UWA increases Kibale Chimpanzee price for foreign non-residents from $200 to $250

The Uganda Wildlife Authority increased the cost of the chimpanzee trek permit for foreign non-residents from $200 to $250 per person. The Uganda Wildlife Authority revised the costs of the permits to ensure the continued conservation of the chimps in Kibale and ensure that the services provided to the tourists were better than before. The change in the tariffs takes effect after 1st July 2023, and all trekking permits bought before this will not be affected by the change in the permit cost.

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The permit cost for other tourist categories has also been increased: Foreign residents pay $200, and East African citizens pay UGX 180 000. 

Kibale National Park, also known as Africa's Primate Capital, is located in the western part of the country and the best place for a chimpanzee trek in Uganda. The National Park covers over 191700 acres of protected land. It is home to 13 primate species, including black and white colobus monkeys, L'Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, and blue monkeys.

Kibale National Park is home to over 1500 chimpanzees with 30 years of chimpanzee trekking destination. The national park is home to primates and over 375 bird species, 300 tree species, and 250 butterfly species.

Out of the 1500 chimpanzees in Kibale, four habituated chimpanzee families are open for trekking. Although they are still wild animals, the habituated families are used to the presence of humans and usually behave even though they are being watched. Kibale National Park also offers a chimpanzee habituation process where tourists can spend more than an hour with semi-habituated chimpanzees.

How to purchase a chimpanzee trek permit in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee trek permits are best purchased through a trusted tour operator. Several steps are taken when booking and purchasing a Chimp trek permit, and the first one is always to make sure that you book the permit six months or more before the trek date to ensure everything, including documents, is in order.

Contact a tour operator with details of your trek dates, full name, passport number, and how many permits you are purchasing, and make sure that the information provided is the right one because this information is what is going to be used to book and purchase for the chimp trek permits. Once all the necessary information is gathered, our staff checks for the availability of the chimpanzee permits, and then an invoice will be sent to you. The permit can only be purchased when there is confirmation of payment. A copy of the chimp permit is sent to you so that you get ready to plan your safari.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority requires all travelers first to make a 30% deposit, which is non-refundable, to reserve the trekking permit, and the total payment has to be made 90 days before the trek date.

For solo tourists who don't wish to use something other than tour operators, you can contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority through their website, info@wildlife.go.ug, to make the necessary reservations. You must send the trek dates and a scanned copy of the passport.

Is it possible to buy last-minute chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale National Park?

Yes, purchasing last-minute chimpanzee trek permits for Kibale from the Uganda Wildlife Authority is possible, but this does not mean that you have to wait until the last minute to purchase the chimpanzee permits. Chimpanzee permits are not as scarce as gorilla permits. Still, they are also in high demand, especially during the dry/peak season, and you will not be assured of the availability of the permits during this time. For more information about last-minute chimp permits, make sure that you get in touch with them to help you check for the availability of the permits throughout the year.

The cancellation of the chimpanzee trek permit in Kibale National Park

It is possible to cancel chimpanzee trekking permits, but there are exceptional circumstances for refunding them. Note that there is no refund on a 30% deposit fee after cancellation. However, if you have fully paid for the Chimp permit, the following policies apply after cancellation.

Cancellation

0 - 8 days before the trek date, no refund

9 to 45 days before the trek date, a 25% refund

46 to 90 days before the trek date, a 50% refund

91 days and above before the trek date, a 75% refund

If you cannot trek due to sickness after traveling to Kibale and the park warden confirms this, you will receive a refund of 50% of the cost of the chimpanzee trek permit. And when you fail to see the chimpanzees after trekking for hours, although this is rare, you get a 50% refund.

Rescheduling the chimpanzee trek permits in Kibale National Park.

Rescheduling chimp permits is possible, but this must be done in time to avoid surcharges on the original permit cost. You have to make reschedules (checking the trek date to another) seven days before the trek date and reschedules can only be carried out twice, but after the third reschedule, a surcharge of 25% is levied on the original charge.

You can also reschedule a permit to another date if you have only made a 30% deposit on the permit cost. You must pay the full permit cost on your second reschedule.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale:

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale starts early morning with a briefing from the lead guide about the chimpanzee trekking experience and the rules to be followed when tracking chimpanzees. Depending on your days in Kibale, you can choose to go for the morning or afternoon chimpanzee session. You might ask which is better, but it depends on the weather during the trek, so it is not easy to predict which is better.

The morning and afternoon sessions follow the same structure, starting with a briefing session from the guides about an hour before trekking starts. During the briefing, you will be told about the rules and regulations you must follow when tracking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park and the risks of failing to follow through. The rangers will also take you through what is expected regarding tracking chimps. After the briefing, you will be placed in smaller groups and assigned an official guide who will then take you through the national park tracking chimpanzees until you locate the group of chimpanzees you have been given.

Note that when you are attending a briefing, UWA trackers are sent out to try to find the last location of the chimpanzee families. The ranger always communicates with the guide to ensure you have a great experience tracking chimpanzees.

How long does chimpanzee trekking take?

It is hard to estimate the time spent when trekking chimpanzees because chimpanzee groups keep changing from one place to the next, and the time spent tracking depends on the current location of the chimpanzee family you are tracking. 

An estimation is between 30 minutes and four hours, and once you locate the chimps, you have an hour with the chimp community you have been allocated.

What to bring on your chimp trek

Below is a list of things you must bring for the chimpanzee trek permit in Kibale National Park.

• Waterproof rain jacket
• A waterproof day backpack
• A camera, preferably one with no flash
• Binoculars
• A refillable water bottle and snacks
• Insect repellent
• Water-resistant hike boots with a grip
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Thick socks
• Warm sweater and scarf
• Easy-drying trousers and not jeans
• Gaiters and these should be adjustable
• Sunscreen.

The chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations

Tracking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park comes with rules and regulations, and the first rule also referred to as the golden rule, is always to show respect. The Uganda Wildlife Authority came up with these rules to be able to protect the chimpanzees, and some of the official rules that all tourists have to follow include:

• Always listen to your guides when they give you instructions.
• Please avoid tracking chimpanzees when sick because chimps easily contract diseases.
• Always maintain a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the chimpanzees, and if the chimps approach you, follow all the instructions from the guides.
• Avoid mimicking the chimps because you do not know what you are communicating, and also avoid making abrupt movements.
• The minimum age for tracking chimpanzees is 12 years.
• Minimize the noise made during the trek and when with the chimpanzees.
• Do not at any one point chase the chimpanzees.
• No flash photography
• Do not smoke when near chimpanzees
• Do not eat or drink when near the chimpanzees.
• Avoid touching the chimpanzees
• When you feel a sneeze coming on, turn away from the chimps and cover your mouth and nose.

The cost of a chimpanzee trek safari in Kibale National Park

The cost of the chimpanzee safari in Kibale depends on your decisions when deciding on the different services, including accommodation, transport, and the size of the trek group, among others.

Accommodation: Accommodation is one of the main factors that affects the cost of the chimp safari in Kibale National Park. The accommodation is divided into three categories: basic/budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, and the type of facility you choose will determine how much you spend, affecting the cost of the safari. Some of the accommodation facilities that you can try out during your chimp trek in Kibale include the Kibale Guest Cottages, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge, Chimp Nest Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Kyaninga Lodge, Kibale safari lodge, Primate safari lodge, and Papaya Lake Lodge.

Transport: There are two modes of transport you can use to get to Kibale National Park: road and air transport. Air transport is faster and a bit more expensive than road transport. Driving from Kampala to Kibale takes about 5 to 6 hours, and this is the most commonly used because it is a bit easier and more affordable. To reduce the cost of transport, you can decide to share the 4x4 safari vehicle with other tourists to share the costs.

Personal purchases: Personal purchases can also affect the cost of the safari because these are not included in the trek permit cost and come out of your pocket. You are advised to bring extra cash that will be used to buy the things you need for the safari, and this will also be used when tipping guides and porters.

Is chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park worth it?

Chimp trekking is worth all the money because you get to see other primates and enjoy the guided nature walks within Kibale, but you also get to meet the chimpanzees with 98% human DNA face to face. Observing the chimpanzees is a better way to learn more about these primates and help control them. Observing the chimpanzees as they are in their natural habitat is worth the adventure and money.

To reduce the planning time and hustle of organizing a chimpanzee trek safari in Kibale National Park, get in touch with us to help with the proper planning of the safari, from booking the gorilla permits to organizing the whole safari with your budget being put into consideration. We will discuss with you the different itineraries you can choose from, and for more information, get in touch with us right now so that our consultants can help you with the necessary info and arrangements.