Kyambura Gorge, also known as the Valley of Apes, is located in Rubirizi district. It gets this name from the diverse primate species it harbors. Lying on the northeastern side of Queen Elizabeth, this gorge covers a distance of 11-16 kilometers. Its walls are 100 meters deep and about a kilometer wide.
Kyambura Gorge is like a fictional sci-fi structure from the movies, only that it is real. From the point of entry into the gorge, visitors are not left the same. The silence, the fear, and the anticipation of what lies ahead build fast and spread like wildfire. The Kyambura Gorge is definitely a distinctive natural wonder that reveals the tropical world beneath the savannah. If told about this gorge, one would surely deem it unreal. And rightfully so, because how do you explain two differing ecological systems coexisting side by side? The marvel of Kyambura Gorge is what sets it apart from most of the other natural ecosystems.
Kyambura Gorge hides beneath the savannah grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Before this gorge, many could not have thought of a tropical rainforest in a savannah grassland and woodland ecosystem. This is why Uganda, as a nation, is uniquely distinct, with incredible wonders that extend beyond its wildlife. The vegetation in Kyambura Gorge unveils a factor that puzzled the scientists and geographers, a valley thriving with life, separate from the one above.
How was Kyambura Gorge formed?
Kyambura Gorge is a perfectly carved art piece by nature, gifted to the pearl of Africa. This gorge is evidence of the shifting forces of nature underneath the Earth’s crust. This gorge was formed as a result of faulting and erosion forces. Faulting is the partitioning or displacement of the Earth’s rock layers as a result of pushing or pulling forces.
The Kyambura River, the main source of water in the gorge, contributed significantly to the formation of this gorge. It is believed that thousands of years ago, the Kyambura River flowed virtuously with huge volumes of water. It flowed from the Western Arm of the Rift Valley in the Kichwamba Escarpment. The river’s constant flow caused erosion on its banks, and with years of erosion, a huge valley started to appear.
Secondary faulting later worked its magic on the valley, further separating the rock layers in the Earth’s crust. Kyambura Gorge is a normal fault that was formed when two pulling forces caused the Earth’s rock layers to sink under pressure, causing a gorge or valley. These pulling forces acted on the already eroded rock layer that developed fault lines. These tectonic forces or pulling forces occurred in opposite directions, causing the middle rock to sink. This combination of erosion and secondary faulting made the gorge formation inevitable.
What is Kyambura Gorge famous for?
The chimpanzee primates surely map Kyambura Gorge as a popular destination in Uganda. These chimpanzees are the major reason why Kyambura Gorge is referred to as the Valley of Apes. They are the major tourist attractions in this gorge. There is an estimated number of about 100 chimpanzees living in this gorge. This amounts to one chimpanzee community.
This chimpanzee community is very unique and has managed to live against all odds. You see the vegetation structure and ecosystems of this gorge, which are not similar to those of the other chimpanzee destinations. Chimpanzees are known to live in relatively flat tropical areas surrounded by rainforests.
Chimpanzee primates in Kyambura Gorge have a much more challenging environment in which to survive. Most of the other primate destinations are not in dangerous environments where they encounter some of Africa’s elusive apex predators. Kyambura Gorge is found inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is home to various predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas, among others. There has not been a chimpanzee destination as challenging for these primates as this gorge.
The chimpanzees in Kyambura have been spotted coming out of their territory inside the gorge to the savannah for fresh fruits. The savannah grasslands that surround this gorge are hunting grounds for Africa’s apex predators. Nevertheless, these chimpanzees, in close coordination and surveillance, have ventured into the dangerous grounds and made it back safe in many occurrences.
What to do in Kyambura Gorge?
There is more to do in this gorge than what meets the eye. This gorge breathes new life underneath the savannah. Below are some of the things to do in this gorge.
Chimpanzee trekking
With a sizeable number of chimpanzees, Kyambura is a known destination for chimpanzee trekking. This tourist activity refers to the act of searching through the gorge for the chimpanzees. Upon encountering them, spend over an hour in their presence observing their lifestyle. This hour assures visitors to take as many pictures as possible, as such moments are just breathtaking. There are high chances of spotting many of these chimpanzees since they are social animals that live in communities.
Birding
The gorge bursts with life as it offers the best ecological system for the bird species to nest. Birding is a common activity in this gorge and gives visitors a chance to spot some of the rare species of this gorge. The gorge hosts both the migratory and epidemic species of birds. During birding, visitors are walking in the by experienced guide ranges with ample knowledge about birds. African finfoot, African skimmer, Verreaux’s eagle owl, pink-back pelican, African broadbill, Ross’s Turaco, martial eagle, black bee-eater, and white-winged warbler, among others. There are some of the common birds in the gorge.
Guided nature walks
Guide nature walks are also a delicacy of the gorge, crafted with precision and engineered by arm ranger guides for your safety. These nature walks are conducted along relatively invisible trails that open the gorge up for exploration. Visitors can enjoy the nature spot animals like hippos in the Kyambura River, various birds, and primates like the olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and many others.
Finally, the Kyambura Gorge is surely one to be on every visitor’s bucket list, given the number of attractions and breathtaking activities it offers. Booking with us at Monteero Safaris, we make sure the gorge is lit to your expectations. We organise your journey of exploration through purchasing the chimpanzee permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to your modest facility for your night stay. Book us now for this ultimate exploration of the Kyambura Gorge.