Can Chimpanzees Swim?

Can Chimpanzees Swim?

Can Chimpanzees Swim? Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Can Chimpanzees Swim? Chimps don’t like to swim, therefore you’ll seldom see them paddling around in it. They sink due to their low body fat ratio, and their top heavy body composition makes it difficult for them to keep their heads above water. However, some chimps prefer splashing around in shallow water. A chimpanzee trekking tour to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda will give you an opportunity to encounter a group of habituated chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest or Cyamudongo Forest.

Chimpanzees are large apes that may be found in Central, East, and West Africa. They are our closest living cousins, sharing 98.7 percent of our genetic code with bonobos. Humans and chimps are assumed to have shared a common ancestor that lived seven to thirteen million years ago.

Social Behaviours of Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzees are extremely sociable animals. They dwell in groups of several dozen animals that are commanded by an alpha male and his coalition of male friends. Male and female chimpanzees have distinct personalities, according to research, with females being more trusting and cautious. Grooming is a crucial component of chimp social life, since it helps them bond by removing ticks and filth from one another’s body.

Chimpanzees can stand and walk upright while generally walking on all fours (knuckle-walking). Chimpanzees have lengthy arms, hands, and fingers that they use to climb trees and swing from branch to branch.

How Many Subspecies of Chimpanzees Exist in the World?

 There are four recognized chimp subspecies, with a fifth possible;

The Central chimpanzee, also referred to as tschego, is found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with approximately 140,000 individuals in the wild.

The Western chimp, also known as P. troglodytes verus, is located in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Ghana, and there are around 52,800 individuals left.

Nigeria-Cameroon chimps are found in forested areas across Nigeria and Cameroon, with an estimated population of 6000-9000 individuals.

The Eastern chimpanzee is found in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia, with 180,000 – 256,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The best places to encounter the eastern chimpanzees are in Kibale National Park in Uganda, Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo and Mahale National Park in Tanzania.

The south-eastern chimpanzees can be found in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Colin Groves contends that this is a subspecies formed by sufficient variation between the northern and southern populations of the eastern chimpanzee subspecies, but the IUCN does not recognize it.

Can Chimpanzees Swim?
Can Chimpanzees Swim?

Best Chimpanzee Tracking Destinations in Africa.


Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda is best done from Kibale National Park. However; the activity can be done from other destinations like Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest, and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda costs $200 in Kibale National Park, $90 in Budongo Forest and $50 in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest. If you are interested in a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda, its best you book your chimp permit at least 6 months in advance, and through a trusted tour operator company like Explore Rwanda Tours, Achieve Global Safaris or Focus East Africa Tours.


Chimpanzees trekking tours in Rwanda are mainly conducted in Nyungwe Forest National Park. However, visitors can also choose to track chimpanzees in Gishwati-Mukura National Park which is the latest addition to Rwanda’s national parks. A chimpanzee tracking permit in Rwanda costs $90 for foreign non-residents and $60 for foreign residents in the country.


During Congo safaris, visitors can always encounter chimpanzees in Senkwekwe Orphanage in Virunga National Park and Lwiro Sanctuary in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Best Time to do Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee trekking can be done at any time of year, but the best time is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, which lasts from June to September and December to February. The dry season is ideal for chimpanzee trekking because it has less rainfall and thus the chimp trekking trails are easier to navigate.

Visitors can always combine a chimpanzee trekking tour in Nyungwe forest national park with either a canopy walk, hiking tour, bird watching or a visit to Gisakura Tea Estate. For any inquiries on our chimpanzee trekking safari packages, feel free to contact us on and we shall gladly help you.

book a gorilla safari