Frequently asked questions about chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is one of the most popular and exciting safari activities in both countries, and it gives tourists a chance to explore and see the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. As you plan your chimpanzee trekking safari to either Uganda or Rwanda, we know you have a lot of questions about the exercise and in this article, we are going to try as much as possible to answer the frequently asked questions about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda and these include the following.

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Where to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is carried out in different locations, and each offers some of the best chimpanzee trekking experiences. Chimpanzee trekking is done in Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest and Ngamba Island. Kibale National Park is the best and home to the largest habituated chimpanzee population and it is home to over 1500 chimpanzees and 13 different primate species.

Where can I go for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda?

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the only chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda and is found in the southwestern part of Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to numerous primate species, some of which include chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Rwenzori monkeys and baboons, among others. There are two habituated chimpanzee communities in Nyungwe, one in Cyamudongo and another in Uwinka.

What is the cost of the chimpanzee trek permit in Uganda and Rwanda?

Uganda: The cost of the trekking permit in Uganda differs depending on the chimpanzee destination you have chosen. The cost is also determined depending on the category of tourists you belong to and these are foreign non-residents, foreign residents and EAC citizens. The cost of the chimpanzee permit in Kibale is $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents and UGX180,000 for EAC citizens. The cost of the chimp permit in Kyambura is $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents and UGX50,000 for EAC citizens. The cost of the chimp trek permit in Kalinzu forest is $130 for foreign non-residents, $65 for foreign residents and $65 for East African citizens. The cost of a chimpanzee trek permit in Budongo forest is $230 for foreign non-residents, $120 for foreign residents and $85 for EAC citizens.

Rwanda: The cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe Forest National Park is $150 for foreign non-residents, $75 for foreign residents and $25 for East African citizens per person. The permit should be bought in advance to properly plan for the safari.

How do I book chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda?

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are easily bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. We will help you with checking for the availability of the permits and book and purchase them on your behalf. You need to first come up with the dates you wish to trek chimpanzees and communicate with the tour operator about the dates and the number of permits you want to purchase. You will also be required to submit personal information like passport number, a copy of the passport, and nationality. Once the permits are available, you are required to make the necessary payments for the permits, and the permits will be purchased and a copy sent to you for record purposes.

In Rwanda, the permits can be bought directly from the Rwanda Development Board or through a trusted tour operator. It’s a similar process to the purchase of permits in Uganda, and you have to provide trek dates, a copy of the passport, and the number of permits to be purchased; you also need to check for the availability of the permits and make the necessary payments and these will be purchased on your behalf. The most important thing is to make sure that you get in touch with the tour operator at least 6 months before the trek date because chimpanzee permits can be in high demand, especially in the peak season of June to September, and they are sold on a first come, first serve basis.

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

15 years is the minimum age for trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and 12 years in Uganda. This was set because children rarely follow the rules and regulations that come with chimpanzee trekking; they are harder to control and cannot withstand the long hours of trekking through the forest, and the first sight of the chimpanzees might threaten the children.

Is chimpanzee trekking difficult in Uganda and Rwanda?

In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking is fairly easy because of the fair topography that is easy to use and there isn’t much effort needed to trek and locate the chimpanzees in the different chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda. You will, however, need to have some level of fitness because the searches might be long, and you need to withstand the long time spent searching and locating the chimpanzees because they are mobile and keep on moving around in search of food.

In Rwanda, specifically Nyungwe Forest National Park you will need some level of fitness to be able to trek and search for the chimpanzees because of the hilly topography of the area. Follow the guidelines, especially the minimum age of 15 years in Rwanda, because the treks need patience, and one needs to be physically fit.

The chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda starts with an early morning briefing that is to be attended by all trekkers. During the briefing, you will be advised to follow all the rules and regulations. You will be divided into groups, and this is the time to air out your issues and preferences to the ranger guides before the trek starts. After the briefing has ended, all the trekking groups will be assigned a ranger guide and an armed ranger and the trek begins. The trek can take as long as 1 to 5 hours and this depends on the location of the chimpanzee community, weather conditions and physical fitness of the trekkers. After finding the chimpanzees, each group gets to spend at least an hour with the chimpanzees before trekking back to the park headquarters.

Uganda offers chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest National Park, and during this period, you will have more than an hour with the chimpanzees studying their behavior and asking researchers the necessary questions about chimpanzee trekking. The cost of the chimpanzee habituation permit in Uganda is $300 for foreign non-residents, $250 for foreign residents and UGX250,000 for East African citizens.

Chimpanzee habituation is the process where the chimpanzees are studied to make sure that they get used to the presence of humans in the national parks. The chimpanzee habituation experience is carried out in semi-habituated chimpanzee communities, and tourists get to spend time with the chimpanzees right from the time they leave their nests throughout the day up until they get back to their nests. This exercise needs a lot of patience and resilience since it takes the entire day.

What are the rules and regulations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

Many rules and regulations are meant to be followed by all trekkers to protect themselves from danger and also protect the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The rules for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda are the same, and the only difference is the age limit, which is 12 years in Uganda and 15 years in Rwanda.

• All trek groups have an hour with the chimpanzees after trekking and locating them
• Groups of 6 to 8 trekkers are assigned a habituated chimpanzee group and this is to limit the interaction between the chimpanzees and the humans.
• Sick trekkers with communicable diseases will not be allowed to trek chimpanzees because they are highly susceptible to human diseases since they share 98% DNA.
• Keep a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the chimpanzees after locating them. The distance helps in preventing the spread of infections, and it also limits overwhelming the chimpanzees as they go about their day-to-day business.
• Turn off the camera flash when taking photos of the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
• Ensure that you keep low tones when communicating with each other. Chimpanzees are not used to loud noises and they can retreat further into the forest when they feel disturbed or threatened. Silence also helps you observe and see more during the trek.
• Do not litter the forests with rubbish because it affects the nature of the national park and yet the forest has food for the chimpanzees.
• Spitting on the vegetation within the national parks is not allowed because the chimpanzees feed on this vegetation and this might affect the health of the chimpanzees.
• Eating when close to the chimpanzees is prohibited because the chimpanzees can grab the food from you which is not good as bacteria can easily be transferred from humans to chimpanzees.
• Feeding the chimpanzees has been prohibited because of poison and wildlife is supposed to look for their own food as a means of survival.
• In case you want to use the toilet, especially for number two, note that there are no toilets in the national parks, and all human waste has to be buried in a hole of 30cm, and it has to be covered well so that the chimpanzees do not find it and dig it up.
• Avoid provoking the chimpanzees as this might agitate them and cause them to charge and attack you.
• No one is allowed to trek chimpanzees in their natural habitat without a ranger guide.
• Follow all the rules and regulations set and the guidelines given to you by the ranger guides.
• Never mimic the chimpanzees because you do not know what you are communicating.

What can I pack for a chimpanzee trek safari in Uganda and Rwanda?

The packing list for a chimpanzee trek permit in Uganda and Rwanda is similar and you need to pack right to be able to enjoy your safari. We have a reliable list of the essentials that you need to carry for your chimpanzee trekking safari to Uganda and Rwanda and it includes the following:

• A camera to keep all your memories alive. Any camera can help take the photos but since you are going to be trekking through the forest, you will need to carry extra batteries, lenses, memory cards and a waterproof camera bag. The camera can be flash-less because you will not be allowed to take photos of the chimpanzees with the flash on.
• A pair of binoculars is essential as it will help you get a clear picture of the chimpanzees in case they are hiding in the trees and farther away into the forests. Binoculars also help with spotting the different bird species in the parks, other wildlife and primate species.
• Neutral-coloured trousers and long-sleeved shirts are wilderness-friendly to protect your skin from scratches, insect bites and the cold during the trek. Avoid colours like blue, black and any other bright colours that might attract a lot of attention from the wild animals.
• Knee-length hike boots that are waterproof and well-fitting. These will help you to trek through the forest with ease while protecting you from water, dust and bug bites.
• Adjustable gaiters protect you from the dust and the rain when trekking chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
• A flashlight and extra batteries for when the lights go out at the lodge.
• A wide-brimmed hat to protect you from the leaves, dripping water and sun.
• Insect repellent to protect yourself from the bugs found in the national parks during the trek.
• Toiletries just in case the lodges do not provide any.
• A refillable water bottle to carry your drinking water, which is essential when chimpanzees trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
• Snacks especially energy bars
• Cash for easy transactions when trekking chimpanzees and tipping the different service providers that helped you during the trek.
• A waterproof backpack.

What is the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

The best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is during the dry season which is experienced from June to September and December to February. This is the best season because the chimpanzees are easier to spot, and the trek routes are not as slippery and muddy as they are during the rainy season, which is experienced from March to May and October to November.

For more information about chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and Rwanda, get in touch with us at Encounter Africa Safaris via email.