Gorilla Trekking Vs Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda

In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in two destinations namely: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The mentioned two gorilla parks are situated in western Uganda and can be reached in a duration between 7-9 hours drive.  You can easily link the two parks and basing on your budget, you can decide to encounter mountain gorillas in both locations.

On the other hand, Uganda offers chimpanzee trekking in five destinations namely: Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls National Park), Toro- Semuliki Game reserve, Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura Gorge (Queen Elizabeth National Park).

As far as primate trekking is concerned, gorilla trekking is more organized that chimpanzee trekking in the amazing tropical rain forests. Its because, Gorillas form and lives in families unlike chimpanzees which lives in communities but separates during day to avoid high competition for food. To back up my statement, look at the variation in prices: the highest amount of Chimpanzee trekking permit is US$200 compared to US$700 for Gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking receives more attendants compared to chimpanzee trekking. Amidst high cost of Gorilla trekking, statistics shows more sales than chimpanzee trekking per annum.

In terms of convenience, chimpanzees are more convenient than gorillas for the following reasons:

• Uganda keeps captive chimpanzees in Uganda Wildlife Education centre (Former Entebbe Zoo) and at Ngamba Island. For guest who can endure the hustling of walking in the jungle to search for chimpanzees can engage chimpanzees up close while in captivity. On the other hand, strong and fitter guests can move to find chimpanzees in any of the five destinations if not all.
• In terms of transport, most of the Uganda chimpanzee destinations are easily reached: Budongo Forest can be reached between 4-5hours drive, Kibale National park between 5-6hrs drive, Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu forest between 6-7hrs drive.
• Chimpanzee trekking competition is a bit lower than that of gorilla trekking. In other words, you can easily get chimpanzee trekking permit than Gorilla pass.
• Chimpanzee trekking is done in two shifts: Morning and afternoon shift especially in Kibale National Park. Gorilla trekking has only morning shift and more restrictions are set.

Mountain Gorillas are among the world’s rare primates compared to chimpanzees. Statistics shows that mountain gorillas are found only in Virunga region and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Good news is that, Uganda has the majority and being rare primates, the country offers a unique gorilla safari experience that is inexpensive and memorable to travelers looking for primate safaris.

A maximum of eight people is allowed to meet each gorilla group in Uganda but chimpanzee trekking permits six people.

Gorilla trekking exercise is highly challenging compared to chimpanzee trekking. The rangers recommend a porter for each trekker. Porters carry guests’ luggage and sometimes carry tourists in case of failure to finish the exercise.

Gorilla habituation is done in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National park while Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale National park. Primate habituation is aiming at making them familiar to human hence facilitating primate tracking. In conclusion, both chimpanzee and Gorilla treks are memorable and one should complement another.