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Chimpanzee Tracking at Bugoma Forest Reserve Uganda
Chimpanzee Tracking at Bugoma Forest Reserve Uganda is the most famous as you watch Chimpanzees in their habitat. Chimpanzee Tracking at Bugoma Forest includes transferring through the green forest trekking the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours traversing from one point to another. After a while, you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their forest habitat.
Chimpanzee tracking in Bugoma Forest is one of Uganda’s initial adventures and this allows you to trek and observe the rare species of chimpanzees in their natural forest habitat.
There are about 500–600 chimpanzees that are trekked in the green forest as well as over 220 bird species and diverse wildlife animals that are watched in the forest.
Chimpanzees in Bugoma Forest live in structured communities known as “troops” in groups i.e the Mwera South – open for tourism, Mwera North – reserved for research.
Chimpanzee Tracking Procedure
Chimpanzee Tracking is amazing to do in the Forest and this starts with briefing on conduct around the chimpanzees. You shall be welcomed by a park ranger guide who informs you about the behavior of the chimpanzees, safety rules and tracking guidelines then he shall allocate you into groups to proceed to the starting points where you leave from to enter the green forest to trek the Chimpanzees.
Trek along varying trails for a period of 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the chimpanzee location following a flat trails usually starting in the morning at 7:00 am to 8:00 am till the afternoons following hints like Vocal calls (pant-hoots), Feeding remains, Nesting sites along the trails.
After a while, you shall encounter the chimpanzees and when you meet them, visitors are allowed 1 hour of observation as they feed and forage, groom and social bond, Play and communicate.
Wildlife Along the Trek
While Chimpanzee tracking in Bugoma forest, you shall watch other Primates in the green forest and these include; the Uganda mangabey (endemic and endangered), Red-tailed monkeys, Black-and-white colobus monkeys, Blue monkeys.
Other wildlife animals you watch in the forest are Buffaloes, Elephants (rare sightings), Antelopes like Uganda kob as well as over 220 Bird species.
About Bugoma Forest
Bugoma Forest is a 41,144-hectare tropical forest in Western Uganda (Hoima/Kikuube districts) managed by the National Forestry Authority. It was founded in 1932 protecting over 600 chimpanzees, 34 mammal species, and 260+ bird species.
Bugoma Forest includes a medium altitude with and it is largely a semi-deciduous forest with iron wood also referred to the Muhimbi. In the forest are 4 small rivers that drain the vegetation and these include; River Sonso, River Rubwa, Wake and Waisoke. These rivers flow and empty their water into Lake Albert.
Bugoma Forest is a medium-altitude, moist, semi-deciduous tropical forest shaped by moderate rainfall (about 1,200–1,800 mm annually) and elevations between 990 and 1,300 meters. The vegetation of Bugoma is highly diverse with over 220–260 species of trees and shrubs making it one of the richest forests in the region in terms of plant composition. The forest is semi-deciduous in nature i.e some trees shed leaves during dry periods, others remain evergreen creating seasonal variations in the canopy cover.
The forest is typical of tropical moist forests that experience alternating wet and dry seasons. The vegetation is of stratified structure into layers i.e the Emergent layer with Trees that exceed 40 meters and these include; large hardwood species like mahogany, canopy layer (20–30 m) with dominant tree species that control light penetration, Understorey layer with smaller trees and shrubs that adapt to low light, Forest floor which include; Herbs, ferns, seedlings, decomposing organic matter.
From Hoima city, Bugoma Forest is 70kms away and it requires you to drive to the forest reserve from Kampala through Hoima-Fort Portal route and branch off to Kabwoya sub-country then finally Bugoma Forest passing through Kasindi Forest Station.
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Road
Main route from Kampala
Kampala – Hoima (via Kampala–Hoima highway)
Hoima – Kabwoya Sub-county
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Air
Air travel is possible to Bugoma Forest as you get domestic flights which depart from Entebbe International Airport/ Kajjansi Airfield to fly to Hoima Airstrip for about 1 hour to Bugoma Forest.
Tracking is the most prominent safari activity carried out in the park with two communities that have been habituated for trekking by all travelers. This is an alternative to Kibale Forest National Park. The trekking procedure here offers a quieter, less crowded adventure experience.
There are over 500-600 chimpanzees in the forest and these are trekked as you get to be briefed on conduct around the chimpanzees, rules and regulations around the chimpanzees
then later you shall trek the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours.
En-route, you watch other primates like the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda mangabeys. After you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their presence taking photos in an hour to keep.
To participate, visitors must obtain a chimpanzee tracking permit which costs US $80 per person interested and this includes; Guided nature walk trek with the chimpanzees.
Best Time to Visit
Dry Seasons in the months of June – August and December – February.
Wet Seasons
In the months of March – May and September – November.