Kibale chimpanzee habituation permit price for foreign residents increased to $300

The chimpanzee habituation permit was increased to $300 starting 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026 for foreign residents. The cost of the chimp habituation permit was increased to improve the park services provided to tourists and to improve the conservation of the chimpanzees. The new tariffs were introduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in January 2024 after discussions with other partners, and the new tariffs started working from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026. 

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All chimp habituated permits that were bought before 30th June 2024 will not be affected by the change in permit fees but all those bought after and reschedules made after 1st July will be affected by the change in the permit fees. The chimpanzee habituation permit fees include park entry fees, an English speaking guide, and hours with the primates.

A chimpanzee habituation safari to Uganda is one of the extraordinary activities that is carried out in Kibale National Park which is home to 13 different primate species including chimpanzees, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys among others. Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, Kibale National Park is the only park in Uganda where tourists can participate in the habituation process.

The chimpanzee habituation experience

The chimpanzee trekking habituation process involves tourists trekking through the forest in search of the chimpanzees with researchers, and this takes more than an hour. The Chimpanzee habituation process involves caring for the chimpanzees and training them to ensure that the chimpanzees get used to human presence. During the habituation process, you need to note that the chimpanzees are semi-habituated and not fully ready to be tracked by trekkers. 

On the day of the habituation process, you start the day with an early breakfast before meeting up with your guide for a briefing and do not forget to pack lunch because, unlike chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation takes more hours. Only 4 people including the researchers are allowed to participate in the habituation process and the exercise will take more than 6 hours. 

During the habituation exercise, you will be able to view the chimpanzees and other primates, and bird species and get an opportunity to monitor the chimpanzees, learning more about their behaviors, watching them as they hunt, fight, hunt, breastfeed, play, and rest and groom their young ones. You also have the chance to take photos and record videos as the researchers train the chimpanzees.

To be able to participate in the chimpanzee habituation process in Kibale, you need to first purchase the chimpanzee habituation permit and this needs to be done in advance since only 4 permits are printed per day. The chimp trekking permits can be purchased through a tour operator which is considered the best option or you can purchase it directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The permit needs to be bought at least 6 to 12 months before the trekking date for proper planning. 

Booking with us will guarantee that you have the best habituation experience in Kibale National Park. We provide customized safaris to all types of tourists and all you have to do is get in touch with us to help you easily plan for the safari. We have a well-trained staff available to answer any queries you might have about chimpanzee trekking habituation permits.

Chimpanzee habituation trekking rules and regulations

The rules and regulations are to protect the chimpanzees and the tourists because even though the chimps are still undergoing habituation, they are still wild animals and can attack at any time if they are provoked. The rules that you need to follow when participating in the habituation process include the following: 

• Only 4 people, including the researchers, can participate in the habituation process.
• You will not be allowed to participate in the habituation process if you are sick, especially with cough and flu. Chimpanzees are disease-prone; if one falls sick, this might affect the entire community, so no sick people are allowed to participate in chimp habituation.
• You are not allowed to eat or drink with chimpanzees during the habituation process.
• No littering in the national park will be allowed and if you wish to use the toilet, dig a hole of 30cm deep and after cover it up to ensure that the chimpanzees are not affected by the aftereffects.
• You will not be allowed to feed the chimpanzees and if possible avoid touching them to limit the spread of infections.
• People who are 15 years and above are the only ones who are allowed to participate in the habituation process. The limit was set because adults are much easier to control as compared to the young ones and there is no maximum age limit and you can trek as long as you are still fit and above 15 years.
• During the habituation process, follow all the rules and regulations given to you by the guide and the researchers. The chimpanzees during the habituation process are not fully habituated and therefore you need to follow all the instructions that are provided to avoid attacks from the wild primates.
• Avoid making noise during the habituation process because this will distract the chimpanzees.
• Cover your mouth and turn away from the chimpanzees when you feel like coughing and sneezing. This reduces the rate of infecting the chimpanzees which can be a danger to the community.
• As you take photos, make sure that you turn off your flash because flash photography has been prohibited. Chimps are not used to the flash and might attack when they feel threatened by the camera flash.

Is it possible to cancel my chimp habituation permit?

Yes, it is possible to cancel the habituation permit, but you need to do this with clear reasons and proof of why you have canceled the permit. Normally cancellation of the chimp habituation permit does not warrant a refund especially if you had paid 30% of the total cost, but there are special circumstances where you will be refunded. We discuss the refund policy on gorilla habituation permits in Kibale National Park below:

If you had paid the full cost of the chimpanzee habituation permit, the cancellation policy is,

91 days and above before the trek date 75% refund

46 to 90 days before the trek date 50% refund

9 to 45 days before the trek date 25% refund

0 to 8 days before the trek date. No refund

If you, however, fall sick after traveling and it is proven by the warden that you are sick, you will not be allowed to participate in the habituation process but you will get a 50% refund on the permit cost.

Reschedules can also only be done twice and at least 7 days to the trek date but if you do a third reschedule, then you will have to pay a surcharge of 25% on the original permit cost. And if you reschedule after initially paying only the 30% deposit, you will be expected to make full payment upon your next reschedule.

Note that if you let your chimp habituation permit expire, you will not be able to use it on any other day because it will be deemed useless and you will have to purchase another permit.

The chimpanzee habituation permit cannot be exchanged with the chimpanzee trekking permit after you have purchased it and can only be used by the person whose name appears on the permit.

Chimpanzee habituation VS chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Chimpanzee trekking and habituation are all fun activities that tourists should engage in because, in both, you get to meet the chimpanzees face to face and get to observe their behaviors and take as many photos as you can. The difference between the two is that during the habituation process, you get to spend more time with the chimpanzee, only four people are allowed to go for chimpanzee trekking and the permit is much higher than the normal trekking permit. 

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale is a bit different from chimpanzee habituation because you only get to be with the chimpanzees for only an hour after tracking them. The similarities are in the rules and regulations that are to be followed by all tourists intending to participate in the trekking and habituation exercise.

You get to spend time trekking the chimpanzees in their natural habitat in both the chimpanzee trekking and the chimpanzee habituation process. However, it is believed that the habituation process is better since you get to spend more time with the chimpanzees, interact with the researchers, and ask as many questions as you can about the chimpanzees and the whole process and you will also be able to participate in the habituation with the help of the researchers.

When to book the chimpanzee habituation permit

All tourists have been advised to book for the chimpanzee habituation trek in advance to avoid missing out on the experience and the main reason for this is that the permits are always in high demand, especially during the peak season and they sell out first. The habituation permits are sold on a first come first serve basis and need to be booked at least 3 to 6 months before the trek date. Booking early helps you avoid scenarios of traveling to Uganda for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and missing out because there are no more permits available. Remember that you will not be allowed to participate in chimpanzee habituation if you do not have a permit.

Booking the chimpanzee habituation permits through Encounter Africa Safaris is the best option because we not only help you with the purchasing of the permits but also help in planning the entire safari for you from accommodation, transport, and other activities you can carry out while on the safari.

What to pack for the chimpanzee habituation process in Kibale National Park

There are so many things that you can bring on your chimpanzee habituation safari and these include long-sleeved shirts, neutral-colored clothes, a sun hat, refillable water bottle, sunscreen, a day backpack, insect repellent, first-aid kit, thick socks, strong hike boots, snacks, sweater, windbreaker, waterproof rain jacket, garden gloves, camera, binoculars, flashlight, extra batteries, flip-flops, sandals, adjustable gaiters, toiletries, cash for tipping and personal purchases and all the necessary documents.

Best time to go for chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park

The chimpanzee habituation process can be carried out all year round; however, the best time is during the dry season: June to September, and December to February, because the forest is easier to trek through with dry routes, unlike the wet season: March to May and October, to November with the heavy rains, muddy and slippery routes. The wet season however is also a good time to travel especially if you are travelling on a low budget.

Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee habituation

There are several accommodation facilities that can be used during the chimp habituation exercise ranging from budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities and some of these include Fort Motel, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Rubalika Safari Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge and Kyaninga Lodge among others.

Getting to Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda and can be accessed by either road or air transport. You can drive from Kampala to Kibale via the Mubende-Fort Portal road or Masaka-Mbarara road and this takes about 6 to 7 hours. You can also connect to Kibale National Park from Queen Elizabeth National Park which is about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. 

Kibale can also be accessed using air transport and you can schedule domestic flights from Entebbe to either Semuliki or Kasese airstrips from where you will connect with a 2 hours’ drive to the park headquarters.

For more information about chimpanzee habituation permits and how to procure them, you can reach us at Encounter Safaris.