Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris in Kenya

While Kenya is world-renowned for its classic wildlife safaris and is home to a spectacular array of animals, it is not a destination for chimpanzee trekking safaris. Unlike countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya does not have a viable wild chimpanzee population that can be tracked in its national parks.

The chimpanzees you will find in Kenya are almost exclusively in sanctuaries or rehabilitation centers. These are crucial conservation projects dedicated to providing a safe haven for chimpanzees that have been rescued from the illegal pet trade or other forms of human-wildlife conflict, often from other parts of Africa.

Therefore, for anyone interested in a chimpanzee experience in Kenya, the options are focused on visiting these sanctuaries, which offer a unique opportunity to learn about the animals and support their conservation.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The most prominent place to see chimpanzees in Kenya is at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, located within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This sanctuary was established in 1993 in a joint effort by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Jane Goodall Institute to provide a home for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees.

A visit to the sanctuary is a rewarding experience. The chimpanzees live in a large, semi-wild enclosure with natural habitats like forest and grassland. Visitors can observe the chimps from a safe distance as they interact, play, and groom each other. Expert guides are on hand to provide information about the individual chimpanzees, their histories, and the importance of conservation. While it is not a “trekking” experience in the traditional sense, it is an intimate and educational encounter with these intelligent primates.

Why You Can’t Trek for Chimpanzees in Kenya

The absence of a wild chimpanzee trekking industry in Kenya is a matter of geography and historical wildlife distribution. Kenya’s primary ecosystems are savannah, grasslands, and semi-arid plains, which are not the natural habitats for chimpanzees, who thrive in the dense, tropical forests of Central and West Africa. The forested areas of neighboring countries like Uganda provide the ideal environment for these primates to live and flourish in the wild, which is why trekking safaris are a successful and sustainable activity there.

In short, if your goal is a classic chimpanzee trekking safari, you would need to travel to one of the countries that offers this experience. However, if you are already in Kenya and wish to see chimpanzees while also supporting a vital conservation cause, a visit to the Ol Pejeta Sanctuary is the ideal choice.