Dr Jane Goodall’s Legacy and the Magic of Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-famous primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, died at the age of 91 on October 1, 2025. Her death marked the close of an extraordinary life committed to chimps, but her legacy endures in the forests of East Africa and beyond.
For travellers, her death is both an opportunity to reflect on her remarkable lifetime that included monkeying around with chimpanzees, but also to consider the opportunity to walk the paths where her vision comes to life: the forests of Uganda, where chimpanzee trekking has emerged as one of the most meaningful highlights of Uganda safaris. She will still be missed and remembered by her family, friends, and colleagues, but her work and unique way of seeing the world changed our understanding of chimpanzees. Dr. Goodall taught the world how to deconstruct chimpanzees from distant “animal” status to intelligent, emotional beings who share so much in common with the human population. Now, visitors to rainforests in Uganda can feel that connection for themselves.
Who Was Dr Jane Goodall?
Jane Goodall entered this world on April 3, 1934, in London, and as she was growing up, she developed a keen interest in animals. Her trip to Africa in the late 1950s under the guidance of paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey changed her life and science forever. At the Gombe Stream in Tanzania, she started groundbreaking fieldwork that thrust her into the centre of conventional notions of human uniqueness.
A key discovery for Goodall was that chimpanzees use tools; for example, sticks to fish termites out and leaves to collect water. She demonstrated that culture and intelligence were not uniquely human characteristics. She also documented the incredibly rich emotional lives of chimpanzees, which recorded their friendships, rivalries, grief, and even joy. Together, these discoveries shifted humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
However, her influence reached well beyond just her research. She was an insistent advocate of conservation, animal welfare, and environmental programs centred in communities. She spoke in schools, parliaments, and villages and had inspired generations to take action. Her Roots & Shoots youth program is in over 100 countries today and teaches the next generation about responsibility to the Earth and all living things.
We feel her loss immensely, and yet her voice is in the sound of every rustling tree in the African forests she loved. Uganda, with many thriving primate habitats, is a living reminder of the world she sought to protect.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda: Walking in Goodall’s Footsteps
While Dr. Goodall’s renowned research occurred in Tanzania, Uganda is now one of Africa’s top destinations for chimpanzee trekking. You will once again enter dense forests and see wild chimpanzees in their natural homes, just as Goodall did decades ago, with curiosity in their eyes, tenderness in their interactions, and their many similarities to us.
Chimpanzee trekking has become a key experience of Uganda safaris today, in addition to gorilla trekking, game drives, and birding. Every trek is not only an adventure but an opportunity to support conservation and honour Goodall’s belief that responsible tourism can help protect wildlife and support local communities.
Top Destinations for Chimp Trekking in Uganda
Uganda has many amazing locations for chimp trekking, each of which has its own ambiance, scenery, and chimp populations.
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale is the “Primate Capital of the World” and is the best place to trek chimpanzees. It has over 1,500 chimpanzees and over a dozen other primate species. Its rich biodiversity and density of primates are unparalleled. There is great demand for Kibale permits, so advance booking is recommended.
Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls National Park)
Budongo Forest Reserve is within Murchison Falls and is a dreamy place for experiencing chimpanzees. The forest features tall, dense mahogany trees and a lush understory, ensuring a magical trek. Visitors can also participate in a chimpanzee habituation experience. This allows visitors to be with the chimps for much longer, and as they slowly become accustomed to human presence.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Just a short distance from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest provides some of the best value and fun chimpanzee trekking experiences around. In addition to chimpanzees, the forest is alive with birds, butterflies, and other primates, providing a more diverse experience.
Kyambura Gorge
Also within Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is known as the “Valley of the Apes“. Trekking here is much more dramatic, as it involves a dramatic descent into a lush canyon, in which chimpanzees inhabit waterfalls and a dense green landscape filled with breathtaking scenery.
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Less visited and fantastically peaceful, Semliki is a great hybrid of savannah and forest habitats. The chimpanzees here trek across open landscapes and through dense vegetation, creating some unique and fun trekking experiences.
What to Expect on a Chimp Trek
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda combines both adventure and education. It generally starts early in the morning, with visitors receiving a briefing from specialised guides, before going into the forest in groups of 4-6. The trek could take anywhere from two to five hours, depending on how the chimps were moving.
When the chimps are located, guests will spend a maximum of one hour with the chimps. While watching the chimps, visitors might see various behaviours, such as mothers grooming infants, children playing, dominant males being dominant, or the group feeding on figs. It was a powerful experience to see their gentleness and intelligence reflected in their eyes – something you will never forget.
A more immersive encounter is available in Kibale or Budongo called the habituation experience, where visitors may spend more time with the chimps and learn about their social hierarchies and daily lives.
Dr Goodall’s Influence on Uganda Safaris
If you are motivated to pay tribute to Dr. Goodall by travelling to Uganda for a safari, consider these helpful hints:
Plan for permits in advance: Passes should be bought as soon as possible, especially for Kibale, which tends to be the busiest.
Choose reputable operators: While the guides will be responsible for your safety, having experienced guides who adhere to ethical trekking practices makes for a better experience.
Be prepared for the forest conditions: Prepare your footwear and attire accordingly for your trek. Good hiking shoes, rain gear, insect repellent and plenty of water are important
Keep the rules in mind: Stay 10m away, no flash photography, and if you are unwell, do not go on the trek at all, since chimps can catch human diseases.
Take into account the best time to safari: Wet seasons promote vigorous growth in forests and easier chimp sightings, while the dry season can mean further trekking to find the chimps.
Reflecting on Dr Goodall’s Passing
The death of Dr. Jane Goodall represents a loss to the world, but her spirit lives on in every forest where chimps are free to explore their homes. A visitor walking into one of Uganda’s jungles and witnessing the awe of chimps swinging through the canopy is an extension of her work.
For Uganda safaris, her legacy means that wildlife tourism is more than just a sense of adventure, but rather, involves respect, empathy, and sustainability. Tourists trekking with chimpanzees in Uganda are not only fulfilling a dream but also continuing a mission from a woman who believed that compassion for animals would transform humans.
Conclusion
Although Dr. Jane Goodall may no longer literally be on this earth with us, her voice lives on through the breezes rustling through the trees in the forests of Uganda. Her work, her continued advocacy, and her message of coexistence continue to endure. Uganda, famous for its chimpanzees and incredible opportunities to trek to see them, epitomises much of what it stands for: respect for animals, conservation of their habitats, and a connection between people and nature.
When you travel to Uganda, a chimpanzee trek is subsequently more than merely a highlight of a safari through Uganda; it is an opportunity to carry forward the vision of Goodall, and a reminder that when we look into the eyes of a chimpanzee, we are not looking at just a rare and unique wildlife encounter, but it is literally a mirror back at ourselves.
If you are planning your next adventure, think of Uganda. Share the trails with fellow guests; listen to your forests; and meet the chimps. You will be honouring the magic and spirit of the wild, and you will aslo be honouring the personal legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall.
