Chimpanzee tracking permits in Kibale National Park are tickets that allow a traveler to access the national park for this activity. Like Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national Park also requires one to have chimpanzee tracking permits. Other places in Uganda where the chimpanzee tracking activity is carried out in Uganda is the Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.
Tracking permits in Kibale National Park and Kyambura gorge are booked from Uganda Wildlife Authority. So, for one to successfully book a permit, they ought to contact a trusted tour operator and provide details of when they would like to track the primates. The tour operator will then contact Uganda Wildlife Authority to check for availability of the chimpanzee permits referencing to the dates that have been indicated on the booking. Once they have confirmed that the chimpanzee tracking permits are available, they will contact you and then you will make payments to secure the dates for your tracking.
Cost of the Chimpanzee Trekking permits in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking permits in Uganda are not so expensive compare to the Gorilla trekking permits. The tracking permits in Kibale national park located in Western Uganda and the cost of the permit is USD 200 per person. For other chimpanzee trekking areas in Uganda chimpanzee tracking permits cost a bit less than Kibale National park. In Kyambura Gorge the permits cost USD 50 for both high and low seasons of the activity. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Budongo forest costs 130 USD per person for foreign non residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents and 85 USD per person for East African citizens.
During this activity, the traveler ought to know some facts for example what age is accepted for this activity. In Uganda the chimp tracking activity is eligible for persons that are 15 years of age and above.
Chimpanzee tracking is done in 2 shifts in Kibale national park and that is in the morning and in the evening. Chimpanzees leave in communities and these communities have about 150 chimpanzees. During day, the chimpanzees separate into small groups in order to ease the process of finding food. They later combine at night and form their nests to spend the night. Each chimpanzee group is trekked by 6 individuals in the morning and in the afternoon.
For more information on fees and booking, visit UWA Tariffs page
Kibale’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be sought, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this twice-daily show are chimpanzees.
Kibale’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk. Thirteen species can be sought, and a good variety of diurnal monkeys invariably encountered, but the stars of this trail are the chimpanzees. Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8am and 2pm and last an average of three hours, depending on various factors.
The perennially popular primate walk provides the chance to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kanyanchu’s groups are accustomed to human presence – some have been observed for over 25 years – and the chance of locating them is over 90%. Walks leave Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08.00, 11.00 and 14.00 and last between 2-5 hours. Early arrival to allow for registration and briefing is recommended. Contact time with chimpanzees is limited to one hour; group size is limited to six visitors; participants must be aged 16 or over. Advance booking is essential.
