Another fascinating and nature-based activity in East Africa is chimpanzee trekking, which entails walking through rainforest jungles with the assistance of a tour guide while following the trails left by habituated chimpanzee families. After meeting the chimpanzees, visitors spend an hour or so with them, learning about their ways of communicating, gathering food, and building nests, among other aspects of their way of life.

Like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are primates that enjoy fruit, live in groups of no more than 80, have hair, and share over 99% of human DNA. Chimpanzees, on the other hand, are somewhat smaller than mountain gorillas and do not just live at high altitudes. Their lifespan is approximately forty to fifty years. Every four to five years, the females give birth to young. Additionally, these clever animals employ tools like rocks, sticks, and leaves to prepare their food for consumption. For instance, they use sticks to find water and honey and stones to crack nuts.

Another well-known name for Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is “The Valley of Apes.” It is roughly 100 meters deep and situated in the park’s eastern section. The River Kyambura’s corrosive and erosive waters created the valley, and the dense rain forest that covers its steep slopes provides an ideal habitat for chimpanzees. One habituated family of chimpanzees, numbering about 16–17, lives in the Gorge. In addition to chimpanzees, the Kyambura Gorge is home to a wide variety of other wildlife and bird species.

Olive baboons, white colobus, red-tailed colobus, and red colobus are some of the additional primate species that are anticipated to be found in the gorge. Because of the rain forests and the water in the gorge during the dry seasons, these are drawn to it.

Numerous bird species can be found in the rain and riverine forests of the gorge. The stunning Lesser and Greater Flamingos, African Skimmer, Shoebill, African thin foot, Martial eagle, Chapin’s flycatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, White-tailed Lark, Blue-headed bee-eater, Papyrus Gonolek, African broadbill, Papyrus Canary, White-winged warbler, Black-rumped button quail, and Pink-backed Pelican are among the bird species that are frequently observed in the Kyambura Gorge. In the Kyambura Gorge, bird watching is done on foot under the supervision of a qualified tour guide. Guides from Exclusive Gorilla Vacations are an illustration of a skilled birding guide.

Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity at Kyambura Gorge and the highlight of the vacation. Visitors should anticipate tracking and spending an hour or so with the chimpanzees in their habituated groups. In order to participate in the Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in the Kyambura Gorge, reservations must be made at the Mweya Visitor Information Center. Only eight persons are permitted to take part in the activity; guests are advised to stay in groups at all times and to maintain a distance of seven to eight meters from the chimpanzees.

Additionally, sick guests are prohibited from participating in the Chimpanzee Trekking experience since they could infect the chimps. Additionally, flash light cameras are not permitted since they can frighten the chimps away.

When is the best time to go to Kyambura Lodge?

The dry seasons, which typically run from December to February and from June to September, are the ideal times to visit Kyambura Gorge. Since the gorge is a water location, animals typically congregate there during the dry season, making it possible to see more creatures. Additionally, some areas of the gorge are inaccessible since the trekking pathways can get slick during the rainy seasons.

What are the essentials one should carry during Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge?

Hiking boots, light rain jackets, a waterproof bag, enough drinking water, tents, energy snacks, and a camera with enough fully charged batteries should all be brought by visitors.

How can I get there?

The attraction is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park and is reachable by road or air. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located west of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, and is 410 kilometers away by car. Depending on the number of stops, the road trip takes roughly seven to eight hours. After taking a flight from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi air strip to Kihihi airstrip, one can reach the park in an hour.

Where to stay around Kyambura Gorge?

Kyambura Gorge is encircled by a number of lodging options for all kinds of tourists. These provide tourists with lodging options ranging from opulent to affordable. These may be found both inside and outside of Queen Elizabeth National Park and include Katara Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, and Emin Pasha Lodge.