Kyambura Game Reserve (Kyambura Gorge) Chimp Trekking Spot
Kyambura Gorge is a chimp tracking spot of its kind in the world offering a chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda to the “valley of apes”. It is referred to as the valley of apes because the Kyambura Gorge is about 100m deep below sea level. The Kyambura Gorge is home to fewer chimpanzees habituated for trekking and sightings are not so amazing as in other spots. Chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Game Reserve is possible at any time of the day depending on the preferred time. To have priceless chimp tracking experiences in Kyambura Game Reserve you can have your trip tailored to a long Uganda wildlife safari with experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge with UWA guide
Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking
The stunning Kyambura gorge also called the Valley of Apes is one of the chimpanzee trekking spots in Uganda. Kyambura Gorge is the only destination in Uganda where you will have to visit the chimps below sea level. The chimpanzees live in a gorge or valley that is about 100 m deep at its deepest spot and approximately 1 km at its broadest point. This gorge is actually drained by River Kyambura.
Unlike other chimpanzees, this population lives below within the gorge and make it an extraordinary experience to trek them. However, the chimpanzees here are few and therefore sightings are not that marvelous. If you want to have a magical experience, then trek in Kyambura you may never find this experience anywhere else. The landscape of the Kyambura gorge is one of the most impressive places to visit in Uganda.
Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking
The Kyambura Gorge view from above
In this diverse and very impressive valley, however, there are only about 20 chimpanzees in the gorge. Some of the chimpanzees in the gorge have been habituated in a process that took about 2 years which means they are familiar with human presence. This makes them very safe for trekking by tourists. When you get into the gorge be ready to get amazed and marveled by the verdant, rich tropical rain forest just close to the equator line. It’s just a whole different world worth visiting.
Below in the gorge is a world full of amazing scenic tropical forests whereas the top is brightness from the sunshine above. However, the sun does not get so much into the gorge and certainly, anyone within the gorge will not require sunglasses or a hat.
Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee trekking is for only persons above the age of 15 years. Any persons below the age of 15 cannot be allowed to trek gorillas in the gorge and in any other chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. Each trekker must purchase a permit and this can be done by your tour operator prior to the trek.
Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee trekking safari can be tailored with a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is the second popular visited park in Uganda. This is home to the famous tree-climbing lions that can be found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
To get to Kyambura Gorge travelers can go by road on 4×4 safari vehicles from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala-Uganda’s capital. Travelers can also get there by charter flights to the airstrip in southwestern Uganda in Mweya.
Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking – Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking
The best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is during the months of December to March and also June to July when the rains are less and trekking is easier. These habitats have different forest cover and therefore the rainy seasons may vary slightly.
However, it is important to note that during the dry season, the chimpanzees also find it easier to move through the forest for longer hours and therefore trek a lot. Therefore, during the dry, it may require more strength to trek for longer hours since the chimpanzees also easily move to places deeper in the forest. In the rainy season, however, chimpanzees have a lot of food in the forest and therefore do not trek for longer distances searching for food which makes them easier to trek.
Kyambura Gorge may not be the best place for chimpanzee trekking but surely one place for a unique nature walk. When choosing to safari Uganda, book a wildlife safari as well as chimpanzee trekking tours in the African jungles of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In the same region where Kyambura Gorge is located other national parks can be visited and these include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for Uganda gorilla trekking safaris, Semuliki National Park for bird watching and Rwenzori Mountains National Park for hiking.