Best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda; Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting and the second best done activity in Uganda and Rwanda that attracts tourists after gorilla trekking. Chimpanzee trekking involves travelers moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is done in Nyungwe forest national park while chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in Kibale forest national park, Kalinzu forest in Bushenyi district, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park and Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park.
Best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February.
Chimpanzee trekking in the dry season
The dry season is the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda because during this period there is less or little rainfall in the national park therefore access roads and chimpanzee trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy.
During chimpanzee trekking in the dry season, vegetation in the national parks will be short therefore travelers will be able to view the chimpanzees clearly and take beautiful pictures.
Chimpanzee trekking in the dry season has some disadvantages for example the national parks will have many tourists therefore chimpanzee trekking permits will get sold out quickly and many accommodations will be fully booked therefore travelers are advised to book 2 to 3 months in advance.
Chimpanzee trekking in the wet/ rainy season
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can also be done in the low season also known as the rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November. The wet season is characterized by heavy rainfall which makes chimpanzee trekking trails wet, muddy and slippery but rain doesn’t stop chimpanzee trekking activity and there are several advantages for trekking chimpanzees in the wet season.
During chimpanzee trekking in the wet season there is plenty of food in the forest due to heavy rainfall therefore chimpanzees will be located easily therefore you will not be able to trek for long.
During chimpanzee trekking in the low season, travelers will be able to combine trekking with bird watching as that’s the best time for birding where bird lovers will get an opportunity to view colorful and migratory bird species.
Travelers who do chimpanzee trekking in the low/rainy season will be able to explore the national parks with less crowds and also some luxury lodges offer discounts as a way to attract visitors which favors budget travelers.
Chimpanzee trekking experience
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 2 hours to 5 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, variety of birds, plants among others and once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their natural habitat, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, hunt, fight, rest, groom young ones, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda
Chimpanzee trekking permits are legal cards that are issued to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit habituated chimpanzee families and spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Nyungwe forest national park costs 150 USD per person for foreign non residents, 75 USD per person for foreign residents and 25 USD per person for East African citizens.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest national park costs 200 USD per person for foreign non residents, 150 USD per person for foreign residents and 150,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. a chimpanzee trekking permit in Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge costs 50 USD per person for foreign non residents, 40 USD per person for foreign residents and 30 USD per person for East African citizens while a chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents and 85 USD per person for East African citizens.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is an exciting activity that can be done all year round depending on your preference. For more information about the best time to go chimpanzee trekking, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various chimpanzee trekking packages.
