Interesting Facts About Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees, similar to humans, possess long arms with opposable thumbs and sport coats that range from brown to black. Adults are comparable in size to adolescent humans, standing up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall and weighing up to 60 kilograms (132 pounds) for males, who are slightly larger than females reaching up to 1.1 meters (3.5 feet) and 47 kilograms (103.6 pounds).

The common or eastern chimpanzee, one of the two subspecies, is the sole subspecies found in Uganda, as well as inhabiting tropical forests in Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

Uganda is home to a significant population of common chimpanzees, estimated around 5,000 individuals as per the IUCN Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2010–2020. Since 1960, the behavior of chimpanzees has been extensively studied by Jane Goodall and others at Gombe Stream and various sites across Africa, including the Budongo and Kibale forests in Uganda.

Long-term research has been conducted at several locations: Budongo Forest Reserve (1960–61 and 1991–present), Kibale National Park at Kanyawara (1982–present) and Ngogo (1992–present), Kalinzu Forest Reserve (1995–present), and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (1995–2001). These studies have focused on the ecology and behavior of chimpanzees in their natural habitats.

The four largest chimpanzee populations in Uganda are found in Kibale and Rwenzori Mountains National Parks, and Budongo and Bugoma Forest Reserves, each housing more than 500 individuals. Kibale National Park alone contains about 25% of Uganda’s chimpanzees. Chimpanzee populations in Maramagambo, Kalinzu, and Kasyoha-Kitomi forests are smaller, with each forest housing fewer than 500 individuals. However, these three reserves are interconnected, forming a single population of approximately 900 chimpanzees.

Check our our Primate Safari here

Social Structure of Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees live in large, loosely related communities known as bands or troops. These groups are centered around a core of related males, with an internal hierarchy led by an alpha male. Troops typically consist of 15 to 80 members, but they organize themselves into smaller sub-groups of up to ten individuals for activities like sleeping, traveling, and feeding. These sub-groups are highly flexible, with members changing frequently. Female chimpanzees are less strongly bonded to their core group than males, leading to frequent emigration between communities. Mother-child bonds are strong, with daughters often remaining close to their mothers throughout their lives, while mother-son bonds can last over 40 years. Troops maintain a well-defined core territory that is fiercely defended through regular boundary patrols.

Intelligence and Communication

Chimpanzees are the second most intelligent primates after humans. They communicate using gestures, facial expressions, and a variety of vocalizations including hoots, grunts, and screams. In language studies, chimpanzees in the USA have been taught American Sign Language, demonstrating their ability to create compound words for new objects. They use tools creatively, such as modifying sticks to “fish” in termite mounds or using stones as anvils to crack nuts open, showcasing their problem-solving skills.

Chimpanzee Diet

Chimpanzees have a diverse diet that includes fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, bird eggs, insects, and occasionally other animals such as monkeys and wild pigs. Some groups consume up to 200 different types of food. In Tanzania’s Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains national parks, chimpanzees are known to hunt red colobus monkeys. In Uganda’s Kalinzu Forest, they have been observed hunting blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, as well as attempting to hunt black-and-white colobus monkeys.

Chimpanzees’ ability to adapt to their environment, communicate effectively, and use tools demonstrates their complex social behaviors and intelligence, making them fascinating subjects of study for primatologists worldwide.

Chimpanzee Gestation and Development

Female chimpanzees typically give birth to a single offspring, occasionally twins, with a gestation period of about eight months. The baby chimpanzee clings to its mother’s belly for the first six months, later riding on her back until around age two. Over the next seven to ten years, the young chimpanzee learns essential skills such as foraging, tool use, and nest-building from its mother. Similar to humans, chimpanzee infants rely heavily on their mothers for support, protection, and education, forming strong bonds akin to those seen in human mother-child relationships.

Where to See Chimpanzees in Uganda

Western Uganda boasts several prime locations for chimpanzee tracking, offering unparalleled opportunities for primate enthusiasts. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has habituated chimpanzee troops for tourism in key locations including:

• Kibale Forest National Park: Renowned for its diverse primate population, Kibale offers both half-day chimpanzee trekking and full-day habituation experiences from the Kanyanchu trailhead.

• Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park: Known for its scenic beauty and chimpanzee populations, offering unique trekking opportunities.

• Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Budongo Forest, and Kanyiyo Pabidi Forests in Murchison Falls National Park: Each of these locations provides distinct settings for encountering chimpanzees in their natural habitats.

Chimpanzee Tracking Safaris in Uganda

At Kenlink Tours offer comprehensive primate safaris starting from Entebbe. These tours typically include stays in Kibale National Park, where visitors can engage in chimpanzee tracking, followed by excursions to Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and boat safaris. For those focusing solely on primates, the itinerary often continues directly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking.

Travel Tips For Chimpanzee Tracking

While the distances between gorilla forests in southwestern Uganda and chimpanzee habitats in Kibale are significant, operators recommend breaking up the journey with a night stopover. Alternatively, chartered or scheduled flights between Kasese Airport (near Kibale) and Kihihi or Kisoro Airports (near Bwindi) provide a convenient and time-efficient travel option between these primate destinations. These flights reduce travel time and enhance the overall safari experience by minimizing long drives.