🇺🇬 Uganda Primate Sanctuaries

Kyambura Game Reserve & Gorge

The "Valley of Apes" — A Subterranean Lost Forest in the Savannah Rift

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Protected Area 156 sq km (including reserve and gorge corridor)
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Altitude Range Depth of gorge: 100 meters below savannah surface
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Accessibility Adjacent to eastern Queen Elizabeth National Park (30 mins from Mweya)
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Climate Microclimate in gorge is cooler and humid, 16°C–24°C

About Kyambura Game Reserve & Gorge

Kyambura Gorge is an astonishing geological wonder: a 100-meter-deep, 16-kilometer-long sunken gorge carved by the torrential waters of the Kyambura River. Hidden beneath the savannah plains lies a dense, moist tropical riverine forest inhabited by an isolated troop of habituated wild chimpanzees, known affectionately as the "Lost Apes of Kyambura".

Key Wildlife Species to Encounter

Kyambura Game Reserve & Gorge boasts extraordinary biodiversity and unique habitat corridors. Top species include:

🐾 Habituated Riverine Chimpanzees
🐾 Black-and-White Colobus
🐾 Red-tailed Monkeys
🐾 Giant Forest Hogs
🐾 Flamingos in Crater Lakes

🌤️ Best Time to Visit

Year-round; dry months (June–September, December–February) make descending the steep gorge slopes easier.

🎟️ Permits & Park Access

Kyambura Gorge Chimp Permit: $100 USD per person.

*Valverde Safaris secures all required wildlife and gorilla permits directly on your behalf.

Signature Experiences & Activities

  • Chimpanzee Tracking inside the Gorge
  • Kyambura Canopy & Escarpment Walks
  • Crater Rim Flamingo Photography
  • Eco-Restoration Buffer Walks

Frequently Asked Questions — Kyambura Game Reserve & Gorge

The descent is steep but equipped with wooden handrails and stepped paths. Walking sticks are provided and porters are available to assist.