A chimpanzee trekking safari offers a special opportunity to see our closest relatives at close proximity. Although it doesn’t get the same attention as gorilla trekking, the experience can be quite similar. The intelligence and social structure of chimps make them fascinating subjects for observation, and no two visits are the same. Chimpanzees live in communities ranging from 20 to 150 individuals. Like humans, they tend to have strong personalities. Their expressive faces make their identities easily recognized by us, even during a short visit. Lucky visitors will be able to hear their pant-hooting, a communal, loud calling session which can be triggered by anything that excites them – including you.
Why should I choose a chimp trekking safari?
“Chimpanzee trekking is totally different from the usual safari experience. As chimpanzees live in rainforest, the only access is by foot. Chimpanzee trekking is active and usually requires hiking for several hours to see chimps up close. A chimp trekking safari offers people a welcome break from game drives. Watching these great apes up close on foot is an amazing experience, almost on a par with gorilla trekking. Most African safaris are centered on car-based wildlife viewing, and activities such as chimp trekking offer a nice break from time sitting in vehicles. Chimp trekking is mostly done as part of a longer tour that includes other activities, such as wildlife viewing in savannah reserves and gorilla trekking. ”1
Which countries offer this type of safari?
“Chimp trekking can be done in several African countries. Chimpanzees occur naturally in West and Central Africa, and their range includes some East African countries such as Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. The East African countries are the most popular countries for chimpanzee safaris as they are more developed for tourism than West Africa. There are several parks in Uganda that offer chimp trekking and the activity is standard on most Ugandan safaris. One of the most reliable places to see chimpanzees is in Kibale Forest in Uganda. It’s arguably the most popular place in Africa to see chimpanzees. Sightings can get a bit crowded. Chimp trekking in Tanzania is only available in Mahale and Gombe Stream, two very remote parks on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Gombe Stream National Park is famous as the place where Jane Goodall did her chimpanzee research. Although chimp trekking is highly recommended here, it is not usually part of a standard Tanzania safari. As Rwanda is still an emerging destination, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest is not as well-known at this stage and sightings are possibly more hit and miss. Virunga Mountains National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers chimpanzee trekking as well. ”