To continue the work of conservation of Chimpanzees in the Wild, the UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) charges a fee for each person wanting to track, see and spend some time with these great apes of Africa. The fees vary depending on the location at which you intend to visit the chimps – there are four places in Uganda where to go for chimp tracking and the nationality of the trekkers – whether Foreign Resident, Non-Resident, or East African, and in some instances, the Chimpanzee Tracking Permit fees drop during the low season months of April, March, May or November. In this article, we bring you an update Uganda Chimpanzee Permit Prices for 2024 – 2026.
What is a Chimpanzee Permit?
This is an official document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA to individuals permitting them to go Chimpanzee tracking at the location specified. All persons intending to indulge in chimpanzee tracking must be 12 years and above. It is best to consider applying for/booking your chimpanzee tracking permit at least 3 – 6 months in advance especially if you intend to travel during the peak season months of June – August, or December to February. This is because permits get sold out in these months.
What are the current Uganda chimpanzee Permit prices for 2024 – 2026?
The price for Permits depends on the place you choose to visit. Uganda has four chimpanzee tracking locations; Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls NP), Kyambura Gorge ( Queen Elizabeth NP), and Kalinzu Forest.
Price of Uganda Chimpanzee Permits for Kibale Forest National Park:
Price of Uganda Chimpanzee Permits for Kibale Forest National Park is considered the world primate Capital and has a huge population of chimpanzees soring up to 1500 individuals that freely roam the expanses of this lush tropical forest. In this Park, one can indulge in Traditional chimpanzee tracking (1 hr with the chimps) or choose to stay longer (4 hrs) with a semi-habituated family. The experience of staying longer is what is called Habituation. These two experiences each require a permit and the fees are different.
Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking Permit Fees for 2024 – 2026
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- Foreign non-residents pay $250 per person/permit.
- Foreign residents pay $200 per person/permit.
- EAC citizens pay UGX 180, 000 per person/permit.
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Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Habituation Permit Fees for 2024 – 2026
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- Foreign non-residents pay $300 per person/permit.
- Foreign residents pay $250 per person/permit.
- EAC citizens pay UGX 250, 000 per person/permit.
Price of Uganda Chimpanzee Permits for Budongo Forest (Inside Murchison Falls National Park)
Budongo Forest Reserve located inside Murchison Falls National Park is one of the Top 3 locations to see chimpanzees in Uganda. Although Budongo has a fairly small cluster of habituated chimpanzees, the viewing here is spectacular and often less crowded except during the peak season months (June -Aug, or Dec – Feb). Just like in Kibale, one can either do the traditional -1-hour chimpanzee tracking or take on the 4-hour Chimpanzee Habituation experience. Of course, the permit prices differ here as well.
Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Tracking Permit Fees for 2024 – 2026
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- Foreign non-residents pay $130 per person/permit.
- Foreign residents pay $120 per person/permit.
- EAC citizens pay $85 per person/permit.
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Budongo Forest Chimpanzee Habituation Permit Fees for 2024 – 2026
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- Foreign non-residents pay $230 per person/permit.
- Foreign residents pay $160 per person/permit.
- EAC citizens pay $90 per person/permit.
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Price of Chimpanzee Permits in Kyambura Game Reserve (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Chimpanzee tracking In the Kyambura Game Reserve takes place in a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls called the Kyambura Gorge. This gorge spans a distance of 11 km and links to the Kazinga Channel, which forms the northern border of the reserve. Trekking (…yes I mean hiking down) can be somewhat demanding but the reward awaits those who persevere deep down into the gorge. The vegetation is lush and the surroundings are pristine. In the gorge is a river, and in the river live the hippos, and a few crocs. The bird calls are amazing, while pant hoots from the chimpanzee will leave you astonished!
Permits to trek chimpanzees in the Kyambura gorge cost;
- Foreign non-residents pay $50 per person/permit.
- Foreign residents pay $40 per person/permit.
- EAC citizens pay UGX30,000 per person/permit.
How to Buy Chimpanzee Trekking Permits In Uganda?
The best and easiest way to secure your chimpanzee tracking permits in Uganda is through a licensed local tour Operator like Realm Africa Safaris™. Contact us with details on the dates, location and number of permits you would want us to book/buy on your behalf. We will then check with UWA or the respective authorities for the availability of Permits. After ascertaining availability, we will then advise you on what you need to pay for your chimpanzee permits. Upon receipt of your money, our operations personnel will physically visit the UWA office to make payments for your permits, and we will then send you confirmation of your booked permits.
Learn more about How to buy chimpanzee Permits In Uganda.
UWA Guidelines for the Purchasing Chimpanzee Permits in Uganda.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced new guidelines for the acquisition/purchase of chimpanzee permits and these include the following:
- A Full 100% payment MUST be made within 6 months of booking the permit(s).
- An initial 50% deposit of the total cost is required when booking permit(s) 6 months or more in advance. The balance should be cleared 90 days before the trekking/tracking dates.
- You will only be allowed one free reschedule otherwise, a 25% surcharge will be added to the original cost of the permits if you make more than one.
- The reschedules have to be done within a year of the original booking date.
- No refunds are made for other paid safari activities upon rescheduling.
- Fees paid for a certain activity cannot be transferred to other activities.
- You cannot exchange a chimpanzee trekking permit with a chimpanzee habituation permit.
When is the best time to go chimpanzee tracking in Uganda?
The dry season months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February are the best times to go for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda because during this period there is less rainfall in the chimpanzee destinations therefore access roads and chimpanzee trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking or tracking chimpanzees a lot more less challenging.
Learn More about The best time to go chimp trekking in Uganda.
What to expect while on the search for Chimpanzees In Uganda
Depending on what you choose to do, you should expect the following;
If you are booked on the Traditional 01-hour Chimpanzee trekking experience, your trek will either be scheduled for the morning or afternoon. Assuming you are booked for the morning session, your day starts with an early morning breakfast, after which your Realm Africa Safaris™ private guide will either drive or walk (depending on where your accommodation is located) with you to the park headquarters. Here you’ll find a UWA Ranger guide who will brief you on the rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking and what to expect when you meet with the chimps. During the briefing, you will be allocated in groups and then head for the trailhead where tracking of the chimps starts. The duration of the trek is unknown but could last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours. On finding the chimpanzees, you will be allowed a maximum of 01-hours with the chimpanzees. Try to make good use of this time…. it often passes faster than you imagined!
If you are booked on the exclusive 4-hour Chimpanzee habituation experience, you’ll be visiting a semi-habituated family of chimps. Your day will start a lot earlier (you will be advised by the resident rangers on the evening prior), and you will trek in a smaller group of up to 06 tourists. On finding them, you will be allowed up to 04 hours of viewing, photographing or Filming the chimpanzees.
Learn more about what to pack for Chimpanzee Habituation in Uganda.
