Comparing Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Vs Uganda: Chimpanzee trekking is another life-time primate adventure that most visitors enjoy completing after their gorilla trekking experience; both species are located in the great ape’s animal species and dwell in tropical rain forests, and they have identical trekking laws and standards. Because gorilla trekking is usually done in Rwanda and Uganda, we’re comparing chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda versus chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.
Comparing Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Vs Uganda.
Chimpanzee Trekking Destinations in Rwanda Vs Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking tours in Rwanda can only be done in two locations: the most popular tropical rain forests of Nyungwe Forest National Park and the newly established Gishwati Mukura National Park in Rwanda’s southern province; however, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can be done in three major chimpanzees’ destinations: Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura George of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Budongo Forest National Park. Chimpanzee trekking is also possible in Uganda’s Kalinzu woodland reserve.
Trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda vs trekking chimpanzees in Uganda both provide the same magical chimp encounter in the rain forests because both countries follow the same chimpanzee trekking rules and guidelines; however, there are differences between chimpanzees in Rwanda and Chimpanzees in Uganda that we will discuss below.
Cost of Chimpanzee Permit in Rwanda and Uganda.
One of the most significant distinctions between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and trekking chimps in Uganda is the expense of a chimp permit. A chimpanzee permit in Rwanda costs 150 dollars per person for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park; however, in Uganda, tourists can do chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park for 200 dollars per person, and they can also do chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kalinzu forest outside the park for 50 dollars per person.
Number of Chimpanzee Individuals in Rwanda Vs Uganda.
The number of chimpanzees in Uganda is far more than the number of chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, which has a large population of chimpanzees believed to number over 500. However, Uganda, called “the primate capitol,” has an estimated total population of roughly 1500 chimpanzees. This makes it easy for tourists to witness a large number of chimpanzees in a group while hiking.
With a large number of chimpanzee primates in Uganda’s several chimpanzee habitats, including the most popular Kibale National Park, trekking chimpanzees in Uganda, particularly in Kibale National Park, is far simpler than trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe or Cyamudongo forests.
There is a potential that you will miss out on seeing chimpanzees on a chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe Forest National Park because chimps in Rwanda are normally sighted in trees, but in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, you will almost certainly encounter a lot of them wandering through the woodlands.
Distance to the National Parks that inhabit Chimpanzees.
Another distinction between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and trekking chimpanzees in Uganda is the distance between the parks that inhabit chimpanzees in these two nations; it is simpler to go to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda than it is to get to Uganda’s National Parks that house chimpanzees.
Rwanda’s roads are good, clean, and well maintained, and it usually takes 5 to 6 hours to drive on road from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park. In Uganda, however, the roads are not so good, and the parks are tucked far away in the south western region, so it usually takes 9 to 10 hours to drive there.
In Rwanda, travellers who do not want to drive long distances can take a helicopter ride from Kigali to Nyungwe National Park offered by Akagera Aviation, or they can use the domestic flights operated by Rwandair that land at Kamembe airport and take only 45 minutes.
There are no direct helicopter flights to Kibale National Park in Uganda, but it is possible to use helicopter flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park that land in Mweya/Kasese in order to do Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which usually takes about 2 to 3 hours, but if you are interested in Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, you can then use ground transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park.
Chimpanzee Habituation
Apart from chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, there is a more magical and rewarding chimp habituation experience. The experience is similar to chimpanzee trekking, but with habituation visitors tend to spend more time with chimpanzees that are being habituated, usually a full day or half day, whereas with chimpanzee trekking you are only allowed one hour with already habituated chimpanzees after finding them in the forests.
The difference between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and trekking chimpanzees in Uganda is that in Uganda, you can conduct chimpanzee habituation following your chimpanzee trekking experience, but in Rwanda, this is not feasible because the chimpanzee habituation experience has not yet been implemented. Chimpanzee habituation is only available in Kibale National Park in the western part of Uganda, and the event costs $250 per person for a full day with the chimpanzees.
With the comparisons above, you can now choose the best destination for your chimpanzee trekking safari. You can also combine your chimpanzee trekking safari with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park or gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, wildlife viewing in our various savannah parks such as Akagera National Park in Rwanda, or Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, or Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.
