There is no similarity between gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. The pearl of Africa is an ultimate primate destination where primate encounters are common. Both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are primates with limited similarity in tracking. Many visitors always ask this question before embarking on a primate tour to Uganda. It is wrong to think that because both gorillas and chimpanzees are primates, trekking is similar.
Such perception hinders the understanding of visitors about how different these two activities of gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking are. Other than their nature as primates and their existence in Uganda, there is little similarity. Many scholars and visitors actually make the mistake of thinking these activities are similar. Therefore, to understand why these activities are not similar, we need to talk about them in detail.
Gorilla trekking
Uganda is well known as the best destination for gorilla trekking in the world. Gorilla trekking is the act of encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for an hour. This activity is not as simple as it may sound.
It involves traversing the dense forest canopies of thick undergrowth through steep terrain before encountering the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas, by their nature, are located in the highland areas of southwestern Uganda. An hour is awarded to visitors after locating the mountain gorillas.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee trekking takes place in the designated chimpanzee destinations in Uganda. Spotting and encountering the chimpanzees is by far a nature-blessed event. Chimpanzee tracking is done in the lowland tropical rainforest where chimps dwell. Visitors navigate this scenic terrain under thickets, eyes fixed above on the trees, ears alert to tap any sound before encountering the chimps for an hour.
From the above understanding of both activities, one can grasp a slight similarity, which is the hour awarded to visitors after both encounters with primates. However, the big picture is that both gorilla trekking and chimp tracking aren’t similar.
What are the differences between gorilla trekking and chimp tracking?
As we have noticed that these two activities are not similar, then what makes them so different? Their difference is deeply rooted in several factors that revolve around the nature of both activities and primates. Some of these differences between gorilla trekking and chimp tracking include the following.
Terrain
Gorillas and chimpanzees dwell in different terrains; thus, encountering them in their natural habitats is different. Mountain gorillas, as their name suggests, dwell in the mountainous regions of southwestern Uganda. Chimpanzees live in the lowland tropical rainforest of thick undergrowth. Therefore, gorilla trekking takes place on a steep and rugged terrain compared to chimpanzee tracking on a relatively flat terrain.
Nature of the primates
Mountain gorillas are termed the gentle giants of the mountainous region, while chimpanzees are the forest nomads since they are mobile. Chimpanzees are agile, which makes them flexible. They are very loud with much speed marked by unpredictability. Mountain gorillas are more reserved and grounded. They move if necessary, especially for food, and are very quiet. Therefore, chimpanzees offer a challenge while tracking due to their nature compared to gorilla trekking, which is more silent and very gentle.
Destinations
Gorilla trekking and chimp tracking take place in different destinations. Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks are both located in the southwestern regions and are part of the Virunga massif. They are characterized by their steep terrain and rugged nature. Chimpanzee tracking, on the other hand, is done in different areas across the country, such as Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kalinzu Forest, among other areas.
Cost differences
Another difference between gorilla trekking and chimp tracking is the cost. The costs of tracking chimpanzees are cheaper than gorilla trekking. The trick lies in the accessibility and the rarity of these primates. Mountain gorillas are the most endangered primates in the country, with only 559 left, totaling about half of the 1,062 left in the world. This makes their sighting a memorable one and very expensive compared to chimp tracking.
There are over 5,000 chimpanzees in the country, and this abundance of chimps lowers the costs of tracking. The various chimpanzee destinations in the country have varying costs to encounter these chimps. All cost differences of both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking are tailored to the origin of each visitor.
A gorilla permit can cost USD 800 for international visitors, USD 700 for resident foreigners, and UGX 300,000 for East Africans. Chimp permits go for as much as USD 250 in Kibale National Park for foreign non-residents, to USD 100 in Kyambura. These costs are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the governing body of all protected areas.
In conclusion, there is not much similarity between gorilla trekking and chimp tracking, as each activity presents differing factors. These factors explain the uniqueness of these two activities in terms of terrain, destinations, and costs.