Primates in Queen Elizabeth national park

Primates in Queen Elizabeth national park: The park situated in the western part of Uganda is a habitat for primates. The national park is home to over 10 primate species with other variety of attractions that do live in different areas of the park. Queen Elizabeth national park was gazetted in 1952 and covers a total area of 1978 sq. km full of savannah vegetation cover.

Queen Elizabeth national park is a comfortable home for primates living in places such as Kyamubura gorge, Maramagambo forest, and areas around the Kazinga channel. Chimpanzees are the only primates that have been trained to get used to human presence around them. Chimpanzee trekking is a very exciting experience that gives tourists an amazing opportunity to be around their close relatives.

The primates in Queen Elizabeth national park

There are 10 primate species that have been recorded in Queen Elizabeth national park and these include endangered chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, blue monkeys, l’hoests monkeys, bush babies, mona monkeys, dent’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons among others.

Places to see primates in Queen Elizabeth national park

Primates of Queen Elizabeth national park are found in the riverine vegetation along the Kazinga channel, Kyambura gorge, and Maramagambo forest. The most visited area is a however Kyambura gorge because that is where chimpanzee trekking is done. The 156 sq. km forested area is home to chimpanzees and other 9 species which aren’t habituated but can be seen during nature walks and chimpanzee trekking activities.

Primate trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park

Over 10 primates are found in Queen Elizabeth national park but it’s the chimpanzees that have been habituated simply because they are loved since they share 98% human DNA with human beings. The trekking activity is only done in Kyambura gorge where a few chimpanzees have been habituated and are used to human presence around them.

The chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing in the morning and evening where trekkers not exceeding 8 people are taught about the rules and regulations of the trekking activities. The armed ranger guides lead trekkers into the valley where they start searching for where the chimpanzees could be. The activity takes 1-4 hours and trekkers are able to meet different park primates, mammals, and birds.

When the chimpanzees are spotted, the armed ranger guides do give trekkers 1 hour to be around the apes and this helps them to learn about the chimpanzee habits, take photos and watch them do daily activities such as nesting, coupling, hunting, breastfeeding, and grooming among others.

Chimp trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park

Apart from primate trekking, primates of Queen Elizabeth national park can be seen on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel is surrounded by riverine vegetation which is home to some of these primates but not chimpanzees. As you enjoy your 2-3 hour activity you will be3 able to see as many primates as you can in the swamps around the water channel.

Primates of Queen Elizabeth national park can again be seen during the game drive activities but you won’t see each and every primate that lives in the park. The nature walks can also give tourists opportunities to see a number of primates especially if they are done in forest areas or swampy areas. These are places where primates love to love because of the plenty of food that is always there.

Best time to see primates of Queen Elizabeth national park

Travelers can see primates of Queen Elizabeth national park any time of the year they visit the park however there are periods that are better than the rest. The dry season is the best time to visit the park and encounter these primates most especially in Kyambura gorge. There is little or no rainfall leaving the trekking trails dry, vegetation is short with good views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers can still go chimpanzee trekking and see other primates on Kyambura gorge in the rainy season and this favors budget travelers because lodges are at a discount. During the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall which makes the trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thin with unclear views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.

Accessing Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is found in western Uganda and it’s accessed by road transport or air transport. The national park is accessed in 1 hour nd1 5 minutes using air transport from airline companies such as Aerolink Uganda, and Bar Aviation Uganda which organize flights to the park. Flights start from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya airstrip or Kasese airstrip.

Travelers that are okay with long distances and those that can’t afford flights can access Queen Elizabeth national park in 7-8 hours from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi to Kasese or Kampala via Mubende, Kyenjonjo, Fort Portal, to Kasese. The national park is located near national parks like Kibale, Bwindi, and Rwenzori, and accessing it is always simple.