Chimp Trekking Permit Uganda

Chimp Trekking Permit Uganda

A chimp trekking permit in Uganda is a documentation issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) authorizing a tourist to enter the wildlife reserve and trek chimpanzees. In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking is done in Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kalinzu forest in Bushenyi District and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other areas in Uganda where you pay only entry fees to access include the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) and Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria.

Chimp Trekking Permit Uganda

When you book your chimp tracking safari through a tour operator, he will make the necessary booking for a chimpanzee permit for a particular chimp area in Uganda. The chimpanzee tracking permit is only offered to people from the age of 12 years and above. Chimp trekking permit is booked from the Uganda Wildlife Authority head offices in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb or your safari organizer may do everything for you. Gorilla Trekking Services is among the many Uganda tour operators that can help you book a chimp safari to any chimpanzee destinations in Uganda or Rwanda. It is advisable that when planning a primate visit in Africa, always find out what to carry for chimpanzee trekking specifically so that you have the best experience.

Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Prices

  • Kibale National Park – USD 150
  • Chimpanzee Habituation Permit – USD 220.
  • Budongo Central Forest Reserve – USD 85
  • Chimpanzee Habituation in Budongo Forest – USD 160
  • Kyambura Gorge – USD 50
  • Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve – USD 50

Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is a tourist destination with the biggest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. Meaning, the park offers the best chimp safaris in Uganda than any other chimpanzee spot in Uganda. The price or cost of chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale National Park are as follow:-

  • Foreign non-residents: USD 250 per person
  • Foreign residents: USD 200 per person
  • East African citizens: UGX 180,000 per person
  • Chimpanzee habituation experience permit in Kibale National Park is at USD 300 for foreign non-residents

Kibale National park offers chimpanzee tracking plus a variety of primate safaris including colobus monkeys in the midst of a rich plant life in the area. When you undertake a chimp trekking in Kibale forest, you will see a variety of primates, birds and insect species as well an amazing nature when you take a stride in Bigodi Swamp. Chimp tours to Kibale may last for 2 days or 3 days depending on the visitors’ preferences.

Chimp Trekking Permit in Budongo Forest Reserve

Budongo Forest Reserve is one of the best chimp trekking spots in Uganda. Found in the Murchison Falls National Park, the forest reserve offers ordinary chimpanzee trekking and research activities. Characterized by a variety of tree and plant species, the reserve has an astounding primate trekking adventures in the thickly calm wilderness.

Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is a perfect destination for mainly low-cost chimpanzee safaris in Uganda. Located in Bushenyi district near Queen Elizabeth National Park, the forest can offer an ideal chimp safari experience for anyone on a tour to the park. Chances of seeing habituated chimpanzees at a reduced price USD 40, per permit are very high. Kalinzu is under the management of National Forest Authority (NFA) which offers the permission to enter the reserve for chimp trekking plus other nature activities. The forest reserve has visitor reception where briefings are made for trekking tours. A chimp trekking permit for Kalinzu may be booked in advance through your safari operator or on arrival at the visitors’ reception. Kalinzu is positioned along Mbarara- Kasese Highway and is 50 km away from Queen Elizabeth National Park in south western Uganda.

There are around 300 chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest and 40 out of them have been habituated for trekking. The chimps were habituated by a group of Japanese Researchers in 1998. Kalinzu has more chimpanzees than Kyambura Gorge, making it one of the best chimp trekking areas in western Uganda. Occupying 147 square kilometers, makes the forest wide and tedious to walk in search of the primates. Chimps in the forest are known to run expeditiously into the tree branches when they see visitors. While trekking chimpanzees in Kalinzu, you will follow trails set for a smooth walking.

The chimpanzee tracking at the forest may be for an hour or full day basing one’s trekking preferences. Carrying enough drinking water is recommended for especially those intending to do a full day adventure.

Accommodation around Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Intending to do a chimp safari in Kalinzu forest, you are advised to stay in accommodation facilities around Bushenyi or Queen Elizabeth National Park. From these places, it is easier to connect to the reserve in the morning and reach in time. There is also Nkombe campsite within Kalinzu Forest Reserve ideal for backpacking.

Chimpanzee Trekking Permit for Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee trekking permit is essential for the activity. The gorge is found in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking is what you can do alongside other safari activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. When you trek chimps in Kyambura, you pay USD 50 for a permit for both foreign non-residents and residents in Uganda. East African citizens or nationals pay Uganda Shilling 30,000 (about USD 8) for a permit.

Kindly understand that a Kyambura chimpanzee trekking permit is not part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees. However, the permit fees is inclusive of the nature walk charge the through the splendid gorge. The gorge is a concealed rain forest with in a massive grassland. The charge for chimpanzee tracking caters for an armed professional guide allocated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to lead you through the gorge. The guide is in better position to answer all questions on chimps and other primates in the park.

Park authorities allow Kyambura chimps to be visited twice per day by the morning and afternoon group of six persons per trek. The morning shift commences at 8:00 am whereas afternoon one begins at 2:00 pm and the whole trekking takes between 2 to 3 hours. One 12 chimp permits are issued by UWA daily for visitors in Kyambura.

Why Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge?

The following reasons justify chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park

  • A chimp trekking permit for Kyambura Gorge is at USD 50. The same permit for Kibale National Park is at USD 150. When you make Kyambura and alternative to Kibale chimp tracking, you would have saved USD 100 on a permit.
  • Chimpanzee tour in Kyambura makes Queen Elizabeth National Park a one-stop destination for a variety of safari activities. Apart from chimps, you can do a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, a game drive in the park and visit Katwe salt lake. In the same park you can do a nature tour in Maramagambo forest as well as a game drive in Ishasha Sector, a place for tree-climbing lions in Uganda. So choosing Kyambura as a chimp trekking destination offers you several supplementary tour activities in one park.
  • The Kyambura gorge chimps’ family is largely habituated to live to human presence. The chimpanzees tend to come closer to down from tree when they human visitors. This way, you can learn more regarding their traits. Such nearness to the primates gives you a chance to take pictures from a closer range.
  • Kyambura Gorge is absolutely gorgeous in its own capacity. The gorge has outstanding views with a luxuriant ridge made of tall tropical rain forest giant trees. On top of the wonderful view, Kyambura is also characterized by attractive butterflies, birds; black-headed Gonolek, brown snake eagle and the falcons plus many more. There are also various monkey species including black and white monkey, the Red tailed colobus monkey and blue monkey among the many.

Confined Chimps in Uganda

Note that Kibale, Budongo forest, Kyambura and Kalinzu are natural habitats for chimpanzees in Uganda. At these sites, you access chimps by trekking into the natural forests. Chimps in such areas do not feed artificially but naturally. However, there are other areas in Uganda where you can see chimpanzees under in confinements. These include Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe. Visiting chimps at these two places is by paying for entrance fees only and you will have freedom to see the primates.

Visiting Chimps on Ngamba Island

To see chimpanzees on Ngamba Island, you book a full trip with a tour operator. An operator will organize an itinerary for the tour. This usually includes being picked up from Entebbe or Kampala and transfer to Entebbe pier where you take a boat cruise to the island. On reaching there, you will witness chimps feeding sessions for morning or afternoon. In case you are to stay on the island, there are organized tents for decent accommodation.

Visiting Chimps at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Entebbe Zoo)

Chimpanzees at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) together with other wild animals are confined at their own artificial forest zone. The wild animals at the centre kept captive include lions, hippos, giraffes, hyenas, otters, antelopes, leopard and rhinos among others. The animals here demonstrate a picture of wild animals found in Uganda national parks. When you wish the centre, you will be able to see a variety of animals in incarcerations including chimpanzees that keep shouting, playing and hanging over tree branches. The section for chimps at the zoo is surrounded by water to disable them from crossing to other areas in the centre.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is an amazing activity done in African forests. On the African continent, Uganda is among the best chimpanzee safari destinations. People visit chimps for study and enjoyment purposes. Chimpanzees are 98% related to humans beings. This means that visiting them is equivalent to checking on our close brothers and sisters in the jungles. Tourism is one of the measures for protection and conservation of chimpanzees. Tourism brings the plight of chimps to the attention of conservationists and environmentalists who work towards the survival of such primates. Always secure time and money to visit chimpanzee as a way promoting their conservation for present and future generations.