Chimpanzee Tracking

Chimpanzee Tracking is the art of taking a stroll through the forests in order to catch a glimpse of the fascinating primates that swing around the forest branches.

Queen Elizabeth National park has five prominent ecosystems ranging from the thick underground rain forest in Kyambura gorge to the swamps along Kazinga Channel.

The Kyambura gorge is also known as the valley of apes and is found in the eastern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The type of vegetation in Kyambura gorge aids the lifestyle of the famous chimpanzees. It is characterized by tall thick trees and the underground rainforest vegetation. The trees give fruits seasonally, which makes the chimpanzee habitation an enjoyable one as fruits are considered their main course.

The chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge are said to be very mobile compared to the other chimpanzees in other national parks.

The tall trees, with their seasonal fruits and pliable branches make it easier for the chimpanzees to build their nests.

The chimpanzees stay in groups called troops, these troops consist of about 30-80 individuals. Chimpanzees chew leaves. After chewing, they use them as sponge. The dip the leaves in water and suck out the moisture.

Chimpanzees are day-light creatures (diurnal). They start to look for food and sunrise and their diet consists of about 80 diverse plant foods. They like to feed on fruits in the morning, which can be considered their main meal. They are however picky with the fruits they eat and are said to prefer the ripest fruits.

They also feed on leaves, buds, seeds, flowers and blossoms during the rainy season.

Tips to follow before embarking on your chimpanzee tracking activities:

  • Do not leave litter in the park. The chimpanzees might chew on the litter/ polythene bags and develop complications which could lead to their death.
  • Do not urinate in the park as this might cause a change in a particular ecosystem. Please defecate away from the trail being careful to bury your waste about 30cm under the ground along with the toiletries used such as tissue. Remember to maintain a sense of quiet in the forest. The noise could scare away the chimpanzees and other resident species.
  • Don’t mimic the chimpanzees; not knowing the meaning of their sign language could land you in real trouble Do not eat close to the chimpanzees. They might attack you because of the fruit/ food you carry and please be reminded not to feed wild animals as the park rules state.
  • Do not use flash photography. The light and noise from the camera shutter can scare away the chimpanzees or worse still, cause them to think you’re an enemy and thus attack you.