Kyambura Gorge

The stunning Kyambura (or Chambura) Gorge also called the “Valley of Apes” is located in the far eastern corner of the well- known Queen Elizabeth National Park in south western Uganda. Approximately 1 km across – at its broadest point and about 100 meters deep, this gorge is actually drained by River Kayambura. The landscape is among the most impressive you will find in Uganda and it is swarmed a rich wildlife bio-diversity that comprises of primates, wild animals as well as birds.

The Kyambura Gorge is a section of the stunning Queen Elizabeth National Park or the Mweya (as it is referred to locally) in the lower Western part of Uganda.  The majority of Uganda safari visitors into the Queen Elizabeth National park are offered a tour of this amazing gorge as a supplementary bonus.

 

chimpanzee kyambura

However, basing on reports made by researchers, only sixteen chimpanzees are remaining within this distant yet very impressive valley.

Enter into this amazing Gorge and you will be marveled by the verdant, rich Tropical Rain-forest right close to the Equator crossing.  The gorge is another world on its own. while the Savannah above has a reasonable amount of light, plus sun shine that offers brightness, the tree canopy within this under-ground forest comprised of rich blocks of plant life shut out most of the sun rays and unless you are standing within a clearing you certainly will not require sunglasses or sun- hats since you may actually need to have a clearly view so as not to miss out on the great assortment of Wonders within the Kyambura Gorge.

Top Uganda safari tourist attractions within Kyambura Gorge

Chimpanzee tracking (some of the Chimpanzees in this gorge have been habituated, which process took close to 2 years meaning that these chimpanzees are familiar with humans and can carry on their day to day  activities in the presence of humans. )

 Guided nature walks and forest walks

Private and game viewing of Black and white colobus monkeys, giant forest hogs and the red-tailed monkeys, in addition to many others

Bird watching Safari in Uganda

However, reservations for Chimpanzee tacking are actually made at Mweya Visitor Information Centre within the spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park. This office also offers information on game drives, and in addition sells postcards plus maps

Access to Kyambura Gorge

When traveling from the capital city Kampala past  Mbarara it is 420 kilometers. When traveling from the capital city Kampala past Fort Portal it is 410 Kilometers. There are also Charter flights available from the International Airport in Entebbe to the Airstrip in southwestern Uganda at Mweya. This goes for less than 60 minutes before getting there. Using road, generally it is about a six hours drive from the capital city Kampala.

Accommodation around Kyambura Gorge

Within and on the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth National park is a diversity of accommodation facilities in which you can reside on your safari to explore this distant yet very impressive gorge. These vary between the high-class facilities and the budget lodges. Among the most prominent ones are: Katara lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Kingfisher camp as well as Kyambura Gorge Safari Lodge.

Kyambura wildlife

The Kyambura Game Reserve, also commonly referred to as the Kyambura Gorge, is a section of the well visited Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) found in south western Uganda. The reserve is habitat to a diversity of wildlife, among which are the only primates living within Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge is a vital water source to quite a number of Uganda safaris wild animals and is entirely surrounded by savanna, however is generally well-known for its big number of primates living with the gorge.

Wildlife in the Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura is actually the only area within Queen Elizabeth National Park where one can see the habituated chimpanzees on any of the chimpanzee trekking tours, (However, reservations for Chimpanzee tacking are actually made at Mweya Visitor Information Centre within the spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park. This office also offers information on game drives, and in addition sells postcards plus maps)  in addition to other species of primates such as the  red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons as well as vervet monkeys. The Chimpanzee habituation process took close to 2 years and habituation simply meaning that these chimpanzees are familiar with humans and can carry on with their day to day activities in the presence of humans.

The area also supports a diversity of avian species such as African Finfoot, the blue-headed bee-eater as well as the different falcons. Large game such as the huge forest hogs can also be seen from time to time within this area.

There are 3 salty crater lakes, that attract a huge numbers of the beautiful flamingos which numbers are not seen elsewhere in the whole of Uganda.

The steep slopes of the Kyambura Gorge, which actually was formed by the disorderly waters of the thunderous River Kyambura, are sheltered by a  verdant  riverine forest, which is habitat a diversity of primates among which are the renowned chimpanzees, the black & white Colobus monkeys,  olive baboons as well as the red tailed monkeys, among many  other species of primates. In addition, this  green riverine forest also offers shelter to several forest birds in addition to other species among which the Martial Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Shoebill, African Skimmer, Lesser plus Greater Flamingo, Chapin’s Flycatcher, White-tailed Lark, Corncrake, Pinkbacked Pelican, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, African Broadbill, Papyrus Gonolek and the Black Bee-eater are commonly seen

This gorge can best be explored on foot so taking a nature walk guided by any of the well trained and highly knowledgeable tour guides will unveil to visitors the natural beauty of the gorge as well as the flora and fauna within the depths of the gorge. You will actually be able to have a close experience of the remarkable wildlife within this area as you take on the very exciting chimpanzee trekking experience. The chimp trekking Uganda tour experience can actually be combined with any tourist activity within Queen Elizabeth National Park. Fortunately there are various nature walk trails within this area which are well maintained so basing on your fitness anything can be arranged for you so that you don’t miss out on this great wildlife here.

Visit Kyambura Gorge on 3 Days Safari