Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is a Central Forest Reserve managed by the Uganda Forestry Authority in Bushenyi district in western Uganda. Like Uganda Wildlife Authority that oversees the ten national parks and game reserves in Uganda, the Uganda National Forestry Authority (NFA) is the steward of more than 500 central forest reserves in Uganda, including the Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve. The Kalinzu Forest Reserve is an essential ecological forest containing over 400 species of trees, more than 300 species of birds, and six different primates species, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve Chimpanzee Trekking
Kalinzu central forest reserve is the next top location for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda after Kibale Forest National Park. Given the Kalinzu forest’s proximity to both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Kalinzu forest reserve is recommended to trek chimpanzees, especially for clients who want to fit chimpanzee trekking into a 4-day gorilla trek. Kalinzu forest reserve is about 150kms from Bwindi National Park compared to Kibale National Park, which is ~235 away from Bwindi National Park.
Kalinzu forest is about an hour’s drive from the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kalinzu forest’s proximity allows visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park to combine chimp trekking and game drive safaris. One can also trek chimps at Kalinzu forest in the morning and drive to Kampala or Entebbe immediately after the chimp trek. It is equally possible to go from Kalinzu forest around midday and arrive in Kigali, Rwanda, in the evening.
In terms of the best park to see chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is at the top of the list. With Kibale National Park, the chances to see chimps is 99% compared to 50%-70% at Kalinzu forest reserve. The choice of trekking the chimpanzees in Kibale National Park or Kalinzu forest will depend on your itinerary and the time planned to be spent in Uganda. Visit Uganda and enjoy the chimp trek with Bamboo Ecotours.