Chimpanzees are one of the four species of great apes that are the closest living relatives of humans linked by DNA. The rest are gorillas and orang-utans. Great apes are different from monkeys for various reason, like: apes are larger compare to Monkeys, walk upright for a longer period of time, they never have tails and have much larger, more developed brains.

Chimpanzees are omnivores, hence they feed on a wide variety of foods that includes fruits, nuts, seeds, and insects, Chimps rarely hunt and eat meat. Chimpanzees can be found in 21 African countries. Chimps prefer dense tropical rain-forests but can also be found in secondary growth forests, woodlands, bamboo forests, swamps, and even open Savannah.

Chimps live in communities, and these communities are composed of family groups of three to six individuals, approximately 50 animals in total. Hierarchies are formed by the adult males of the community, which is led by one alpha (the highest) male. Adolescent females may move freely between communities, although territory is strictly patrolled and conflicts can occur between neighbours.

Average weight of an adult chimpanzee well grown especially male chimpanzee is between 35 and 70 kg, with a height of approximately 3 meters whereas adult female chimpanzee weighs between 26 and 50 kg and a height between 2 and 4 feet.

Chimpanzees usually walk on the ground with all fours feature (legs plus hands) using their knuckles for support with their hands clenched.

This form of locomotion is known as knuckle-walking. Most mothers give birth to one young an average of every five to six years in the wild. Young chimps stay with their mothers for up to 10 years.

There are 21 countries in Africa where one can find chimpanzees in their natural setting and Uganda is one amongst the 21. It is actually the best place in East Africa to see chimpanzees. In west and central Africa, there is a lot of human encroachment on chimpanzee habitats, and hunting of chimpanzees for meat, which will eventually bring down the number of countries that have chimpanzees in the wild if those activities are not controlled.

Chimpanzee can be viewed across East African that is Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Uganda host the largest number of chimpanzee in east Africa range to approximately 1500 chimpanzee. The can be observed and tracked in the protected and unprotected area in the country.

Common areas for chimpanzee trekking are: Kibale forest, Budongo, Nyungwe forest, Kalinzu forest and others.

Chimpanzee tracking experience or a habituation experience is best done in the national parks. Habituated chimpanzees are accustomed to human presence and will not run off when they sense or see you approach, but will stay a distance and you can see them and take pictures since they catch up human diseases.

Chimpanzee tracking is a very fantastic experience. Prepare today and set out to Uganda’s Kibale all natural jungle today as you spend 2-3 hours tracking these impressive creatures. You will be allowed to spend some time (at most an hour) with our mesmerizing relatives, as you observe them swing from one tree to tree, feed, play about or progress speedily on the ground right in front of you.

Chimpanzee’s life expectancy is between 40-45years while those living in captivity can extend up to 60 years of life.