Chimpanzee trekking in budongo forest; Budongo Forest is perched in Murchison Falls National Park and is one of the best destinations offering the adventurous chimpanzee trekking encounter, where tourists move in the tropical rainforest on foot searching for the habituated chimpanzee troops, and once the chimpanzees are located, travelers spend an hour with the chimpanzees in their natural environment. Murchison Falls National Park protects unique wildlife species such as the "big four" of the "big five" mammal species, which include lions, African elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and other animals such as waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, oribi, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Nile crocodiles, warthogs, hippos, and a variety of bird species. Besides Budongo Forest, chimpanzee trekking encounters in Uganda can also be had in Kibale forest national park, Kalinzu forest, Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth national park, and the Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve.

 

Chimpanzee trekking encounter in Budongo forest

Chimpanzee trekking starts early with a morning briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking chimpanzees. Following the morning briefing, visitors are assigned a park ranger guide who is knowledgeable about all of the chimp trekking trails and chimp trekking encounters, which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the chimp's location. During your chimpanzee trekking encounter, travelers can be able to spot other primate species that are situated within the park, such as the black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, as well as different plant species, tree species, and bird species. Once travelers have seen the chimpanzees, they can only spend an hour with the chimpanzee family allocated to them in their natural environment, where they can learn more about chimpanzee behaviors and habits and enjoy watching the chimpanzees feed one another, play, fight, hunt, nurse, groom the young, rest, take photos, and record their incredible moments with them.

 

Budongo forest offers chimpanzee habituation experience as well, where the wild chimpanzees are taught to get used to human beings for trekking. The chimpanzee habituation process takes 2-3 years to be completed, and the process is only done in the wet or low season, which is in the months of March to May and October to November.

 

Cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Budongo forest

A chimpanzee trekking permit is a document that allows any traveler to visit the habituated chimpanzee group in Budongo Forest. A chimpanzee trekking permit for Budongo Forest, whether in the peak or high season, costs travelers $130 per person for foreign nonresidents, $120 per person for foreign residents, and $85 per person for East African citizens. A chimpanzee trekking permit for Budongo Forest in the low season costs travelers $120 per person for foreign nonresidents, $110 per person for foreign residents, and $80 per person for East African citizens.

A chimpanzee habituation trekking permit for Budongo Forest costs travelers $230 per person for foreign nonresidents, $160 per person for foreign residents, and $90 per person who is an East African citizen.

Both chimpanzee habituation experiences and chimpanzee trekking permits for Budongo Forest can be booked with a trusted tour company in Uganda like Devine African Safaris by contacting us with the travelers’ chosen travel dates when you would wish to visit the chimpanzees.

 

The best time for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest can be carried out throughout the year, although the best time for Budongo forest is in the wet season, which ranges in the months of March, April, and May, and then from October to January because there is enough food and fruits for the chimpanzees because of heavy rainfalls that make visitors spot chimpanzees easily as compared to the dry season when chimpanzees move far looking for food.

Chimpanzee trekking encounters in the Budongo forest can also be carried out in the dry season, which is in the months of June, July, August, and September. Because the months above receive less rainfall, the chimpanzee trekking trails are dry and passable.

 

Where to stay while trekking chimpanzees in the Budongo forest

Murchison Falls National Park offers a wide range of lodging facilities. Travelers can stay in the following accommodations for their chimpanzee trekking safari: The following accommodations range from luxury lodges to midrange and budget lodges: Budongo eco-lodge, Kabalega Resort Hotel, New Court View Hotel, Hotel Victory Bijja, Masindi Hotel, Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Simbiya River Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison River Lodge, Kabalega Wilderness Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls Bamboo Village, and Murchison Tree House, among others.

 

A chimpanzee trekking encounter in Budongo Forest is an exceptional tourist activity that can be combined with a tour to Murchison Falls National Park, where travelers can engage in amazing activities such as game drives, nature walks, the top of the falls walk, a boat cruise to the Nile Delta, and sport fishing, among others. For more information regarding chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, and wildlife safaris, don't hesitate to contact Devine African Safaris.