Updated chimpanzee permit prices for 2024-2026

The Uganda Wildlife Authority the body that is in charge of all the national parks in the country announced new chimpanzee trekking tariffs starting July 2024 to June 2026 and unlike the previous tariffs of 2022-2024, the new ones have included a new category that is the Rest of Africa citizens which includes all citizens from other African countries excluding East Africa. The Rest of the African citizens (ROA) have to show proof of citizenship from different African countries before purchasing the chimpanzee trekking permit.

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 The chimpanzee trekking permit is a document/identification provided by UWA to permit all tourists to have access to the chimpanzees in the different chimp trekking destinations in Uganda. Chimpanzee permits are in high demand and have to be booked at least 3 to 6 months before the trek date. 

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is carried out in different destinations including Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

The main reason why the chimpanzee permit prices have been updated and changed is to improve the facilities around the park and to also continue with the conservation of the Chimpanzees in their respective natural habitats. 

Contact our team to know more about permit purchase.

Chimp trekking permits in Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is the best chimp trekking destination in Uganda with over 1500 chimps. You will be able to view the chimpanzees all year round and the updated permit list is effective starting 1st July 2024. Chimpanzee habituation is also offered at the Kibale National Park and the permit cost is slightly higher as compared to the normal chimp trekking. Below is the updated cost of the chimp permit in Kibale.

Foreign non-residents $250

Foreign residents $200

EAC citizens UGX 180, 000         

Chimp habituation permit cost:

Foreign non-residents $300

Foreign residents $250

EAC citizens UGX 250, 000

Chimp trekking permits in Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park and is commonly referred to as the Valley of Apes. This is one of the chimp trekking destinations in Uganda and one of the best because you can combine chimp trekking in the Kyambura Gorge with a wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Some of the reasons why you should book a chimp permit in Kyambura Gorge include:

The chimp permits in Kyambura are cheaper and more affordable as compared to Kibale National Park and this is because UWA made this change so that more tourists could visit the Gorge.

Kyambura Gorge is home to other wildlife including the Black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and several bird species.

The updated chimp trek permit cost in Kyambura Gorge includes the following:

Foreign non-residents $100

Foreign residents $80

East African residents UGX 50, 000

Note that the cost of the permit in Kyambura is exclusive of the park entrance fees and this needs to be paid separately. 

Chimp trekking permit in Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest is the best budget-friendly option for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and is located near the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The forest is home to over 300 chimpanzees and 40 of these have been habituated and tourists have a 95% of spotting the chimps during your tracking. Kalinzu chimpanzee tracking is better than Kyambura Gorge and this is because there are more chimpanzees in Kalinzu as compared to the Gorge. The permit in Kalinzu costs:

Foreign non-residents $130

Foreign residents $65

EAC citizens $65                                        

Chimp trekking is carried out in two sessions that is the morning and afternoon sessions. Although the trekking permits in Kalinzu can be obtained on the day of the trek at the park headquarters, for better planning you should book it in advance.

Chimp trek permit in Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest is located in Murchison Falls National Park and is home to a small chimp family that can be tracked while on a safari to the national park. 

Foreign non-residents $230

Foreign residents $120

EAC citizens  $85

How to book for the chimp trek permit in Uganda

Chimp permits in Uganda are issued by the UWA and they can be purchased directly from the UWA website or through a local tour operator with an experience like Encounter Africa safaris. Contact us with your details about the trek dates, and we will check to see the availability of the trek permits. When we approve that the permits are available, we send an invoice and you will be required to make payments for the permit before they are purchased. After payment has been received, the permit will be purchased and a copy will be available to you. Note that the purchase of the permits goes through a process and all the information provided starting with your name, passport, and how many you are traveling with should be accurate.

Guidelines for purchasing a chimp permit in Uganda

The Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced new guidelines for the acquisition of chimpanzee permits and these include the following:

• 100% payment has to be made within 6 months after booking
• You have to pay 50% of the total cost of the permits if you have booked 6 months or more and the balance has to be paid 90 days before the trek dates.
• You will only be allowed one free reschedule and a surcharge of 25% is added to the original cost of the permits if you make more than one.
• The reschedules have to be done within a year of the original booking date.
• No refunds are made for other paid safari activities upon rescheduling.
• Fees paid for a certain activity cannot be transferred to other activities.
• You cannot exchange a chimpanzee trekking permit with a chimpanzee habituation permit.

The chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking starts early morning after breakfast at the respective park headquarters where lead guides take trekkers through the different rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking and what to expect when you meet with the chimps. During the briefing, you will be placed in groups and then head for the trailhead where tracking of the chimps starts. There is no minimum or maximum time spent on chimp trekking because it all depends on the location of the primates so it can take about 1 to 6 hours. After finding the chimpanzees, all trek groups have an hour with the chimpanzees as you study their behavior.

Chimpanzee habituation on the other hand is done on semi-habituated chimps and it is a lot more expensive as compared to the chimp trekking because instead of one hour, you get to spend almost half the day during the chimpanzee's situation experience which is offered in Kibale National Park. 

And although the chimpanzees are habituated and used to human presence, they are still wild animals and you need to expect anything from them. You should also respect the chimps and their natural habitat to continue with their conservation. Contact our team for more information.

What to bring for the chimp trek safari in Uganda

Packing right for the safari will ensure that you have the best experience irrelevant of the safari destination you have chosen and below is a list of things that are essential for your chimp safari in the country.

• Waterproof knee-length hike boots
• Neutral-coloured long-sleeved shirts
• Neutral-coloured trousers (not jeans). Jeans are heavy and will slow you down when they get wet and that is why the best are lightweight pants.
• Socks, to not only keep you warm but during the trek, the trousers are tucked into the socks to prevent insects from getting up the pants.
• Garden gloves are recommended and these are used during the hike. You will be in an unfamiliar area and you will need garden gloves to protect your hands.
• Adjustable gaiters
• Waterproof rain jacket, coat, or windbreaker
• Warm sweater
• Bottled drinking water
• Snacks
• Waterproof day backpack
• A camera
• Binoculars
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Toiletries 
• Wet wipes
• First aid kit
• Chimp tracking rules

UWA has come up with trekking rules and regulations that need to be followed during and when with the chimpanzees for the protection of both the trekkers and the chimpanzees and these include:

• The minimum age limit for chimp trekking in Uganda is 12 years and anyone older than 13 can participate in the activity for as long as they are physically fit and able to.
• All trekkers have to leave a distance of 7 meters between the chimps and themselves
• No one will be allowed to track the chimps if they are sick
• Never mimic the chimpanzees even when you are tempted to do so.
• Never touch the primates because this increases the spread of diseases
• All human waste is supposed to be buried 30cm deep because there are no toilets within the national park.
• You must leave the national park clean by taking all the rubbish with you.
• Avoid taking photos with your flash on because this has been prohibited.
• Avoid making noise because it scares off the chimps and they retreat further back into the forest making it hard to find them.
• Avoid feeding the chimpanzees. These are wild animals and need to fend for themselves since they live in the wild and this rule was set up to protect the chimps because some food is laced with poison or not good for the chimpanzees.                                  
• Smoking near the chimpanzees is not allowed.
• Sneezing and coughing when with the chimpanzees should be done when you have covered your nose and mouth to minimize infections.

The cost of the chimpanzee safari in Uganda

The cost of the safari is determined by a number of factors that either lead to a luxury chimpanzee trekking safari or are budget-friendly in Uganda. Besides the cost of the chimpanzee trek permit, other factors that will affect the safari include the type of accommodation chosen because there are three categories of accommodation including a budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, the season of travel also affects the cost of the safari that is the peak/ dry season is an expensive time to travel and the low season is better suited for tourists who are travelling on a low budget, the cost of purchasing all the necessary things/items needed for the safari also affects the cost of the entire safari and other personal purchases.

You need to plan for the safari in advance and come with extra cash for any other unplanned purchases. Before making a decision and narrowing down on the specific things that you might need for the safari and other services, inquire from your tour operator about the best options to use putting your budget into consideration.

Is chimpanzee trekking safe?

Yes, chimpanzee trekking/tracking in Uganda is a safe activity that can be done at any time of the year. There have been measures set up to ensure that the exercise is safe and these are security checks at the entrance of the national park, all groups of trekkers are provided with an armed ranger for protection and tourists have to follow all the rules and regulations set up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. There are doctors on the ready who help treat the chimpanzees in case they fall sick hence protecting the chimpanzees and human infections.

Best time for chimp tracking in Uganda

The best time for planning and going for a chimp trekking safari in Uganda is in the dry season from December to February, and June to September. This is the best time because the chimpanzees are easily spotted during this period and the trek routes are easily passable and not slippery as they usually are during the wet season March to May, October to September. The wet/low season is a good time to go for chimpanzee trekking especially if you are on a budget and this is because some service providers especially lodges and hotels offer discounts to attract more tourists during the low season.

Contact us for more information about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and purchase of the chimpanzee trekking permits and we will be able to provide a full itinerary and quotation. Our staff is always ready to answer any queries that you might have about the safari.