How to book your chimpanzee permit in Uganda and Rwanda

To go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, you need a chimpanzee trekking permit. At the moment, the cost of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is $200 per person in Kibale national park Uganda. Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permits cost $100 per person per trek.

Only 6 chimpanzee trekking permits are sold per group for the morning and afternoon sessions. This is for conservation reasons as the chimpanzees need to keep feeding and trampling their vegetation by mass tourism reduces their sources of food.

Chimpanzee trekking permits are sold per day but two sessions that are morning and afternoon are organized.  Only one hour is allowed in the presence of the chimpanzees during chimpanzee trekking to allow them time to go about there day to day activities.

Another chimpanzee activity you may do is chimpanzee habituation where you follow semi-habituated chimpanzees in the wilderness to get them familiar with human presence without altering their nature. Only 4 people are allowed to escort a group of researchers, from the time of de-nesting of the chimpanzees. You need to keep following the instructions given by the ranger guide and researcher after the briefing because they understand the group under research better.

How To Book Chimpanzee permits in Uganda And Rwanda

Know the date when you wish to do chimpanzee trekking or habituation and the number of people you wish to do any of these activities with. This enables you to reserve the same time for chimpanzee trekking or habituation with the people you travel with so that you can make memories together.

 When you send us an enquiry, our safari consultant checks availability as per the prevailing status of the chimpanzee permits. In case it’s positive, we request clients to purchase their chimpanzee trekking permits as soon as possible because they get sold off first. They are on a first come first served basis.

A receipt is printed after making payment for your chimpanzee trekking or habituation permits.

The Uganda chimpanzee permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and other conservation bodies like the Conservation Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) that conserve the chimpanzees on behalf of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Rwanda Development Board is the chimpanzee permit-selling body in Rwanda.

Where To Do Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda And Rwanda

Kibale National Park in Uganda

The main chimpanzee trekking and habituation destination in Uganda are Kibale National Park. This park occupies about 795 Square kilometers of land. The forest hosts about 13 primate species including chimpanzees.

 At the moment about 1500 chimpanzees are living in Kibale National Park. other primates include Blue monkeys, grey-checked mangabey, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s, pottos monkeys, and others.

Since the park shares its southern park adjoining Queen Elizabeth National Park with a 180 km long migration corridor. Animals migrate from Queen Elizabeth National Park into Kibale Forest some of which include giant forest hogs, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers, and others.

Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura gorge lies 100 meters on the floor of the rift valley but this is one of the unique forested parts of the park. This gorge was formed after River Kyambuta carved its path to the Kazinga channel where it flows into.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest In Murchison Falls National park

This mahogany tree-filled part of Murchison Falls National Park hosts some of the few chimpanzees in Uganda. This sanctuary is home to other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue mokets, olive baboons, L’Hoest’s, and others.

A number of birds are residents of this area of Murchison Falls National Park some of which include chocolate–backed kingfisher, Puvel’s illaposis, olive green camaroptera camaroptera chloronata, Red-necked Falcon Falco chiquera, speckled Mousebird Calius striatus and others

 Ngamba Island chimpanzee Sanctuary

A number of orphaned, rescued, abandoned chimpanzees that cannot return to their communities find a home here. You can take part in feeding these chimpanzees from the visitor platform. Your being here is fun and contributes to the well-being of these chimpanzees, conservation campaign for chimpanzees, and support the local community.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC)

This is the former Entebbe zoo but its animals no longer live in cages but exhibits similar to the wild environment where they live in the wilderness. The chimpanzees are among the animals that are kept in this center. When you take a guided walk or self-guided walk through the center, you enjoy the view of the chimpanzees from their exhibit. They perform a lot of interesting acts that keep your eyes glued to them.

Nyungwe National park In Rwanda

This is the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Rwanda. This park hosts a number of other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons.

This is one of the renowned Rwanda birding destinations hosting about 283 bird species of which 29 species are Albertine rift endemics. Some of the Rwanda birds you may identify include Archer’s Robin-Chat, Sunbirds, Red Collared Mountaon Babbler, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimmsonwing, Blue Flycatcher and others.

When Is The Best Time For Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Booking

Any time is great for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda but the most interesting when the chimpanzees are active is June to September and December to January when the forests are receiving fewer drops of rain.

 During the severe rainy seasons, the chimpanzees tend to hide in the tree branches because they fear water-logged places. You must carry a pair of binoculars in the wet seasons to get a better view of chimpanzees up in the trees.

The wet seasons that is March to May and November receive fewer visitors who do chimpanzee trekking in the wilderness. Those interested in filming or photographing wildlife with less disturbance from other trekkers can use this opportunity to capture great moments with the chimpanzees.

The chimpanzees spend their day searching for food that will take them throughout the day and night and lounge at some point to have a nap or groom the young ones.

How Difficult Is Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

The nature of the topography of the chimpanzee trekking areas is fairly flat with less places to hike and locate the chimpanzees. This is one of the reasons why a child 12 years and below can be allowed to trek the chimpanzees. The forest have less under growth too making it quicker for trekker to go through the trails.

You need to follow the chimpanzee habituation rules set by the bodies concerned to enjoy the entire experience because mountain gorillas are very keen primates . they are mindful of intruders in there vicinity.

How Safe Is chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda And Rwanda

Safety of chimpanzees, tourists and locals around the parks is number one priority. The rangers work hand in hand with the local authority and other security agents in both Uganda and Rwanda to keep law and order.

 You must consider personal safety during your chimpanzee trek.

• Stay closer to the group of trekkers that you are allocated to move with. You will not be lost in the wilderness. These forests are vast and require you to stay closer to the rangers who are leading the way.
• Do not eat from anywhere unsafe because you may get food poisoning. In case you catch a communicable infection like dysentery, you may be disqualified from attending chimpanzee trekking or Habituation.
• Never enter the forest alone without an escorting ranger because you need protection from other forest dwellers that are not habituated for human presence.
• Carrying precious items that you cannot fully protect is dangerous because you don’t know who may be observing or following you to grab them.
• Counting larger sums of money in public may attract the bad people,
• Carry limited bags with relevant items you need on safari so that you do not lose any of them.
•  Packing your chimpanzee trekking or habituation items in one light waterproof bag protects them from scattering in the wilderness.
• Use a professional driver guide so that you do not get lost on the way to do chimpanzee trekking. Having a knowledgeable driver gives you comfort and confident even after trekking.
• Do not give details of your credit card to anyone you are not sure about because these may land in the hands of the wrong people

What to Pack For Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

• Sun glasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• A camera to take photos of what happens in the wilderness and make memories of every occurrence.
• .Rain gears to protect you from getting wet when it rains in the forest.
• Foldable water bottle to carry drinking water with in case you get thirsty while habituating the chimpanzees.
• Binoculars to get a clearer view of the chimpanzees and other forest dwellers.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from sunrays especially during the dry seasons
• Closed Safari shoes to protect your feet from hurting wood pieces that you may encounter on your way.
• Snacks to feed on when you get hungry while in the wilderness.
• A safari hat with a large brim to protect your hair from dripping water off the trees. It must be foldable.
• Pajamas for the nights in the wilderness or outskirts of Nyungwe National Park or Kibale National Park
• Insect repellent to keep away harmful infects that fly in the wilderness
• Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need to purchase any thing, it is hard to use credit cards in Africa because of the lengthy procedure of collecting money off them.
• Toiletries like soap, bathing foam, Toilet Paper in case your lodge doesn’t provide them or not safe for your skin.
• Long sleeved turn up shirt, convertible trousers in wilderness friendly colors like tan or Khaki.
• First Aid Kit to use in case of an emergency.

Chimpanzee Trekking Rules

• Flash photographing is not allowed during chimpanzee trekking or habituation because it may send the chimpanzees into hiding. They fear new occurrences in there vicinity. The y are normally used to the lightening as it threatens to rain.
• No eating or smoking 200 meters from the gorillas because you do not know the effect of the smoke to the chimpanzees. This is to reduce on the chances of passing an infection to the chimpanzees. The chimpanzees have DNA of about 98% human bringing them close to being human cousins in animals kingdom.
• If you catch a communicable disease like flu, cough, corona Virus, volunteer to stay behind so that you do not pass such infections to these gentle giants. They are highly susceptible to human infections that may lead to there massive death.
• Littering the forest with waste especially indecomposable waste like plastic wraps is forbidden. It alters the natural setting of the forest where chimpanzees feed. The chimpanzees love feeding from the leaves, fruits, plants provided by nature instead of depending on human provision.
• Stay close to your chimpanzee trekking or habituation party and avoid surrounding the gorillas to make them feel ambushed. They feel overwhelmed when surrounded and may start hooting in case they notice some thing suspicious.
• Only one hour is allowed with the chimpanzee trekking when you locate them. This is how long they have been habituated to be in the presence of humans so that they can go on with there day today activities like feeding, grooming and other activities.
• Keep about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them. This is to reduce on the chances of passing any possible infection to the chimpanzees.
• Do not spit on the vegetation this is food for the chimpanzees. They munch on it throughout the day to support there bodies through night and day. They may supplement there diet with ant and during extreme dry seasons feed on monkeys but this is rare.
• Provoking the chimpanzees is forbidden because they may get angry and cause a stampede in the forest with there hooting.