A chimpanzee permit in Kyambura Gorge is available for only USD 100 per person if you are a foreign non-resident. For foreign residents, the price is only USD 80 per person, while an East African citizen pays only UGX 50,000. This fee is inclusive of the day’s nature walk and ranger guides. We at Standard Safaris recommend that you acquire your chimpanzee permit ahead of time to avoid any disappointments.
The entrance fee to Kyambura Gorge is, however, paid separately, since you pass through the Queen Elizabeth National Park entry. Each foreign non-resident pays only USD 40 for the park entrance. Foreign residents and East African Citizens pay USD 30 and UGX 20,000 per person, respectively. Again, to avoid disappointments or any inconveniences, you can pay the park entrance fee through Standard Safaris.
How is chimpanzee trekking done in Kyambura Gorge?
Much like the chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park, chimpanzee trekking is done in the morning and afternoon. This is a guided adventure where you have to descend into the Gorge after a briefing by the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will track the only chimpanzee troop, which is already habituated and headed by the dominant male chimpanzee Kihango. You will observe and take photos for an hour to understand their basic behavior.
Afterwards, you will leave the gorge to complete your trek. The chimpanzee trek lasts between 2 to 3 hours. While tracking the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge, you will enjoy a nature walk to feel the fresh forest air. You will also get outstanding views of the forest canopies and plenty of wild animals, including birdlife. Besides the chimpanzee trek, you could do some other activities in Kyambura Gorge. These include guided birding excursions and guided forest walks.
What are some facts about Kyambura Gorge?
Kyambura Gorge, also known as the ‘Valley of Apes,’ is situated in the eastern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kyambura Gorge was formed due to secondary faulting as the western Rift Valley was forming. This was then flooded with water to form the Kyambura River. In scale, Kyambura Gorge is 100 m deep, 1 km across at its broadest, and at least 11 km long. Kyambura Gorge stretches from the Kichwamba escarpment to the Kazinga Channel.
Kyambura Gorge is home to so many other wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and flora etc. Mammal species common here include the giant forest hog, red-tailed monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon, and Angola colobus monkey, etc. Colorful bird species that call Kyambura Gorge home comprise papyrus gonolek, African broadbill, African finfoot, pink-backed pelican, and blue-headed bee-eater, etc.
How to reach Kyambura Gorge?
Kyambura Gorge from Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, is 387.3 km away and can be reached by both road and air transportation. Road transportation from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Kasese takes 7.5 to 8 hours. This can be done especially in a comfortable 4-wheel drive safari Land Cruiser. At Standard Safaris, we have a fleet comprising 4X4 SUVs, safari vans, minibuses, and sedans, etc besides the Land Cruiser.
Air transportation to Kyambura Gorge is done from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip. The duration for the flight is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Daily scheduled flights are operated by AeroLink Uganda. From the airstrip, you will reach Kyambura Gorge by road, which takes almost an hour. This covers a distance of around 46.7 km. Flying to Kasese Airstrip is also achieved from national parks Bwindi and Murchison Falls, and the Masai Mara National Reserve.
What is the best time to track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge?
Chimpanzee tracking is done throughout the year, and you can acquire your chimp permit for any day of the year. However, you may be wary of the damp forest conditions that make it quite challenging to walk on the chimp trails. Then you should make sure that you avoid traveling during the wet season. The dry season, which is the ideal time, falls from June to August and from December to February.
Other destinations in Uganda where to do chimpanzee trekking?
Besides Kyambura Gorge, there are a number of protected areas in Uganda where you can do chimpanzee trekking. These are.
Kibale National Park
This is home to almost 1,500 individual chimpanzees, is situated in western Uganda. Kibale National Park is located 96.6 km from Kyambura Gorge, with a travel time of a little over 2 hours. The price of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park is USD 250 per person for foreign non-residents and USD 200 for foreign residents and UGX 180,000 for East African citizens. The fee is inclusive of entrance.
Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest is a moist semi-deciduous tropical rainforest that is found in the northwest of Uganda within Murchison Falls Conservation Area. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is USD 130 per person for non-residents, and USD 65 per person for Ugandans and East Africans. This fee also includes the entrance, while guiding by the forest rangers is paid for differently and costs USD 3.
Bugoma Forest
Bugoma Forest is also a tropical rainforest situated in western Uganda. Similar to Budongo Forest, chimpanzee trekking tours cost USD 130 for each non-resident. Ugandans and East African citizens have to pay USD 65 per person. Also, the fees include entrance to track the chimpanzees.
Kalinzu Forest
This forest is situated within Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda. It is adjacent to Maramagambo Forest. Kalinzu Forest is located just 45 km away from Kyambura Gorge, which takes an hour to reach. The cost of chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest is similar to Bugoma and Budongo Forests. USD 130 for non-residents and USD 65 for Ugandans and East African citizens.
