Booking a chimpanzee permit to Kyambura Gorge can only be done through a locally registered tour operating company. Booking a chimpanzee permit means visitors pay a 100% fee of the total price of the chimpanzee permit. A chimpanzee permit is a document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) that allows visitors to encounter chimpanzee primates in their natural environment. Chimpanzee permits are obtained only through a local registered tour company. The booking process begins from the moment the visitor confirms their desired date for trekking and informs the tour operator. After searching and confirming the date’s availability with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the visitor is then notified, and a full payment of the chimpanzee permit is made through the tour company. A scanned copy of the purchased permit is then sent to the visitor as evidence of the payment.
However, it is very important to note that, as per the rules of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, bookings can only be made if the trekking date is at least 3 months ahead. Booking a chimpanzee permit for Kyambura Gorge is essential, given the limited number of permits available daily, which saves you a spot to trek these chimpanzee primates. There are only 16 chimpanzee permits available each day in Kyambura Gorge. These permits are issued in two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the evening or afternoon. Allowing only these few permits to be purchased per day ensures the chimpanzee primates are not stressed by many visitors. This also ensures a controlled number of visitors is allowed in the forest per day, and this is more of a conservation tool since it helps to maintain the forest in its natural state, as it would not be the case with many visitors.
How much is booking a chimpanzee permit to Kyambura Gorge?
The booking fee for the chimpanzee permit to Kyambura Gorge is 30% of the total price of the permit. A chimpanzee permit to Kyambura Gorge costs USD 100 for a foreign non-resident, USD 80 for foreign residents, and UGX 50,000 for East African citizens. Therefore, the booking fee for the foreign non-resident chimpanzee permit is USD 30, which is only paid to the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a registered tour company.
Where is Kyambura Gorge located?
Kyambura Gorge is located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district in Uganda. Kyambura Gorge is also referred to as the Valley of Apes since it harbors the chimpanzee primates. Kyambura’s unique appearance alone attracts several visitors to the park to witness this epic gorge that makes visitors marvel and appreciate nature. The 200-meter-deep Kyambura Gorge stretches for over 157 square kilometers of dense tropical rainforest. The Kyambura River, where this gorge depicts its name, breathes life into the gorge, quenching the thirst of several fauna species. With over 100 chimpanzee primates calling this gorge their precious home, visitors from across the world now have a chance of coming face-to-face with man’s wild cousins. Scientists believe the chimpanzee primates share over 98.8% of their DNA with humans.
What is chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge?
The tourist activity of encountering and spending an hour with the chimpanzees in their natural environment is known as chimpanzee trekking. This magical experience begins with a short pre-trekking briefing that provides an insight into this chimpanzee trekking experience, where visitors are taken through the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking and also the expected code of conduct in the presence of the primates. This is meant to prepare the visitors for what lies ahead and also protect the chimpanzee primates by not disturbing their peaceful routines. The chimpanzee trekking experience is not a bed of roses but rather a tiresome and demanding adventure that requires patience and faith in the experienced guide rangers and trackers to track down the chimpanzees for your encounter. However, amidst the tiredness and exhaustion, visitors are blessed to encounter the chimpanzees after the long treks, and boy, is it worth the trek seeing these primates for an hour, going about their chores unmoved by your presence.
What is the best time for a chimpanzee trekking experience in Kyambura Gorge?
Chimpanzee trekking is best done during the drier months of the year since it is a hands-on and outdoor activity. These months include June, July, August, December, January, and February. These months are categorized under the dry season, where Kyambura Gorge receives little or no rainfall, ensuring that the trekking trails remain dry and navigable. The weather patterns are, however, unpredictable due to the country’s proximity to the equator, and therefore, it can rain heavily or shine strongly in either of the two seasons, dry and wet. Hence, it is important for visitors to pack the necessary trekking gear that is not shy of any weather as to handle any climate change thrown at them by Mother Nature.
