How much does it cost to see gorillas and chimps in Uganda in 2024-25?

How much does it cost to see gorillas and chimps in Uganda in 2024-25? The cost of the gorilla safari or chimpanzee safari in Uganda starts with purchasing permits. No one can see the mountain gorillas without a gorilla trekking or habituation experience permit. The cost of the chimpanzee permits in Uganda varies with destination, and they can be either for chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Since gorilla and chimpanzee safaris have restrictions on the number of permits open per day for conservation reasons, booking is needed, especially during the high season when demand is high. The peak Uganda tourism season usually is June, July, August, September, December, and January.

Uganda gorilla trekking permits cost $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East Africans. Gorilla habituation experience permits cost $1500 for nonforeign residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and 750000shs for East Africans.

Chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale National Park cost $300 for foreign nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and 150000 shs for East Africans. Chimpanzee habituation experience costs $300 for foreign nonresidents, $300 for foreign residents, and 300,000 for East Africans.

Select the category of accommodations to use during the gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda. The cost of accommodation makes up a considerable part of the package you choose for your luxury, mid-range, or Basic safari package. 

Choose transport means to use during gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda, including fuel cost, car hire, driver guide, car wash, etc.

Before finding out how much the gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda cost, let us know where to go for gorilla and chimpanzee safaris first.

Where to do gorilla safari in Uganda?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half the total number of mountain gorillas in the world. At the moment, about 21 gorilla trekking families are open. Still, the gorilla permits are booked according to four areas into which Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is subdivided: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo—two gorilla habituation experience families in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Other inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include:

• Over ten primate species.
• About 51 reptiles.
• More than 88-month species.
• Many birds.

Mgahinga national park

Mgahinga National Park lies in the southwestern corner of Uganda at the border of Uganda and Rwanda. Currently, only the Nyakagezi gorilla trekking family is open to public visits. Its gorilla permits are available for pre-booking since this gorilla family is now settled in Uganda despite its adventurous history.

Other Mgahinga National Park dwellers include:

• Golden monkeys.
• More than 115 bird species.
• 39 mammal species.
• There is a massive list of ancient botanical species, to mention a few.

Excursion hiking on the tree volcanoes within this park, which are Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhavura, is stunning.

Where to do chimpanzee safaris in Uganda?

Kibale National park

Kibale National Park is Uganda's prime chimpanzee safari destination, hosting over 1500 chimpanzees. By engaging in a chimpanzee trekking or habituation experience, you enjoy the best activities of this tropical rainforest park. 

With a chimpanzee trekking adventure, you follow a fully habituated gorilla family to spend one hour with them.  

The Chimpanzee habituation experience is a safari where tourists accompany a team of researchers and habituators in the wilderness to stay with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community for four hours.

You can book the chimpanzee permit in Kibale National Park for the morning or afternoon session.

Other chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda include

Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu Forest Reserve on the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, and others.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari In Uganda?

If you are planning the gorilla and chimpanzee by yourself, you must find availability if the gorilla and chimpanzee permits, plus amenities that accompany this safari. Putting all the necessary items for your gorilla and chimpanzee safari is challenging.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we are ready to lift the burden of organizing the gorilla and chimpanzee safari off your shoulders. When you enquire from us and provide all the necessary details, like the time you wish to be on a gorilla and chimpanzee tour in Uganda and several eligible people, our safari consult checks the availability of the permits as soon as possible.

We categorize our gorilla and chimpanzee safaris according to Upmarket, mid-range, and budget. The cost of our gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda is determined by:

Number of days on the gorilla and chimpanzee Uganda safari

The least number of days you can be on a gorilla safari is three days, while the chimpanzee tour is two days. The least number of days you can be on gorilla and chimpanzee safari is about five days. 

• On the first day, you arrive and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park 
• The second day is the gorilla safari
• On the third day departs for Kibale National Park
• Fourth-day chimpanzee trekking or habituation experience
• Fifth day departure day after the primate Uganda safari 

The more days on the gorilla and chimpanzee safari, the higher the safari cost as most service providers charge per day, like accommodation, car hire, driver guides, etc.

Time of booking the gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda

The peak tourism season in Uganda is June to September and December to January. Most logistics costs accompanying the gorilla and chimpanzee safari are hiked due to high demand worldwide. The availability of gorilla and chimpanzee permits is also scarce, and so are options for accommodations in and out of the primate destinations.

Booking is required to avoid panic attacks as you try to piece together the gorilla and chimpanzee safari.

Although the low Uganda tourism season receives fewer bookings, you need to make a booking on the gorilla or chimpanzee permits and then accompany logistics. The low Uganda tourism season is March, April, May, and November. Chances of receiving discounts on amenities that support your Uganda safari are more open in the low season, so if you are traveling on a limited budget for gorilla and chimpanzee safari, you can seize the opportunity.

Number of people traveling with for gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda

The more people travel for gorilla and chimpanzee safari, the less the per person cost because you get to share some safari costs like fuel, car hire, driver guide fee, accommodation in case you stay in double or twin rooms, and others.

The gorilla and chimpanzee permit cost is charged per individual, so there is no cost sharing. 

Note that the age limit for gorilla and chimpanzee safari is 15 years and over. These activities include walking in the jungle, which children below 15 years may not bear.

Choose additional Uganda safari activities to combine with gorilla and chimpanzee safari.

You can combine gorillas, chimpanzees, and other Uganda safari activities. Uganda is gifted by nature, and you can choose different activities to engage in, like game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a detour to Lake Mburo National Park, birding in Uganda, a golden monkey safari in Mgahinga National Park, visiting the source of River Nile, engage in whitewater rafting and others.

With the assistance of our safari consultant, you can piece together a fantastic and unforgettable Uganda safari itinerary covering most of which you would like to be part of. This also depends on the safari time you have.

Select Accommodation Category For The Gorilla Safari

Most Uganda safari destinations have accommodations with plans like luxury, mid-range, and essential. For gorilla and chimpanzee safaris, you need to overnight in or closer to the destinations booked because they all have specific starting times. Attending the briefing before the gorilla and chimpanzee safari is compulsory. Absconding from briefing may amount to getting disqualified from taking part in the gorilla or chimpanzee safari even though you possess a permit.

Bwindi accommodations: Clouds Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Trekker’s Tavern, Bwindi View Bandas, Engage Lodge

Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Lodge, Traveller’s Inn, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu

Kibale accommodations: Ndali Lodge, Primates Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, C.V.K, Kyaninga Lodge, 

The transport cost to the gorilla and chimpanzee safari destinations

How to get around during the gorilla and chimpanzee safari is very important. You may use road or air transport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, or Kibale National Park.

If you opt for road transport, hiring a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle saves you from most of the troubles you may get into while on the road. The vehicle must be in good condition and driven by a professional, knowledgeable driver guide.

The fuel cost must be included, too, and it is best to have a full tank while traveling to these destinations because gas stations are difficult to find in the countryside. 

The gorilla and chimpanzee safari package also includes the driver guide cost. Most driver guides are paid per day.

Do not expect a smooth ride because the roads are bumpy and dusty during the dry season. Get ready to receive the Africa massage.

If you opt for air transport, there are daily domestic flights from Entebbe airport to upcountry airstrips. Hire a transfer vehicle where necessary because most airstrips are far from the National Park. 

Charter flight services are also available from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airfield if you need to take a private gorilla and chimpanzee safari. Booking is required to make all necessary clearances.

Plan To Carry Some Hard Cash During The Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari

In Africa, credit cards are not a common way of transaction. This is because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them. Carry some cash that will support your on-ground expenses and can change some into local currency. The Uganda shilling is the local currency of Uganda, and you can do foreign exchange from a Bank or foreign exchange bureaus.

In case you wish to tip, you can use the hard cash. Although tipping is not compulsory, it is a token of appreciation that you can give to your service providers like drivers, ranger guides, and lodge staff. This encourages them to work better to improve their service delivery.

What are the dos and not of gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda

• Littering alters the natural habitat where these primates thrive. When you dump items like plastic, they do not decompose, which changes the nature of the forest, which is the habitat in which these primates feed.
• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden because it contaminates the food for the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. 
• Stay in a tight group during gorilla or chimpanzee safari because they feel ambushed when you surround them and feel insecure and agitated. This may lead them to retreat into the deeper ends of the park.
• Flash photography is prohibited because mountain gorillas or chimpanzees fear new occurrences in their environment.
• If you catch any communicable infection like cholera, flu, cough, or Virus, volunteer to stay behind so that you don’t pass it to the gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infections. The extent to which they may be affected may cause the conservation work done to go back to highly endangered.
• Eating or smoking 300 meters closer to the mountain gorillas is forbidden to prevent the chances of the gorillas or chimpanzees grabbing it from you. Wild animals must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Burry all fecal materials beyond recognition so the animals in the forest cannot exhume them. Ask the ranger to dig a hole for you about 30 cm and cover it well.
• If you wish to sneeze or cough, avoid the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees and use your handkerchief or elbow.
• Try not to talk loudly or make noise when going on a gorilla and chimpanzee safari experience. You may also scare the other forest dwellers, which may be interesting.
•  Wearing a clean mask before meeting the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees is an added rule for all primate safaris after the Corona Virus Lockdown.
• The age limit for gorilla safari is 15 years, and beyond 15 years for chimpanzee safari, because children below this age may not withstand the conditions in the forest. 

Contact our safari consultants for more information.