Uganda opens Bugoma Forest for chimpanzee trekking tours
Uganda's National Forestry Authority (NFA) officially launched chimpanzee trekking in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, located in western Uganda. This new tourism activity follows nearly a decade of work by the NFA and Bugoma Primates Conservation Project, which have habituated two chimpanzee communities: Mwera North, for research, and Mwera South, for ecotourism. Each community consists of 60 to 70 chimpanzees.
Bugoma Forest is home to diverse wildlife, including baboons and mangabeys, as well as numerous tree species. The introduction of chimpanzee tracking is expected to boost local tourism, generate revenue, and create job opportunities for nearby communities.
Tour operators have welcomed the new attraction, noting that the $80 tracking fee is affordable compared to other ecotourism sites. Local lodges, such as Bugoma Jungle Lodge and Kikonko Lodge, will collaborate with NFA to promote the activity.
Source: NFA
