Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest: Murchison falls national park was the first gazzeted national park in Uganda in 1952, the park covers an area of 3,893 kilometers squared and its located in the north western part of the country, the park is bisected with the worlds longest river.
Murchison falls national park is characterized by Savannah grasslands, ravines, acacia woodlands, swamps, rain forests and so much more.
Budongo forest was also home to polish refugees in world war 11 and the evidence is a church in the forest that’s still being visited by poles.
Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison falls national all park can be done in Budongo forest and Kaniyo pabidi forest.
Chimpanzee tracking at Budongo forest
Only habituated chimpanzees can be tracked by tourists would love to have an encounter with mans close relatives with a DNA of up to 98% of humans, Budongo forest covers an area of 825 kilometers making the largest mahogany forest in east Africa and its home to over 600 chimpanzees.
There are about 100 chimpanzees habituated for tracking
Tourists tracking chimpanzees at Budongo forest must be in good health and not have transmittable diseases like flu and Tb because chimpanzees are vulnerable to contracting human diseases.
Chimpanzee trekking starts at 7:00am visitors must meet at the information center to be briefed about chimpanzee tracking; this activity normally takes about 3 hours there is also afternoon chimpanzee tracking.
Chimpanzee habituation experience
Chimpanzee habituation experience involves going researchers for a whole day activity habituating chimpanzees, chimpanzees habituation takes a period of two years and the cost of this activity at Budongo forest is cheaper than in Kibale forest.
Chimpanzee habituation is mainly done from 1st March to 15thjun and from 1st October to 15th of December
Besides chimpanzee tracking and habituation tourists can do other activities like
Nature guided walks
Natura guided walks are mostly done at Kaniyo pabidi forest, you will be able to spot various animals like elephants and Buffalo’s at the salt lick, plant species, butterflies, primates and enjoy he cool prestine environment.
Bird watching
Budongo forest is a birders paradise boasting with over 360 species of birds. You will be guided by an experienced bird watching guided and you will see birds like crowned eagle, yellow created wood pecker, Sabine’s spine tail, brown twin spot, white spotted fluff tail, little green sunbird, ituribatis and so much more.
Chimpanzee tracking can be done all year round at Budongo forest but there are other months that are better than the rest the best time is in the dry season.
The maximum age for tracking chimpanzees is 15 years old, therefore a child below 15 years will not be able to track chimpanzees but can engage in other activities.
Budongo forest be accessed from Kichumbanyobo gate of Murchison falls national park with 30 minutes drive.Budongo forest is approximately 3 hours drive from Kampala.
Tourists visiting Murchison falls for chimpanzee tracking can sleep in Budongo eco lodge.
