Comparing gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda Africa- Uganda is comely known as the pearly of Africa with different wildlife species. Uganda is known as the best destination for primate safaris which mostly include gorilla and chimpanzee. These primates enhance primate experiences through gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. Ata Africa adventure vacations, we are here providing you with the best information about chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking and this information will help you give you so much information that will help you to have both an ultimate experience. Chimpanzee trekking and gorillas trekking all happen in Uganda and southwestern Uganda in southwestern Uganda.

Comparing where habituated chimpanzees and gorillas are found in Uganda

In Uganda, there are different places or destinations where you can go for or habituated chimpanzee tracking. Yes, there are several places with chimpanzees in Uganda but the habituated chimpanzees are only found in places such as Kalinzu forest which is adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve in Murchison falls National Park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park found in southwestern Uganda. In Uganda, visitors can also go to the home of the orphanage chimpanzees in Ngamba Island which can be accessed by a boat and the island is about 23 kilometers from the mainland.

On the other hand, habituated mountain gorillas in Uganda are found in only 2 national parks which include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The 2018 gorilla census revealed that Uganda has got the highest number of gorillas in the whole world and it is estimated that there are over 480 gorillas only found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The rest of the Gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Comparing Gorilla and chimp trekking experience

In terms of comparing the experience between gorillas and chimpanzees. The gorilla trekking experience is a more organized activity in both Rwanda and Uganda and the chances of seeing the gorillas in both countries are always 90%. The experience of mountain gorillas will take you to see the habituated gorilla family that is led by the dominant silverback. While in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for gorilla trekking, you will wake up very in the morning and attend the briefing. An advanced team of rangers and researchers will go earlier in the forest and start from where the gorillas slept then after seeing them, the team will be communicated to the staff at the headquarters informing the guides where the gorillas are. Then now the tourists with the ranger guides will start the journey into the forest to search for the gorillas until they found them and once found, then you will be able to see them for one hour as you take the photos and learning more about the gorillas.

The gorilla habituated family is trekked by only eight people in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. On the other hand, the chimpanzee trekking experience strictly for 6 people. Each gorilla habituation family is visited by eight people per day which mean that only eight people visit the gorilla family per day, however, chimpanzee communities live in parties can be trekked twice in a day that is very early in the morning, and those who are interested in the afternoon chimpanzee trekking. Only 18 people can trek the chimpanzees both early in the morning and in the evening per day in Kibale Forest National Park. There are about 3 parties of chimpanzees in Kibale forest National Park this daily 18 people can trek chimpanzees. Chimpanzees keep on breaking into parties and you might find at a time when all the 18 people can trek the same party. And sometimes tourists may get confused if they are not fully briefed and sometimes it might bring congestion if not well handled. Endangered mountain gorillas are found on the ground mostly and they provide the best tracking experience as compared to the chimpanzee which is always found up in trees all though some people have been able to get chimpanzees on found as well.

Comparing the gorilla and chimp permits

In Uganda, the gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued by the Uganda wildlife authority and for one to either track chimpanzee, he or she must possess a permit to allow him or her to access the gorilla and chimpanzee national park and places in Uganda. Gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per trek per person and these prices include the park entrance fees, the guides fee, and certificate, on other hand the chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale Forest National Park costs $200 per person per trek, and is also the park entrance fees, the guide’s fee and cost of seeing the chimpanzees. However, the price for chimpanzee trekking vary depending on the place where you are trekking the chimpanzees, for example, the chimpanzee permit in Kyambura cost USD50 per person per trek, and $80 per person per trek for Budongo forest and Kalizu chimpanzee trekking permit costs $30 per person per trek.

Comparing for what to pack for both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking

This time around the fact that all the activities take place in the forest, both activities require one to have the hiking shoes or boots, the hiking stick, huts, garden gloves, then snacks specifically energy giving foods, bottled water among others. For gorilla trekking, it is good to have a porter to heave your experience and for chimpanzee trekking, this might not be the need or necessity.

Comparing distance for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking

As we earlier noted gorilla trekking happens only in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and one can access these two parks from Entebbe for about 8 to 9 hours and in case you decide to use the domestic flight, it will take you about one and 30minuties. for Kibale Forest National Park where the chimpanzee trekking safari is conducted it is only 5 to 6 hours to reach the park from Kampala and then 7 to 8 hours to reach to Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park from Kampala or Entebbe and then it will take for you approximately 5 to 6 hours to drive to the northern part of Uganda to enjoy chimpanzees in Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park