Deep in the narrow and isolated rainforest within Kyambura Gorge, western Uganda lives a small community of chimpanzees that were cut from the rest of their population in nearby Maramagambo Forest. Meeting face to face with these chimpanzees is a lifetime dream whereby their screams, hoots and cries can be heard echoing through the whole forest. The verdant Kyambura Gorge is referred as the “Valley of Apes”, situated within the extreme eastern side of popular Queen Elizabeth National Park (western Uganda) and extends for about 1 kilometer at its broadest and approximately 100 meters deep.

The Sunken rainforest in Kyambura Gorge is surrounded by the vast savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and haven to an isolated troop of about 30 chimpanzees.

How Chimpanzee trekking is conducted in Kyambura Gorge

Chimpanzee trekking in this isolated forest starts with registration as well as briefing at the forest boundary on the expected behavior of these Great Apes, how to behave around them as well as dos and don’ts of trekking and being in their presence. It is at this point that you will meet the armed Uganda Wildlife Authority Ranger guide to lead you through the trekking excursion and at 8:00am begin the trek that lasts half an hour to over 3 hours. Don’t be frightened by the gun-holding Ranger because it is just a precaution in case you encounter an aggressive lone elephant. During these treks, expect to come across olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys as well as a number of forest bird species.

Chimpanzee vocalizations increase as you get closer to the Great Apes and once spotted, you will have one hour with them, to quietly observe and take photos. Given the fact that these endangered Chimpanzees spend most of their time far above the ground in the dense vegetation (forest canopy), it might be difficult to see them. Watching a chimpanzee go about daily routines is like seeing a number of five-year olds in a trampoline Park within a thick forest. The infants will be jumping on tree branches, females breastfeeding their babies and others resting under the watchful eye of the Alpha male.

Chimpanzees are generally human’s closest relatives, with high level of intelligence when compared to other Great Apes. These creatures normally walk on two legs as humans (for short distances) much as are always moving on all their four limbs. These endangered Great Apes live in large troops of 30-100 individuals although in the large troop are other smaller groups for breeding and feeding. For several years, these creatures occupied areas of Kyambura Gorge with opportunities of crossing over to forage or mate with other chimpanzee troops in Kalinzu and Maramagambo forests via the small and natural forest corridor.

The treks in Kyambura Gorge are conducted in two sessions, the morning session that kicks-off at 8:00am as well as the afternoon session that starts at 3:00pm. Permits for these treks are acquired from Uganda Wildlife Authority at $50 for foreign residents and non-resident tourists as well as Shs. 30,000 for visitors from the East African Community. However, it is important to keep in mind that buying a permit doesn’t guarantee seeing the Chimpanzees because chances of seeing them in Kyambura Gorge is not as high as it is in the popular Kibale Forest National Park.

Where to stay while trekking Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge

The commonly booked places of stay for visitors trekking chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge include Kyambura Gorge Lodge, the Kingfisher Camp, Katara Lodge, Kasenyi Lake Retreat & Campsite, Engiri game Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, the Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge and many others.

Besides chimpanzee trekking, other fascinating things to do in Kyambura Gorge include guided forest walks/hiking, primate viewing (to see the black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and red-tailed monkeys among others), bird watching to see forest-dwelling bird species.

How to get to Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park is only 420 kilometers/6 hours’ drive from Kampala via the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route and only about 410 kilometers via the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal route. Flights taking one hour can be taken from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya Airstrip then get transferred to your place of stay or Kyambura Gorge by car.