Kyambura Gorge in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for visiting any time of the year for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge has never been better than during the dry season. The dry season’s conditions have played a vital role in crafting the best experience of chimpanzee trekking. The dry season has long been associated with prolonged sunny weather and humid or hot temperatures, with very limited rainfall patterns, if at all they appear. Keeping in mind the nature of the gorge with steep walls, the dry season helps in keeping the trails dry and navigable, especially those steep ones that lead in and out of the gorge.
The dry season in Uganda is experienced twice a year because the country receives a tropical or equatorial type of climate. The best months for chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge are June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. During this season, there are many ripe fruits in the gorge, thus the chimpanzees can be spotted feeding in the trees. However, the dry season sees a slight reduction in food volumes in the gorge because of limited rainfall, thus the chimpanzee primates are forced to move. This also makes the chimpanzee trekking experience more hectic as visitors are required to move deeper into the gorge.
The wet season, on the other hand, is also good for chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge; however, with challenging conditions. The wet season in Uganda is known for having wet weather conditions that are characterized by huge volumes of rainfall and cool temperatures. These conditions soak the gorge, making the trekking trails very slippery, thus hindering navigation. The walls of the gorge are naturally very steep and make movement hard, but this is doubled when there is rain involved, as the walls are drenched and muddy. There is also a growth of dense vegetation that hinders the spotting of these chimpanzee primates, especially when they are up in the trees. On a positive note, these wet season conditions lead to an increase in food for the chimpanzees, thus enabling the chimpanzees to stay in the gorge. With plenty of food in the gorge, chimpanzees usually come on the ground to pick the young vegetation shoots, thus making their encounter phenomenon.
It is also important to note that Uganda’s weather is very unpredictable, as it may rain heavily during the peak of the dry season or shine for prolonged periods in the wet season. Therefore, this is why Kyambura Gorge can be accessed at any time of the year for visitors on a chimpanzee trekking experience.
Describe chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge.
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most widely done tourist experiences in the country and the major one in Kyambura Gorge. Chimpanzee trekking sees groups of 8 people traversing the dense vegetation of Kyambura Gorge searching for chimpanzee primates and spending an hour in their presence. This experience is very adventurous as visitors have one-on-one interaction with the chimpanzee primates deep in their natural environment. The gorge is well-equipped with plenty of food and is drained by the River Kyambura, which is the main water source for the chimpanzees. Visitors embark on this chimpanzee trekking experience after a short pre-trekking briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking that takes place at the briefing center.
What is the cost of a chimpanzee permit in Kyambura Gorge?
For visitors trekking with chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, they require a chimpanzee trekking permit. This permit can only be acquired from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted local tour company like Standard Safaris. The chimpanzee permit costs range between the nationalities of the visitors. A foreign non-resident chimpanzee permit costs USD 100, foreign residents’ permits cost USD 80, and East African citizens, including Ugandans, pay UGX 50,000.
What else can to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Kyambura Gorge is located inside Queen Elizabeth National Park and is solely known for the chimpanzee trekking experience. Off Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park has many interesting tourist activities that visitors can engage in. Some of these activities include the following.
Game drives
The best way to have an up-close encounter with the many wildlife species of over 69 mammal species in Queen Elizabeth National Park is by taking a game drive experience. The game drive adventure ensures you, the visitor, of a safe and secure exploration experience of the park inside your 4×4 safari vehicle. Expect to encounter animals like lions, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, buffaloes, antelopes, waterbucks, topis, etc. This game drive experience can be combined with a chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kyambura Gorge for an amazing time on your safari.
Boat cruise
The boat cruise takes place on the calm waters of Kazinga Channel, which blesses visitors with epic scenes of Lake Edward and Lake George since it connects them. This channel also hosts the largest population of hippos in the country, with over 5,000 of them harbored here. Countless Nile crocodiles are also spotted on the shores of the channel busking. Kazinga Channel is also often visited by many wildlife species like buffaloes and elephants that usually come to the shores for a drink.
Birding tours
With over 600 bird species calling Queen Elizabeth National Park their home, a birding tour can be best done here. This birders’ paradise is perfectly spaced with different ecological systems that host these birds. A knowledgeable birding guide helps the visitors during these birding tours in identifying most of the bird species in the park.
