Bwindi, Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is set to diversify its tourism offering beyond gorilla tracking after the first-ever chimpanzee census confirmed 426 chimpanzees in the park’s northern segment.
The landmark survey, conducted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, provides the first scientific data on Bwindi’s chimpanzee population.
UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said the findings pave the way for carefully managed chimpanzee-focused tourism without compromising conservation.
“The Chimpanzee census findings highlight the strategic importance that provides robust evidence about the presence, distribution, and status of chimpanzees in Bwindi, aiding in evidence-based park management and conservation efforts,” Dr Musinguzi said.
“With verified population numbers and mapped locations, we can now introduce chimpanzee-focused tourism without disturbing the animals or their habitats,” he added, emphasizing that visitors can now “experience chimpanzees, gorillas, and hippos all within the same ecosystem.”
The northern section of Bwindi, where chimpanzees are concentrated, has been identified as suitable for new tourism circuits. Officials say the development will allow visitors to extend their stays, reducing reliance on gorilla tracking alone.
“The expanded tourism portfolio could create jobs for guides, hospitality workers, and increase revenue streams from permits and tourism activities,” Dr Musinguzi noted. “It will also support craft and cultural enterprises in villages surrounding the park.”
Scientific Findings
Michael Jurua, Conservation Science Manager at the Jane Goodall Institute, explained that researchers used two scientific approaches, standing crop count and marked nest count, to estimate the chimpanzee population.
The survey determined a population density of 1.33 chimpanzees per square kilometer, primarily in the northern sector.
Spatial analysis further showed ecological zoning within the park, with the northern areas more suitable for chimpanzees while southern zones remain optimal for gorillas.
The census also recorded elephants and six additional primate species, reinforcing Bwindi’s status as one of Africa’s leading biodiversity hotspots.
The State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon Martin Bahinduka Mugarra, welcomed the findings, saying they strengthen Bwindi’s status as a critical habitat for great apes.
“It presents an opportunity to integrate chimpanzees into tourism offerings while ensuring sustainable conservation and community development,” he said.
Uganda hosts more than 5,000 chimpanzees nationwide, with about 75 percent residing in five major forest blocks. The concentration in Bwindi’s northern segment now positions the park as a dual great-ape destination.
The data is expected to guide conservation investments, inform protected area management, and integrate chimpanzee monitoring into long-term conservation frameworks — all while strengthening Uganda’s nature-based tourism sector.
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