The current Cost of a chimpanzee Permit in the Budongo forest for 2023 – 2024 is $130 per permit. This price slightly reduces if you are a Foreign resident – you’ll instead pay $120, and East African Citizens Pay $85 however, proof of residence and or citizenship might be required at the time of purchase.
Budongo forest is becoming a popular place to visit for persons on safari in Murchison Falls National Park. The forest is home to a large community of chimpanzees estimated to be about 600 – 700 individuals that freely roam the expanses of this green lush tropical forest.
What is the current Cost of Chimpanzee Permits in the Budongo forest?
- Foreign Non-residents Pay $130 per permit.
- Foreign Residents pay $120 per permit.
- East African Citizens Pay $85 per permit.
Note: Please provide/bring along with you proof of residence and or citizenship as this might be required at the time of purchasing the permit.
How to book a Budongo Forest chimpanzee Permit
The best, easiest, and most reliable way to book your chimpanzee tracking Permit in Budongo Forest is through a local tour Operator like Realm Africa Safaris™. All you will have to do is provide us with two alternative dates/days on which you would Like to do the chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest, we will then check for availabilities on the dates/days you asked, and inform you. once it is confirmed that there are permits, we will then ask that you make a payment (Foreign non Resident- $130, Foreign Resident-$120 & East African – $85) for your permit, and then send us proof of payment together with a scanned copy of your passport, Work permit or citizenship proof. Once we have all the above, we right away book your chimpanzee permit and revert to you with proof of having successfully booked your Permit.
Note: Travelers/ Tourists who only want us to book a permit but not a complete tour with Realm Africa Safaris™ must be sure to pay an EXTRA Permit booking & Processing fee of $50 per permit.
When is the best time to track chimpanzees in budongo forest?
While Budongo Forest can be visited all year round, the best time to go chimpanzee tracking is during the dry season months of December to March and also in June and July when there is less rainfall.
Travel Notes:
- Best time: December to March and June to July – Trails are drier and easier to Navigate.
- Best Weather: June and July – Low temperatures and less rainfall.
The months of January and February can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures soaring up to to highs of 34 C (93 F) during the day and lows of 21 C (70 F) at night.
Learn more about the Best time to Visit Budongo Forest.
How many Chimpanzee Communities exist in Budongo Forest
There are currently Four (04) full-habituated Chimpanzee Communities open for Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest. These include;
- Kaniyo- Pabidi Chimpanzee Community.
Jane Goodall Institute habituated this chimpanzee community, and now the group is under the management of Budongo Eco-Lodge. The group is on the roadside from Masindi to Murchison Falls National Park. The sound of birds, the sound of the flow of water from the streams, and other wildlife in the forest give you a thrilling experience, and you cannot afford to miss a trip to Budongo forest.
- Waisoke Chimpanzee Community.
This chimpanzee community has been habituated, and its territory is near the Waisoke River. It split from the Sonso community as well, and other members joined from other communities as well. The chimpanzees can move from the Far East of the Forest to the north, and their movement cannot be guaranteed daily. Chimpanzee trekking requires you to be fit and able to walk, but in case you are not very fit, there is always help from the guides and Porters to make sure you successfully have a great experience with the chimpanzees.
Learn more about the Waisoke Chimpanzee community.
- Sonso Chimpanzee Community.
This community of chimpanzees stays near River Sonso, and it has more than 85 members, it is among the old group first habituated in the Budongo forest. These Chimpanzee communities are formed when some chimps fight with each other or split to mark other territories and make new communities and always defend their territories.
Learn more about the Sonso Chimpanzee community.
- Waibira Chimpanzee community
The Waibira Chimpanzee community in the Budongo forest was fully habituated in 2011. The community has more than 100 members. This community was formed after a few individuals split from the Sonso community, and they produced and multiplied in number. In chimpanzee communities, you can find about 30 males in one community and even more females. Most time, some females split from the groups they were born to join different communities. A trek to see the chimpanzees is fantastic and more enjoyable in case you see more community members.
Learn more about the Waibira Chimpanzee community.
