Ape tracking: top safari experiences Uganda

Uganda is one of the nest destinations to see apes and primates who are man’s closest cousins. Uganda safaris reveal some of the rare and endangered apes and monkeys including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees to golden monkeys of Virunga massifs.

Gorilla trekking safaris

There are about 1000 mountain gorillas in the whole world. Half of this critically endangered species population live in Uganda’s Bwindi forest while the rest live in Virunga area which spans the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Few of the gorillas have been habituated for tourism giving tourists better chances of seeing gorillas. The best parks to visit include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park in Uganda. Both are very popular destinations for gorilla trekking safaris. Seeing gorillas up close is a rewarding experience. It involves hiking on foot through tropical forests filled with flora and fauna. Once gorillas are found, visitors are given 1 hour to see and take photos of gorillas. However it is possible to see gorillas for up to 4 hours during gorilla habituation experience which can be done only in Uganda’s Bwindi. The gorilla trekking experience is determined by the price of the gorilla trekking permit. In Rwanda it is at $1500 while in $600 for Uganda. The best way to book a gorilla permit through a tour operator who can as well arrange accommodation and transportation. For instance it is possible to land in Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda.

 Chimpanzee tracking safaris

Ape tracking does get any better than tracking chimpanzee in Uganda. Chimpanzee share 98.7% of their DNA with man, they are our closest relatives. Uganda is home to over 1500 population of chimpanzees. Kibale forest national park is a place to find more than 10 habituated troops of chimpanzees along with other 13 species of primates. Chimps are easy to find with the help of Uganda wildlife authority, as they feed in trees and on ground. There are other places to see chimps in Uganda. Budongo forest can be accessed for those going to Murchison falls national park. Kalinzu forest reserve and Kyambura gorge are found in Queen Elizabeth national park. Both areas offer a great experience to see chimps. However, Kibale has much more to see including other 12 species of primates, birds and wetlands.

Golden monkey tracking safaris

Golden monkeys are rare and critically endangered species and are only found in Virunga massifs, a bloc of 8 volcanic mountains that straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. If you would like to see golden monkeys in their natural habitat, Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the best 2 places to visit. The park is in a remote south western Uganda on the border with northern Rwanda. If you are in Kigali, you can travel to Mgahinga which takes 3 hours.