Current chimpanzee permit prices in Uganda and Rwanda

The current price of the chimpanzee permits in Uganda and Rwanda are determined by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board respectively. For chimpanzee safari adventure in Uganda, there are several destinations in the country where this activity happens with varying costs.

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Chimpanzees are the closest humans relatives with approximately 98% human genes. They live in communities under the headship of an alpha male.

Before opening the chimpanzee community in Uganda or Rwanda, it is first habituated until proved ready for public viewing, Chimpanzee habituation is the process by which a wild chimpanzee community is helped by a team of professional researchers to get accustomed to humans presence without altering there nature.

In Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking happens in Nyungwe National Park and so far two chimpanzee communities are open to the public. One of the communities is in Cyamudondo which is on the outskirts of Nyungwe forest.

In Uganda, the chimpanzee safaris destination includes Kibale National Park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, Bugoma forest, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary, Uganda Wildlife Education Center and others.

What is the price of chimpanzee permit for Rwanda

The current price for the chimpanzee trekking permit for Rwanda is $ 150 for foreign nonresidents, $75 for international residents and $25 for East Africans

The cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit includes a ranger guide fee, one hour with the chimpanzees, a chimpanzee conservation fee, security and others

Exclusions in the cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking price include park entrance fees, tips, driver guide fee, transport and other expenses.

What is the price of chimpanzee permits in Uganda

Uganda has two chimpanzee safari activities, including chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX). For chimpanzee trekking tourists, follow a full habituated chimpanzee troop and have one hour with them. For chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) maximum of four tourists accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

The current cost of the chimpanzee permits for Uganda varies with destination. The cost of the chimpanzee permits in Uganda may change any time as it is determined by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Note that Some chimpanzee permit costs are determined by the management of the destinations where the chimpanzees live other than Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Can the Chimpanzee permits for Rwanda and Uganda be purchased in Instalments

The Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board accept installment chimpanzee permit purchase in terms of 30% and 70%. Either of these bodies accepts the installment chimpanzee permits as long as you purchase the permits before 90 days to chimpanzee safari and remember to top up before 90 days to safari day. Failure to top up the chimpanzee permits in Uganda or Rwanda may end in re-opening to the public without notification and no refund according to the policy of these bodies.

Is Chimpanzee Permit Reschedule Accepted In Uganda And Rwanda

Rescheduling the chimpanzee permits for Rwanda and Uganda is accepted by the Rwanda Development Board and Uganda wildlife Authority respectively.

To reschedule the chimpanzee permits for Uganda or Rwanda, you need to write to Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board requesting to move these permits. State the reason for moving them and to what date you wish to reschedule them to.

Upon accepting, the rescheduling process starts but it is based on availability.

Rwanda may apply a surcharge on the chimpanzee permit rescheduling. Uganda accepts two free chimpanzee permit rescheduling time but on the third time a surcharge of about 25% of the total cost is added.

Is The Price Of The Uganda or Rwanda Chimpanzee Permit Worth The Money

The cost of the chimpanzee permit for Uganda and Rwanda is worth every Penny because you get that moment to be with the community of chimpanzees in there natural setting others than in confinements.

When you purchase the chimpanzee permit, part of the money is used in supporting conservation of the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees and mountain gorillas are some of the big primates in Africa under danger of extinction. This because of the wide spreading loss of habitats, poaching and others. More community sensitization programs about the relevancy of these primates need to be arranged.

What is the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda and Uganda

12 years and beyond is the age limit for chimpanzee safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. The chimpanzee safari activities in Uganda or Rwanda happen the wilderness which may not be easy for a child under 12 years to traverse. One needs some level of fitness and patience as you search for these primates which may be quite hard for a child below this age.

The physical outlook of the chimpanzees when up close is quite scary which may create anxiety amongst the children below this age yet chimpanzees also find it odd if someone behave in this manner. This may send the chimpanzee into hiding because they are very observant about the behavior of the intruders.

How Sure Can I Be To See The Chimpanzees In Uganda Or Rwanda

Finding the chimpanzees in Uganda or Rwanda is a sure deal because they are habituated for some time to help them get used to humans' presence at least for one hour. Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up early to find where the chimpanzees may have nested and provide the report to the concerned bodies.

The ranger guides with tourists use some of the clues given in the daily report to trace the chimpanzees so chances of finding them are higher.

Chimpanzees normally spend time in a particular location feeding until there is insufficient food supply so you can easily get to them.

Tourists are requested to participate in finding the chimpanzees by watching out for freshly left dung, footprints, freshly chewed foliage and much more.

When you find the chimpanzee one hour of chimpanzee trekking is allowed with them and four hours of chimpanzee habituation experience with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

What Is The Return Time From The Chimpanzee Safari Adventure In Uganda Or Rwanda

Time of finding the chimpanzees in Uganda or Rwanda is hard to determine, as it is dependent on factors prevailing in the forest. Finding the chimpanzees in Uganda may depend on factors including food proximity, weather conditions prevailing, mood of the chimpanzee community and others. No matter when you find the chimpanzees, take that hour or hours accepted before these primates seriously and utilize it to the best of your abilities.

Open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers that co-exist with the chimpanzees including primates, bird species, butterflies, different plant species and much more. This may help you consume your time while you wait to find the chimpanzees. As you get closer to the chimpanzees, you hear them murmur at each other as those alerting them of your presence.

One hour of chimpanzee trekking or four hours of chimpanzee habituation experience are accepted as a conservation measure. The chimpanzees have to go on with their day-to-day life that is why time with them is restricted.

When is the best time to do chimpanzee safari in Uganda or Rwanda

The best time for the chimpanzee safari in Rwanda or Uganda is the dry season which is normally June to October and December to Mid-January when the forests generally have less precipitation. There is generally less precipitation in the forests yet they are known to be moist most of the time. The dense network of rivers in these forests during the dry season flows in the normal course so the level of moisture within expected in the forest is minimal. The tourists can move faster and the chimpanzees can be seen moving in the forest.

The chimpanzees keep most of the time closer to the ground because there is normally less food supply in the entire forest yet it has to be shared with other forest dwellers.

The wet season may not be bad timing to visit the chimpanzees in Uganda and Rwanda but be sure to see these primates any time. The chimpanzees love keeping up in the canopy during the wet season so you need a pair of binoculars to get a better view of these primates. The wet season on Rwanda or Uganda is normally March, April, May and November.

Are chimpanzees in Rwanda or Uganda aggressive

In general, the chimpanzees in Uganda or Rwanda that are open to the public are first habituated for some time a process that helps them get used to human presence. Even when you show up where the chimpanzees are, they normally keep minding their business even though there is a spy network.

Chimpanzees have mood swings which they may not hide in case you try to provoke them. They can charge and some of the signs they may show include hooting, throwing fruits, beating the tree trunks and much more. You need to calm down upon seeing such behavior and wait for the ranger guides to observe the situation. Follow the new instructions given by the ranger guide to calm the situation and have the time allocated for that activity.

Do not try to provoke the chimpanzees or use flash light of your camera when with the chimpanzees because you may appear suspicious.

Uganda Or Rwanda which is the better chimpanzee safari destination

The chimpanzee safaris in Uganda or Rwanda are very interesting because every chimpanzee community has some interesting unique characters.

Uganda has more chimpanzee safari destination with varied price of chimpanzee permits while Rwanda so far has one safari destination Nyungwe forest.

The Uganda chimpanzee destinations are distributed throughout the country unlike Rwanda where one chimpanzee destinations is situated in the northeastern part of the country.

The cost of the Rwanda chimpanzee permit is currently $150 per person while the cost of chimpanzee permits of Uganda varies with destination, Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit costs $250, Kyambura gorge chimpanzee permit costs $80 so there is variety of choices to make.

While on Uganda chimpanzee safari, you can do chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience ( CHEX) where as Rwanda offers only chimpanzee trekking adventure.

From chimpanzee safari in Uganda, you can combine with other safari activities including gorilla trekking, water activities in Uganda, and others. Rwanda has limited options of safari activities to combine with chimpanzee trekking including game tours, birding, gorilla trekking and others,

What are the rules of chimpanzee safaris in Uganda and Rwanda

• Eating or smoking 200 meters closer to the chimpanzees is forbidden to prevent chances of the chimpanzees grabbing it from you. They are wild animals that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Bury all fecal materials beyond recognition so that the animals in the forest cannot exhume it. Ask the ranger to dig a hole for you about 30 cm and cover well.
• In case you wish to sneeze or cough, do it away from the chimpanzees and use your handkerchief or elbow.
• Try not to talk loudly or make noise when going on a chimpanzee search because you may also scare the other forest dwellers that may be interesting to see.
•  Wearing a clean mask before meeting the chimpanzees is one of the additional rules for all primate safaris after the Corona Virus Lockdown.
• The age limit for chimpanzee safaris in Uganda or Rwanda is 12 years and beyond because children below this age may not with stand the conditions in the forest.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas only one hour of trekking is allowed with them. This is to allow the chimpanzees to go about there day to day activities. They have been habituated to be in the presence of humans for just that time
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them. This is to reduce on the chances of passing an infection to the chimpanzees.
• Provoking the chimpanzees during the adventure is not accepted because you do not know how this will treat them. They are very sensitive with anything that happens to them.

Contact our team for more information about chimpanzee permit prices in Uganda and Rwanda.