A Weekend Chimpanzee Trek in Kibale Forest

Weekend Chimpanzee Trek in Kibale Forest is an exciting experience. Do you have a busy schedule yet wish to enjoy a chimpanzee trek in any part of Uganda? Or better still, are you in Uganda for work or a business meeting and wish to add a chimpanzee trek for a chance to get up close and personal with mankind’s closest relatives in their natural habitat? Allow us to introduce you to our weekend chimpanzee trek to Kibale Forest, the renowned Primate Capital of the World.

Set in the western side of Uganda, approximately 300 kilometers from Kampala on well-maintained tar roads, Kibale Forest National Park is the most popular chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda with over 1500 of the 5000 chimpanzees in Uganda. This 795-square-kilometer Protected Area will be your home for the next three days/2 nights for the weekend chimpanzee trek.

A weekend chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest begins by departing from Kampala or Entebbe on Friday and it is advisable to be early enough (between 7 and 8 am) to beat the morning traffic jam. Two routes lead to Kibale Forest from Kampala/Entebbe but we shall use the shorter option (via Mityana and Mubende) and it will take about 5-6 hours with en-route stops along the way to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, photography, and a cup of coffee as a way of making the journey more exciting. We shall be in Fort Portal Town by early afternoon for lunch, although there is an option of enjoying it from your Lodge in/around Kibale Forest National Park.

We then proceed to the Lodge, which will be our home for the next two nights. There are numerous accommodation options in/around Kibale Forest National Park, which cater to the needs and aspirations of all categories of travelers. We check in, freshen up, rest for a while, and later have a moment to explore the surroundings via a Crater Lake tour, village walks, or simply relax while enjoying the beauty of the area.

The next day, which is Saturday is when we get the chance to enjoy your chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest. This unforgettable day begins with breakfast at the Lodge, followed by a transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for registration and briefing. Here, we are expected to hand in our details (passport, chimpanzee permit/s, receipts, and others) before being briefed on the rules and regulations to be followed while trekking and later be allocated to the chimpanzee community to be trekked. We then meet our Ranger guide/s for the trek, then start the search for these creatures in their natural habitat, this lasts 1-4 hours, followed by one hour of viewing and photographing them. The beauty of this trek is that it isn’t just about chimpanzees but also about other residents of the Park (primates, birds, butterflies, and tree species) which will be spotted during the chimpanzee trek.

Depending on the location of the Lodge, we shall either return for lunch or have it from a nearby Lodge. Later, we explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary via a guided walk to encounter some of its birds such as the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus gonolek, and crowned eagles as well as primate species. This wetland walk is followed by a village tour for an insight into banana juice and the beer-making process, a visit to the traditional healer, and many others. Afterward, return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight (our second night in/around Kibale Forest).

On Sunday, we bid farewell to the jungle as it marks the end of our weekend chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest. We transfer to Entebbe or Kampala while enjoying more breathtaking views along the way.

Accommodation options for your weekend chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest. 

For the 2 nights, we can choose to stay at Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Volcanoes Kibale Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Kibale Safari Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Safari Lodge, Isunga Lodge, or Papaya Lake Lodge.