Trekking chimpanzees in their natural habitats in Uganda requires each visitor to have a valid chimpanzee trekking permit. The cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit for each person per trek is USD 250. This fee applies to permits to Kibale National Park. For Kyambura Gorge, the chimpanzee permit costs USD 100 per person per trek. The permits for Budongo, Bugoma, and Kalinzu forests cost USD 65 per person per trek. Each fee indicated also offers you the chance to experience a nature walk.

Reasons for the current cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda?

The increased demand of visitors coming to Uganda with a serious priority of trekking chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Each chimpanzee trekking tour allows a minimum number of trekkers to enjoy it. Therefore, to reduce traffic, increasing the cost of the permit is the most viable solution.

To facilitate the conservation efforts of the chimpanzees in the wild. This is because chimpanzees are among the most threatened species on earth. This is due to the increased human population that is both reducing their habitat as well as increasing the spread of disease. The conservation of the chimpanzees requires a lot of investment that facilitates research and other programs. Also, public awareness regarding chimpanzee conservation needs a lot of funding, and part of it is from sell of chimpanzee trekking permits.

Supporting the communities adjacent to the forests where chimpanzee trekking is done. This is important since these people help in the conservation of the forest and the wildlife that live in it. Sales from chimpanzee trekking permits are partly used to fund their initiatives. This ensures that they are motivated to continue appreciating the chimpanzees and spearheading their conservation.

Where to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

A chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda is done in a number of destinations in Uganda. Kibale National Park is the most visited place for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. This is situated in western Uganda and is only 320 kilometers from Kampala. Kibale National Park is the only place in Uganda where visitors can also enjoy a chimpanzee habituation experience. Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is another key destination where chimpanzee treks occur in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park is only 390 kilometers from Kampala.

Chimpanzee trekking tours also occur in Budongo Central Forest Reserve located in the Murchison Falls Conservation Area in northwestern Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park is around 380 kilometers from Kampala. Kalinzu forest is another site to do a chimpanzee trekking tour. This is located just south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and around 355 kilometers from Kampala. Bugoma forest in western Uganda is now open for chimpanzee trekking tours. The forest is around 260 kilometers northwest of Kampala.

How to buy chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are only issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Buying one for yourself is best done through a reputable tour operator. Standard Safaris is a reputable tour company with the right experience to do this for you. You have to contact us for more information about how you can acquire one. This involves providing us with details regarding your travel date, personal information, and destination. Then we will ask you for a minimum amount.

Afterward, we will check at the Uganda Wildlife Authority for the availability of the permit on your preferred trekking date. After making your payment we will purchase the permit and send you a scanned copy. You should travel with this as you come to Uganda. You should ensure that you buy the chimpanzee trekking permit in advance, at least 3 months prior. This is to avoid inconveniences, especially because chimpanzee trekking especially in Kibale National Park is among the top priorities by visitors from across the globe.

How chimpanzee trekking is done in Uganda?

You will have to head to the trailhead for your scheduled trek. You will be briefed before heading into the forest with an experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guide and armed ranger. They will help you track a habituated chimpanzee group. You will encounter the group and be allowed to spend an hour with them. Take photos because you will need them for memories. Then you will walk back to the starting point to end your thrilling chimpanzee trek. The average time taken for the entire chimp trek is around 4 hours.

Best time for a chimpanzee trek in Uganda?

Chimpanzee treks in Uganda are available to visitors all year round. However, if you prefer your trek to be done on less muddy or less slippery chimp trails come during the dry season. The dry season occurs between June to August and also December to February. However, since their favorite food like fruits is scarce during this season they might move long distances in search of food, thus more challenging to track. Fruit availability for them is plenty during the wet season. This occurs between March to May and also from October to November.

Some facts about the chimpanzees in Uganda

Uganda is home to around 5,000 chimpanzees, with Kibale National Park alone having about 1,500 individuals. This makes Uganda a prime spot for chimpanzee tours. The chimpanzees belong to the species Pan troglodytes. These great apes are the closest living relatives to us, sharing around 98% of our genetic makeup. In Uganda, they can be seen in tropical forests and savannahs. They can be identified by their bodies, covered by rough black hair save for the fingers, feet, toes, palms, faces, and hands. They have legs shorter than their arms. With opposable big toes, their feet are normally used for grasping. Their heads are round with a pair of forward-facing eyes, a tiny nose, and a pair of round ears.

They are both arboreal as well as adapted for terrestrial locomotion. While moving on the ground, they do so either bipedally or quadrupedally through knuckle-walking. They feed on mainly ripe fruits, but also cherish leaves, seeds, shoots, bark, honey, and insects. Sometimes they prey on birds and other primates like red colobus monkeys. Adult chimpanzees are usually around 150 centimeters tall. The males weigh between 40 and 70 kilograms and the females between 27 and 50 kilograms. Chimpanzees usually live in communities and each adult or older juvenile usually constructs their own nest in the forest trees to sleep in for only one night.