Kyambura gorge is a beautiful area known as the magnificent valley of apes in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This beautiful gorge is renowned for its breathtaking views of a forest engulfed within a gorge. Kyambura gorge is a home to a variety of wildlife ranging from beautiful primates to wonderful bird species.
History of Kyambura gorge.
Kyambura gorge was formed through continuous processes of secondary faulting during the formation of the East African Rift Valley. Secondary faulting processes created many valleys including the Kyambura gorge which was later filled with water by the flooding streams within the area to form the present day river Kyambura that serves water through the gorge and the nearby areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Other sources suggest that Kyambura river over flooded and created a great force that formed the gorge. The continued processes of weathering in the region give the gorge its present day look and the fertile soils created thereafter led to the growth of the tree species that formed the forest within the gorge.
Location of the gorge.
The picturesque Kyambura gorge is situated in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Kyambura River Valley which is about 100 meters deep and 11 kilometers long. The gorge is positioned very close to the equator crossing in the Kyambura region.
Uniqueness of Kyambura gorge.
The gorge is such a unique touristic destination especially due to the fact that it is a home to variety of wildlife species living within it especially the primates including the red tailed monkeys and chimpanzees that visitors to the gorge get an opportunity to observe up close in the tree branches.
The gorge is further unique due to the beautiful views of the forest engulfed within a valley which provide unusual opportunities for sightseeing and photography.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge.
Kyambura gorge is one of the destinations in Uganda that offer the exhilarating activity of chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzee tracking activities in this gorge are guided by game Rangers with vast information about the gorge and the families of the chimpanzees within. Chimpanzees within this gorge are often referred to as the chimpanzees of the lost gorge and they have different traits as compared to the chimpanzees in other destinations. chimpanzees in this gorge live together and inbreed among themselves basically due to the fact that they do not have access to other chimpanzees in other regions.
The gorge consists of 23 members who are fully habituated and led by Kihango who is the alpha male in the family. Kihango started leading the family in 2017. Tracking chimpanzees in this gorge usually takes about two to three hours.
Other different activities to do in the Kyambura gorge.
Game viewing. While at the gorge, visitors have the opportunity to indulge in the game viewing activities in the outback of Queen Elizabeth National Park since some of the animals normally cross to the gorge especially the common genets, leopards and elephants.
Guided nature walks. These are usually conducted within the forest valley and they are guided by the forest Rangers to ensure that the tourists are safe and enjoy the experience to the maximum.
Bird watching. It is important to remember that the gorge is a home to various species of birds that live within the tree canopies and normally feed in the valley with a river in between in the gorge. Visitors get the opportunity to view some of these bird species especially the African fish Eagles, turacos, abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons and shoebills.
Attractions to see while in Kyambura gorge.
There are countless attractions the tourists get the opportunity to observe while in the breathtaking Kyambura gorge and some of them incorporate;
Birds. There are various bird species that can be observed in the gorge are such an outstanding attraction which most visitors to the gorge indulge in.
Primates. The gorge is a celebrated home to quite a good number of primate species ranging from the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, red Columbus monkeys to mention but a few. These can be tracked while in the gorge and visitors enjoy taking pictures with them.
The gorge itself is an outstanding attraction due to the beautiful views of a forest that is engulfed within a gorge that it provides. The gorge looks like a valley and the greenery of the tree canopies of the trees within further give it a magnificent look which makes it worthwhile.
