Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest-Murchison falls national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest-Murchison falls national park: This is the major safari activity done in Budongo forest which is part of the Murchison falls conservation area. The forest is next to Murchison falls national park and it’s the only place where chimpanzees have been habituated in the park. Other places where chimpanzee trekking can be done in Uganda include Kyambura gorge, Kibale forest national park, and Ngamba island sanctuary.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest-Murchison falls national park
Budongo forest on the southern side of Murchison falls national park is home to over 13 primates, 24 small mammals, 360 bird species, 290 butterfly species, and 465 tree species. Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity in Budongo forest because the chimpanzees were habituated and got used to the human presence around them.
Primate lovers planning to visit Murchison falls national park can always organize with their tour operators and be part of the amazing chimpanzee trekking activity that can be done right next to the park. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest is an activity that involves trekkers moving into the jungle to search for the chimps and then spending 1 hour with them in their natural habitat.
After chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest, travelers can combine the activity with visiting Murchison falls national park where they can be part of the game drives, Cultural encounters, birding, boat cruise to the bottom of the falls or Nile delta, hiking to the top of the falls and nature walks. All these activities can be carried out at any time of the year but the best time is said to be the dry season.
Chimpanzee trekking experience in Budongo forest
Chimpanzee trekking in this forest is done twice a day which is in the morning and in the afternoon. Each session is done by a maximum of 8 people who are led by armed ranger guides. Trekkers must be at the briefing point in time to learn about the rules and regulations of the chimpanzee trekking activity. After the briefing, armed ranger guides lead trekkers into the jungle where they go through different trails searching for where the chimpanzees could be.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo takes 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees as well as the speed of trekkers. After several hours of searching, when the chimpanzees are spotted the trekkers are given one hour to be around these species of primates, and during that time they are able to learn about the chimpanzee habits, take photos and watch them do daily activities such as nesting, mating, breastfeeding, eating and much more.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo also gives trekkers an opportunity to meet other primate species which include the red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, black and white monkeys, pattas monkeys, olive baboons, small mammals, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and different plant species.
How much is chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
A chimpanzee trekking permit is a ticket that will allow a traveler to be part of the chimpanzee trekking activity in Budongo forest. They are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee of $50 for foreign non-residents, $40 for foreign residents, and UGX30,000 for East African citizens. There are only 8 chimpanzee permits for Budongo forest per session which mean only 16 permits are available per day and this calls for early permit booking to avoid being left out.
What to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest?
There is a lot of travelers can pack for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo next to Murchison falls national park and some of the stuff that shouldn’t miss include waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, a rain jacket, a sweater, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellents, sanitizer, a camera, a pair of binoculars, drinking water bottle and energy giving snacks among others.
When to visit Budongo for chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is done throughout the year however there are certain months that are better than the rest. The dry months from June to September and December to February are the best to visit Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking and this is because the vegetation is short with good views of the chimpanzees, the trekking trails are dry and the roads leading to the park are in poor condition.
Travelers can still visit Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking in the rainy season of March to May and October to November but this favors budget travelers because the park lodges are at a discount. The rainy season however makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are in poor condition.
Accommodation in Budongo forest
Budongo forest has variety of accommodation facilities where travelers can stay before or after chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and these range from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on the travel budget. Accommodation facilities in Budongo forest include Budongo Eco Lodge, Yebo Safari Camp, Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge, New Court View Hotel, Kabalega Resort Hotel, and Red Chilli Rest Camp among others.
