Quick facts: Location: southern section of Budongo Forest, closest to Murchison Falls' main gates · Primary activity: chimpanzee trekking · One habituated chimp community, roughly 100 individuals
Kaniyo Pabidi is the section of Budongo Forest developed specifically for chimpanzee trekking, and the closest of Budongo's tourism sites to Murchison Falls' main southern gates — a few minutes' drive from Kichumbanyobo Gate, making it the natural add-on for travellers already heading into or out of the park via the south. The forest here holds some of Uganda's tallest mahogany trees, some estimated at 70+ years old, forming genuinely impressive high canopy.
The Kaniyo Pabidi chimpanzee community, numbering around 100 individuals, has been habituated for tracking since the late 1990s — originally by the Jane Goodall Institute, with management since taken over by Budongo Eco Lodge in partnership with the National Forest Authority. Sighting rates are strong, and treks run twice daily.
Kaniyo Pabidi is also a solid birding site in its own right, with chocolate-backed kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, and the East-Africa-endemic Puvel's illadopsis among the highlights — a worthwhile stop even for visitors not specifically doing the chimp trek.
Chimpanzee Trekking (Budongo Forest) · Budongo Forest Reserve · Budongo Eco Lodge · Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
