Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the spectacular tropical rainforest reserves in Uganda. Kalinzu Forest is located in Western Uganda, between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Maramagambo Forest. This natural forest lies at an altitude of 1400m and is one of the best places to find chimpanzees in the wild. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is inhabited by over 262 colorful butterfly species, 97 moths, 414 species of trees, 6 primate species, 379 species of birds, and others. At Kalinzu Forest, expect to find the vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, l’hoest monkeys, waterbucks, elephants, vervet monkeys, duikers, forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys.

What to do in Kalinzu (Guided Activities)

Chimpanzee trekking with Kalinzu expert

Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the best destinations to explore on a chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda. At Kalinzu, visitors embark on a guided walk through the forest to search for habituated chimpanzees and learn more about their unique behaviors. The Kalinzu chimp trek offers a unique opportunity for you to witness chimpanzees in the natural environment. Chimpanzees are amazing primates to interact with.

They are similar to humans, sharing over 98 percent of their DNA with us. About 320 chimpanzees reside in Kalinzu, with over 50 of them fully habituated. Trekking with Kalinzu chimpanzees takes about 2 to 5 hours. Visitors embark on a slightly lower terrain while on a search for chimpanzees. Kalinzu offers two phases of chimpanzee treks, that is, in the morning and afternoon. The morning chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu begins at around 8:00 am after a briefing, while the afternoon session starts from 2:00 pm –also guided by expert from Kalinzu. In addition to chimpanzee encounters, visitors also stand to come across different primates, including the l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and others. Kalinzu Forest also has some unique birds, which you can spot, and spice up your trek with chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu

While on a chimpanzee tracking tour in Kalinzu, expect to observe certain rules and regulations. Here are some of the standards or safety measures to follow during chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu.

1. About 6 (six) guests are allowed to visit a troop of chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest Reserve.
2. Visitors above 12 years are eligible to engage in the chimp trek in Kalinzu.
3. A valid permit is essential for tourists to engage in a chimpanzee trekking session in Kalinzu Forest Reserve.
4. When interacting with Kalinzu chimps, expect to keep a distance of about 8-10 meters away from these troops.
5. Visitors should be free from infectious diseases to have permission to track chimpanzees in Kalinzu.

Chimpanzee tracking permits in Kalinzu.

To obtain a Kalinzu chimpanzee permit, a visitor should have USD 50, and this applies to foreign non-residents and foreign residents. The East African citizens, including Ugandans, are charged UGX 30,000. Chimpanzee permits can be booked through the local tour company you intend to use to plan your entire tour to Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

Guided nature walks

Kalinzu offers excellent guided nature or forest walks. During a nature walk tour, visitors get a chance to go deeper into the jungle while exploring the hidden habitats and their distinct attractions in Kalinzu, including the scenic Kilyantama waterfall.

Birding tours

A birding trip in Kalinzu offers the best sights of birds that reside in this lush natural forest. The popular birds to find in Kalinzu on a birding tour include hammerkop, Great blue turacos, African emerald cuckoos, Klaas’s cuckoos, long-crested eagles, woodland kingfishers, collared sunbirds, bronze sunbirds, scarlet-chested sunbirds, standard winged nightjars, black bee-eaters, European bee-eaters, and others. Visitors can spend a full day or a morning/afternoon session to explore the diverse birds in Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

Tea estate safaris

Visitors can also embark on the guided farm tours. The farm trips at Kalinzu usher you to the lush tea estate farms at Kyamuhunga or Igara tea estates that are found in the Bushenyi district. Expect to explore more about how tea is grown up to the stage when it is ready for consumption.

Camping tours

Camping excursions offer incredible immersion into Kalinzu for you to explore its hidden treasures. This is excellent for nature enthusiasts with an interest in having a deep connection with the wilderness. Expect to enjoy melodious bird songs, spot some of the fauna species, and the flora.

Game viewing with the expert

Kalinzu Forest Reserve tours can be combined with wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Diversity of wildlife from Queen Elizabeth National Park’s savanna plains awaits you to encounter. The popular wildlife to explore on a game viewing in Queen Elizabeth Park includes African elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, and birds. The special locations to explore during guided game viewing in this park include Kasenyi sector, Mweya, and Ishasha sectors.

The best time to go for a tour in Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Kalinzu is an all-year-round primate destination, but the dry season is the most favorite time. The dry season in Kalinzu is experienced from June to September, and the last but short dry season occurs from December -February. There is also the possibility of exploring Kalinzu during the wet or rainy months of the year, from March, April, to May or October -November. The wet season is most preferred, especially for birding tours. It is a special period of the year to encounter birds when in their breeding sessions.

Where to Stay on a Tour in Kalinzu

Kalinzu alone offers amazing camping opportunities, considering the fact that there are limited accommodation options inside the forest. But visitors can book accommodation options in other parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Top lodges and camps to stay around Queen Elizabeth National Park include Bulbul Safari Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge, Katara Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains, Enganzi Game Lodge, and Buffalo Safari Lodge.

How to reach Kalinzu

Kalinzu Forest Reserve can be safely reached by road, whereby you can spend about 5-6 hours when driving. Kalinzu can also be reached by air and this involves taking a domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport –(EBB) to Mweya or Kasese Airstrips. At Mweya/Kasese Airstrips, you can be picked up and transferred safely to your respective lodges in or near Kalinzu Forest Reserve.