Straddling at the North-eastern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the magical Kyambura Gorge of about 1 kilometer wide and is 100 meters deep. The Valley of Apes as it is always referred is an area beyond the ordinary and spans at 156 square kilometers/15600 hectares of land. This area is endowed with verdant Tropical rainforest that offers shelter to a small population of chimpanzees trapped within this small range of land. These wonderful primates thrive in the deep forested ravine that stretches through the Savannah plains and for many years these creature have been cut off from the other sides of the Jungle hence were referred as the “ Chimpanzees of the lost gorge” in a BBC Documentary.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast especially a primate lover, then you will find this gorge interesting for your remarkable chimpanzee tracking safari in Uganda. There are currently 25 Chimpanzees trapped in the Kyambura gorge surrounded by Predator-filled savannahs on both sides with the fear of being savaged by these predators. The members of the gorilla group include Brutus (the Alpha male/the leader of the group), Asante meaning thank you in Swahili, Mrefu meaning being tall, Pamba meaning Cotton, Pesa meaning money, Miti meaning trees, Kazinga (representing the magnificent Kazinga Channel within the Queen Elizabeth National Park), Murungi meaning beauty/pretty, Maji meaning water and Namanya meaning God knows me”
Cost of Chimpanzee Tracking Permit in Kyambura Gorge
A chimpanzee tracking permit for this gorge is comparatively cheaper than it is for Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest Reserve, and it is $50 per person and can be acquired from UWA Head office in Kamokya Kampala or within the Mweya Information Center in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzee tracking from the Kyambura gorge is governed by the following rules/guidelines;
Trekkers have to be at least 15 years and above to be allowed to track these interesting creatures from the Kyambura gorge.
Tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with the habituated group of chimps once they have been sighted as a way of protecting them.
Since only 8 persons are allowed to visit them per session, only 16 permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) per day, with 8 permits sold in the morning and another 8 Chimpanzee permits sold for the afternoon session.
Before tourists venture into the jungles of Kyambura gorge for this remarkable Chimpanzee tracking experience, they have to wear long sleeved shirts, long trousers, carry walking stick because the walk though the jungles is sometimes strenuous, waterproof hiking boots for easier hiking, and carry enough drinking water and snacks. Unlike chimpanzee tracking within Kibale National park or Budongo Forest Reserve where tourists have higher chances of seeing the chimps, this is slightly different with chimp tracking within the Kyambura gorge where the chances are 50-50 and most tourists even leave without seeing these primates.
Besides the Chimpanzees that are the main attractions in this Gorge, other wildlife species like different primates exist and they include the Black and white Colobus monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, Vevert, monkeys, Olive baboons and red tailed monkeys. Other fascinating wildlife species to look out for include Leopards. And the Giant Forest Hogs and numerous birds species like the Pink-backed Pelicans, African Fin foot, African skimmer, Blue-headed bee-eaters, Chapin’s flycatcher, papyrus Canary, Greater Flamingos, Martial Eagles, Lesser flamingos and White-winged warblers that make this area one if the most interesting birding spots within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Where to Stay within or near the Kyambura Gorge
Several accommodation facilities exist to make your stay comfortable and they include Kyambura Gorge Safari Lodge and the Jacana Safari Lodge among others.
How to Reach the Kyambura Gorge,
This area can be accessed through two separate routes that include the Kampala to Masaka to Mbarara to Bushenyi then to Kasese and finally to Queen Elizabeth national park, then connect to the Kyambura gorge and the route is about 420 kilometers from Kampala. The second route for about 410 kilometers from Kampala involves travelling from Kampala to Mubende to Fortportal to Kasese to Queen Elizabeth National Park then to the Kyambura gorge. Tourists who wish to avoid the stress involved in using road transport can use air transport where charter flights are arranged to Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya Airstrip (within the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Therefore, Chimpanzee tracking within Kyambura gorge is an experience beyond the ordinary and usual because it leads tourists to the Jungles of the Valley of Apes.