Is chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park worth it

Is chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park worth it: Semuliki national park is one of the protected areas in Uganda that harbors chimpanzees. About 150 chimpanzees are said to be living in different vegetation zones of Semuliki national park. chimpanzee tracking in Semuliki is one of the activities that can be carried out within Semuliki national park because some of the chimps have been habituated and are used to human presence around them.

Yes, chimpanzee trekking can be done in Semuliki national park however it’s not as good as it is in places like Budongo forest, Kibale forest national park, and Kalinzu forest. The chances of seeing chimpanzees in Semuliki national park are not as high as in other places in the country. Tourists trekking in Semuliki national park will or will not see chimpanzees because there are times when the chimps move very far to areas that can’t be accessed.

Tourists can still do chimpanzee tracking in Semuliki g in Semuliki national park but they should know that some areas are far better than this park. Kibale forest national park has over 1500 chimpanzees with large families, Budongo forest has 600 chimpanzees while Semuliki national park has just 150 chimpanzees.

Is chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park worth it

Chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park

Chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park starts early in the morning at the park headquarters where all trekkers for the day meet. Here the armed ranger guides brief the trekkers about the activity and they go knowing the rules and regulations of trekking. This helps them to be safe in the jungle and while around the chimpanzees.

Trekkers are driven to the starting points where they are given walking sticks to help them balance in the jungle. The search goes through different trekking trails and tourists are able to see different forest animals, birds, and vegetation. Searching in this park takes longer because of the nature of the terrain but tourists will eventually see the chimpanzees.

When the trekkers allocate chimpanzees, they are given 1 hour to be around them and this gives them an opportunity to watch them carry out daily activities like playing, nesting, hunting, breastfeeding, and much more. Tourists are allowed to take photos and also record videos for the future or to go show friends back home.

After chimpanzee trekking, trekkers are escorted back from the jungle and they get opportunities to meet different forest animals, species of birds, vegetation, and water sources. After chimpanzee tracking in Semuliki , tourists are given trekking certificates which show that they have successfully trekked the chimpanzees.

What to carry for chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park?

To have a successful chimpanzee trekking activity in Semuliki national park, tourists must pack the right equipment which includes long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shorts, waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, long cotton stocks, a rain jacket, a sweater, a light backpack, drinking water bottle, energy giving snacks, a camera and a pair of binoculars among others.

When to go chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park

The dry season is the best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park. This season occurs from June to September and December to February when the park is experiencing little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine. In the dry season, the trekking trails are dry and passable, vegetation is short with good views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Tourists can still go chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park during the rainy season of March to May and October to November. During this period, there is plenty of rainfall in the park and this makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is always thick and tall leading to unclear views of animals and the roads leading to the park are in poor conditions.

Getting to Semuliki national park for chimpanzee trekking

Tourists can get to Semuliki national park for chimpanzee trekking using road transport or air transport. Most tourists use road transport because it’s affordable and comes with great views of different attractions along the way. Tourists from Entebbe/Kampala drive through Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and finally, Bundibugyo where the park is located.

Air transport is another way tourists can get to Semuliki national park but this is used by luxury travelers. Different airline companies such as Bar Aviation Uganda and Aerolink Uganda have flights to Kasese and Mweya airstrips which are the closest to the park. Tourists should know that once they fly to Kasese or Mweya they will have to use road transport to connect to the park.