth or to be challenged by steep, slippery slopes when tracking the chimpanzees.

Another advantage of chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is that despite being about 40% cheaper than Kibale National Park, it is more remote and attracts for fewer visitors so you are unlikely to come across to many other chimpanzee trekkers on any given day.

Which Other Places Are Recommended To Visit Before Or After Chimp Trekking In Budongo?

Budongo Forest fits well into any Uganda Safari itinerary packages that also include Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.  This package might start from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls or a longer Uganda Safari tour that continues southwest from Murchison Falls to Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks.

The reason why Budongo Forest pairs so well with Murchison Falls National Park is that, while the two are treated as separate destinations. The chimpanzee tracking trailhead and associated Budongo Eco Lodge lie right alongside the main road to Murchison Falls.

This trailhead now actually lies inside the main entrance gate to Murchison Falls National Park, so chimpanzee trekking can be arranged en route to or as a day trip from any lodge or camp in the park.

Budongo and Murchison Falls also complement each other in terms of wildlife, where Budongo is strong on chimpanzees and other forest wildlife. Murchison Falls National Park is a good place to see savannah dwellers such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas and giraffes.

Murchison Falls from which the park is named is among the most spectacular anywhere in Africa and it lies on a stretch of the Nile River where hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds are abundant.

En route to or from Entebbe, it is also worth including in a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where Uganda’s only rhinos can be tracked on foot.

Are Chimp Sightings Guaranteed In Budongo?

Like any other place offering chimpanzee trekking in Africa, chimpanzee sightings in Budongo Forest cannot be guaranteed. But Budongo Forest has enjoyed a success rate of about 85% in recent years.

In Uganda, it is only bettered by Kibale National Park and possibly Kalinzu Forest.

The success rate at Budongo Forest and other chimpanzee trekking destinations is far lower than it is for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and other places where wild gorillas can be seen in Africa like Rwanda and Congo.

The reason has nothing to do with levels of habituation – the process of making the animals used to people and easy to view, but rather reflects the relative ease of locating the 2 great apes.

Simply the chimpanzees are more restless than gorillas and tend to move around a lot more often at a pace no human could match in the thick jungle undergrowth. Also, chimpanzees tend to spend more time obscured by foliage in the high canopy.

When Is The Best Time To Go?

The best time to see chimpanzees in Budongo Forest is during the dry months of December to February and June to July.

Also, the early morning session tends to be most productive. To improve your chances of seeing chimpanzees consider booking a second trek, either in Budongo or elsewhere in Uganda.

Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Budongo Forest Safe?

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is a very safe activity, habituated chimpanzee communities such as those in Budongo Forest are always very relaxed around people. And so far we are aware, no visitor to Uganda has ever been injured by a chimpanzee.

Why The Age Limit Of Chimpanzee Trekking Is 12?

The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo and elsewhere in Uganda is 12 years. This is because it is said that young children are more vulnerable than adults and less likely to obey instructions.

The chimpanzee trek needs some level of determination which adults are more likely to possess, in summary adults are usually better prepared to handle challenges like insects, thick forest and muddy trails.

What To Pack For Chimpanzee Trekking?

 On your chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo Forest, here are the things to bring

• Lightweight waterproof trousers
• A quick-dry long-sleeved T-shirt
• A lightweight waterproof jacket
• A hat
• Thick socks
• A sturdy pair of hiking boots
• Sunglasses
• Gloves
• Bottled water
• Sun cream
• Insect repellent
• Camera/Phone

Where Can I Stay?

There are accommodation options in Budongo Forest and Murchison Falls National Park, in Budongo Forest there is Budongo Eco-Lodge situated inside the forest.

In Murchison Falls National Park, these accommodation options include

• Red Chill Rest Camp
• Nile Safari Lodge
• Fort Murchison among others