Top Places To See Chimpanzees In The Wild

OT Staff

Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania

Home to the largest protected population of eastern chimpanzees, Mahale is remote and pristine. It offers stunning mountain forests where chimpanzees coexist with lions.

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Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda

Known for its high primate diversity, Kibale hosts over 1,500 chimpanzees across dense rainforest. The park offers immersive treks with habituated chimp groups.

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Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda

This ancient tropical rainforest shelters about 500 chimpanzees across multiple habituated groups. Visitors enjoy trekking through lush montane forest, canopy walks, and the park’s abundant wildlife diversity.

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Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania

Famous as Jane Goodall’s research site, Gombe’s forests along Lake Tanganyika provide intimate chimpanzee viewing in rugged terrain. It’s one of Africa’s smallest national parks.

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Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda

Part of the Murchison Falls ecosystem, Budongo is home to approximately 600-700 chimpanzees. Its mahogany forests offer guided treks and the chance to see multiple primates besides chimps.

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Issa Valley, Tanzania

Set in a dry Miombo woodland, Issa Valley features habituated chimps adapted to the savanna-forest mosaic. It is less frequented by tourists, offering a remote, raw wilderness experience.

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Taï National Park, Ivory Coast

West Africa’s largest primary rainforest, Taï harbours 300-500 chimpanzees. The chimps here exhibit complex hunting and social behaviours unique within their range.

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Loango National Park, Gabon

This coastal rainforest park is famous for diverse wildlife alongside western chimpanzees, including "surfing" hippos and forest elephants. Loango combines marine and forest ecosystems, providing a rare multi-habitat safari.

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Kaniyo Pabidi, Uganda

Located in Budongo Forest, this site offers trekking with habituated chimp groups and is conveniently paired with visits to nearby Murchison Falls. It’s renowned for consistent chimp sightings and rich biodiversity.

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