Chimp trekking price and cost issues

July 5, 2015

Chimp trekking price and cost issues

Chimpanzee trekking is the second-best primate activity in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking is a day activity involving visiting one of the forests in Uganda in search of habituated chimpanzees. Once found, one is allowed to spend one hour with them before returning to the park headquarters or your lodge for overnight. You too can take part in trekking habituated chimpanzees in Uganda by visiting either Kibale National Park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest and or Kyambura Gorge, but each place has price issues and costs that we will assess today. The more you know about chimp trekking price and cost issues, the better. Uganda is also one of the best places to film chimpanzees.

Chimp trekking price and cost issues for Kibale, Budongo, Kyambura and karinzu forest

For those interested in seeing habituated chimpanzees in Uganda, you will have to consider Kibale National Park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest or Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. As part of your chimp trekking price and cost issues, you will need a chimpanzee permit whose costs differ from one place to another. You will also need transport to and from where you will trek chimps and accommodation for at least one night.

Kibale Forest National Park chimps

Kibale forest has three habituated communities of chimpanzees and they use two of these for chimpanzee trekking while the other one is for chimpanzee habituation. For one to trek chimps in Kibale National Park, he/she has to budget for a chimpanzee permit which can be obtained at Uganda Wildlife Authority head office in Kampala on Kyira road. A chimp permit for Kibale National Park costs $200 per person per trek either in the morning or afternoon. It allows you to stay with chimpanzees for one hour but the walk is punctuated with plant and bird identification as it is always guided by informed and knowledgeable Uganda Wildlife authority ranger guides. The $200 caters for park entry fees, viewing chimpanzees in their natural habitat as well as a guide who takes you to the forest. When contacted, Encounter Africa safaris will check availability, reserve and secure your chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park. Please note that Kibale National Park is one of the best place to trek habituated communities of chimps in Africa and to that effect, chimpanzee permits tend to sell out quickly most especially during high and peak season. It is better therefore to book your chimpanzee permits 2-4 months in advance to avoid missing our. For more information about booking Kibale National Park chimpanzee permits, kindly contact us on phone or email.

Budongo Forest chimps

Located in the northern part of Uganda, Budongo forest has the highest number of wild chimpanzees and the habituated ones are located in Kaniyo Pabidi. It’s about 4 hours drive from Kampala on your way to Murchison Falls National Park. Chimpanzee permits for Budongo forest cost $90 per person and one can trek either in the morning or afternoon. Encounter Africa safaris can help secure chimpanzee permits for Budongo forest as long as you provide us with the year, months, and date when you intend to trek chimps in Budongo. Budongo forest chimpanzee treks are ideal when one is planning to visit Murchison Falls National Park. Budongo forest is part of the large Murchison Falls conservation area and budongo forest chimp trek provides an opportunity to spend more time in this area. For more information about booking chimp permits to see habituated chimps in Budongo, kindly contact us on email or phone and we will advise accordingly.

Kyambura Gorge chimps

Kyambura gorge is a Rift Valley within a rift valley. It is a gorge found on the floor of the west arm of the great east African rift valley. It was formed due to secondary faulting affected the floor of the primary rift valley and because of this, climatic and vegetation difference created a forest within the gorge and is now acting as home for eight habituated chimpanzees. Chimpanzee permits for chambura gorge cost $50 per person per trek and Encounter Africa Safaris can help you purchase permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Please note that most chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge are elusive and hard to see and that’s why Kyambura chimpanzee trek is popularly sold as Kyambura gorge walk. It is believed that chances of seeing chimpanzees here are about 50% so before you consider booking chimp trekking here; you need to see advice from Encounter Africa safaris.

Karinzu forest chimps

Karinzu forest is another site that provides opportunities of seeing habituated chimpanzees in the wild. Located in Rubirizi district just before Queen Elizabeth National Park, Karinzu has large communities of chimpanzees that have been habituated and opened up for Chimpanzee trekking. Chimp permits are under Uganda National Forest Authority and costs $50 per person per trek. Karinzu is now becoming a serious option for chimpanzee trekking while in this region. Encounter Africa safaris highly recommend Kalinzu chimp treks to Kyambura since chances of seeing chimpanzees in Kalinzu are very high compared to Kyamnbura Gorge

Cost of Accommodation around Kibale National Park

As earlier mentioned, you need to budget for at least one night as you budget for your chimp trekking tour. There several Lodge or Guest House options that range from as little as $50 to $350 per person. Most budget accommodation lodges are in Fort portal town and specialized lodges are also close to Kibale National Park. Mostly used lodges include Kyaninga, Ndali, Primate Lodge, Papaya Lodge, Chimp Nest, Kibale Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest camp among others.

Cost of Accommodation around Budongo Forest

Not so many options for Budongo Forest and the only perfect Lodge is Budongo Eco Lodge located in Kaniyo Pabidi. You may stay in Masindi or Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park. The cost is almost the same as that of around Kibale National Park.