Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to about 426 chimpanzees (2025 Bwindi Census). These great apes are widely distributed in the four sectors of the park. The chimpanzees occupy habitats ranging from mixed Afromontane to higher montane elevation montane forest within Bwindi.
The highest concentration of chimpanzees is in the northern sector of Bwindi (Buhoma). A sizeable population also lives in the Rushaga Sector.
Unlike other chimpanzee destinations, chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not habituated for tourism but they are more visible. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees live harmoniously in Bwindi forest.
Additionally, Chimps can also be best spotted in Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest,and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
These captivating creatures in Bwindi forest are overshadowed by the giant Mountain Gorillas- the park’s biggest draw card.
On your Uganda gorilla tour in Bwindi, seeing chimps is not a guarantee. The chimpanzees have not yet been habituated for tourism in the park.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda (JGI Uganda) is still studying the population of chimpanzees in Bwindi and there are plans to habituate them for tourism.
The 2025 Bwindi Chimpanzee Census
The 2025 Chimpanzee Census was carried out by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI)- Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration. The team used standardised line transects where the entire forest was virtually split into 2km transects. There were 39 transects laid evenly and distributed across the entire forest, and the team looked out for the chimpanzee nests along the laid transects. The nests were used as proxies for the presence of chimpanzees.
The entire survey effort was about 160 kilometres, covering two sweeps. The population density of 426 translated into 1.33 chimps per square kilometre.
The researchers also relied on radar imagery, the type of satellite imagery that uses high-penetrating signals to go through the clouds and dense canopies of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Understanding Chimpanzees: How They Live
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent primates. They share about 98% of their DNA with humans. This makes them our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom.
- Social Life: Chimpanzees live in communities that can range from 20 to over 100 individuals. These groups are led by a dominant male, often called the alpha male. Leadership is not only about strength; it also involves alliances and social intelligence.
They groom each other to build friendships and reduce tension. Grooming is very important in chimp society.
- Communication: Chimpanzees communicate in many ways: Loud pant-hoots that echo through the forest, Facial expressions, Hand gestures, Body postures. Their communication system is complex and emotional. When you hear a chimpanzee call in the forest, it is a powerful and unforgettable experience.
- Feeding Habits: Chimpanzees are mainly fruit eaters, but they are omnivores. Their diet includes: Fruits Leaves, Seeds, Bark, Insects, Occasionally small mammals
They use tools to get food. For example, they use sticks to remove termites from mounds. This tool use is one of the reasons scientists admire them so much.
Where Else to See Chimpanzees in Uganda
Uganda is one of the best countries in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Apart from Bwindi, chimpanzees are also found in:
- Kibale National Park
- Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park
- The Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kalinzu Forest
- Bugoma Forest
Among these, Kibale National Park is often called the “Primate Capital of the World” because of its large chimpanzee population and successful tracking experiences. However, Bwindi now stands stronger in the spotlight following the confirmed 426 individuals.
Mountain Gorillas