Amazing chimpanzee experiences in Semuliki National Park Uganda - Uganda safari News

Semuliki National Park is endowed with a variety of attractions that people on Africa safaris have safaris Uganda. Semuliki National Park Uganda is found in the western Albertine Rift valley on the Uganda and Congo’s western border. There are various activities one can take part of on their safari Uganda including Uganda birding safaris, nature walks, Uganda wildlife safaris, Uganda adventure safaris and Uganda chimpanzee trekking safaris among the many.

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Travelers that have undertaken Uganda chimpanzee trekking tours have found it an awesome and exciting experience. This activity involves movement of visitors through the forests to look for and observe Chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Uganda is endowed with over 5700 Chimpanzees that live in the western part and they are distributed in various areas like Kibale National park also known as the Primate capital of the world, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and not leaving out the Semuliki National park Uganda.
There are around 250 chimpanzees in the Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve and most of them are under a study/research by the Indiana University, however, they are available for chimpanzee trekking safaris Uganda. A number of chimpanzees are under habituation which eases tracking them.

What are chimpanzees?

Chimpanzees are amazing animals, the males in most cases grow to 1.7 meters high and are 70kg in weight; the female chimpanzees are smaller than the males. They have hierarchies they follow in most cases every group is led by the dominant male chimpanzee called the Alpha male.  They share around 98% of the human DNA, the live in families, and societies with leaders, they can make solutions for any problems, they function with sounds, gestures, facial expressions, and other non-verbal communications just like humans. In fact the main distinction between them and humans is just that they don’t speak!

A glance about chimpanzee trekking safaris in Semuliki National Park

Chimpanzee trekking tours Uganda and chimpanzee habituation safaris in Uganda’s Semuliki National park is not as tiring as Uganda gorilla safaris, since the landscape in Semuliki is not so rugged. Hence tracking them needs no experience or fitness, though there are cases where moving fast in the forests is need and also a bit of running if you are to catch up with these animals. Also chimpanzees can be seen trying to move just as human beings in the open grasslands especially when they are in search of food, this an amazing experience watching them do such in the wild.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Semuliki national park

Chimpanzee habituation is a full day’s activity available at Toro-Semliki wildlife reserve. It is booked prior at Uganda Wildlife Authority where you receive permit and join the ranger guides with researchers. Here you join the researchers as they follow chimps from early morning as they leave their nests to lake evening when they get back to nesting. The idea is for chimps to be acquainted with human beings and eventually join the group that will be available for chimp tracking.

During chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki National Park

On the day of trekking chimpanzees, visitors need to be briefed by the rangers/guides about the behaviors of the chimpanzees, what to do and what to expect. Trackers are organized in groups of 8 and can have one hour with the Chimpanzees. There is nothing as amazing as watching your closets relatives in the wild play, eat, take care of others, make nests among other things.
Chimpanzees in Semuliki are not as many as those in Kibale National Park hence there will be need of moving further to look for them just in case they are not in the nearby places, but with this there is nothing to worry about since as you trek you are led by rangers who are more informed about them and where to find them.

What to carry

Trekkers need to wear long sleeved shirts since it is to move in the forests, carry enough bottled drinking water, packed lunch, water proof cameras, hats and other things as told by your guides.
There are also other things you can see during the trek or after such as birds including the hornbills, the Sempaya hot springs and other primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, the red tailed monkey, and the grey-cheeked monkeys. Other Uganda safari tour activities in Semuliki National Park include;

Bird watching in Semuliki national park

The park’s main attraction is bird watching because of its location in the Albertine rift valley, low land forest and its central African species. In fact, it hosts Central African bird species that you cannot find anywhere else in East Africa. Semuliki national park is home to 441 bird species, 46 of Guinea-Congo biome species found nowhere else in East Africa. The species to look out for include; Shoebill, dwarf honeyguide, Yellow throated Cuckoo, yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s turaco, purple breasted sunbird, orange weaver, white crested hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Piculet, Swamp Palm Bulbul etc. The Shoebill is often sighted at Lake Albert while in the canoe birding. More areas for birdwatching in the park include; Sempaya, Ntandi, Kirumia trail, Semuliki River etc.
You can add a Uganda wildlife safari or short Uganda wildlife safari to your Uganda gorilla trekking tour itinerary.  Other activities you can add to your itinerary include; water rafting, horse riding, boat cruises, a Uganda chimpanzee trekking safari, a Uganda golden monkey trekking safari, a Uganda birding safari and many more depending on your choice.
Uganda safari Packages include;
4 days Uganda gorilla trekking safaris
5 days Uganda gorilla & chimpanzee trekking safaris
8 days Uganda wildlife safaris
12 days Uganda Rwanda cycling safari
16 Days Uganda primate adventure