The price for a Uganda chimpanzee permit varies from one visitor group to another. Chimpanzee trekking permits are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority through Standard Safaris or any tour operator registered with Uganda Tourism Board. These permits are for tracking chimpanzees in either Kibale National Park or Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Uganda chimpanzee permit prices to Kibale National Park are as follows:
- Foreign non-resident, US$250
- Foreign resident, US$200
- East African Community, UGX 180,000
The prices for chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park are as follows,
- Foreign non-residents, US$100
- Foreign residents, US$80
- East African Community, UGX 50,000
These prices include the guiding fee and nature walk through the forest. For Kibale National Park, the price also includes entrance. The price for a chimpanzee permit to Kyambura Gorge does not include entrance. Therefore, a visitor is required to pay park entrance fees at the Queen Elizabeth National Park headquarters. Park entrance is US$40 (foreign non-resident), US$30 (foreign resident), and UGX 20,000 (East African Community).
Price of a chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda
This is a one-of-a-kind experience offering visitors a chance to accompany researchers into the forest to participate in habituating chimps for humans. Chimpanzee habituation experiences are only done in Kibale National Park. A visitor is allowed 4 hours to spend in the presence of a semi-habituated chimpanzee troop. The price for chimpanzee habituation that includes both the guiding and park entrance fees is as follows,
- Foreign non-resident, US$300
- Foreign resident, US$250
- East African Community, UGX 250,000
Other destinations for chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda
Besides Kibale National Park and Kyambura Gorge, Uganda has many other chimpanzee trekking sites. These are Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest, and Bugoma Forest, all under the management of the National Forestry Authority. The price of chimpanzee trekking in these forests includes entrance, and is as follows,
- Foreign residents, US$130
- East Africans, US$65
- Ugandans, US$ 65
What is the minimum age for acquiring a chimpanzee permit in Uganda?
Every visitor intending to track the chimpanzees of Uganda in the wild should be at least 12 years of age. This is the minimum age at which individuals are expected to follow the Standard Operating Procedures of chimpanzee tracking. They will therefore avoid wandering off the chimpanzee trails to ensure their own safety and that of the wild animals. Also, chimpanzee trekking tours involve not being noisy, which a visitor below the age of 12 might find difficult.
Chimpanzee tracking and viewing time in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking is done at least twice every day. The first schedule is from 8:00 a.m. and the second starts at 2:00 p.m. You are expected to arrive at the reception of the designated entry point before tracking commences. This is significant because it allows enough time for the park staff to validate your chimpanzee permit. Additionally, you will be oriented or briefed by the park guides regarding the Standard Operating Procedures of chimpanzee trekking.
You will then follow a park guide and an armed ranger into the forest to look for a habituated chimpanzee troop. Once the chimpanzee troop is encountered, visitors are allowed a 1-hour viewing period. This is also the best opportunity to learn some basic chimpanzee behavior in the wild. Taking photos is also recommended since memorable moments are captured while maintaining a 7-meter safe distance from the chimpanzees.
Then, visitors will return to where the briefing was conducted. You will be debriefed from there to complete a captivating chimpanzee trekking tour. The entire chimpanzee trekking tour lasts a duration of 2-4 hours. It is important to note that chimpanzees are quite mobile therefore, locating them requires hiking for some duration of time. Nevertheless, locating them is quite easy since you track them with experienced guides who can detect their movements.
When to do chimpanzee tours in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking tours and habituation experiences can be done throughout the year in Uganda. Your only concern is the generally unpredictable rainfall. This is because Uganda is situated within the tropics, thus experiencing a tropical type of climate. This is characterized by only wet and dry seasons. The wet season generally runs from March to May and from September to November. However, there is a dry season from June to August. There is also another dry season with some rain, though. This is from December to December.
