Chimpanzee tracking is the art of taking a stroll through the forests in order for one to be able to catch a glimpse of the fascinating primates that swing around the forest branches. Chimps are one of our closest relatives, sharing around 98 percent of their DNA with humans. if you fancy hanging out with your extended family on holiday, Uganda is one of the best places to do so. ,Prices, Permit, Lodges, Locations

Where to do chimpanzee tracking from?

Uganda has three major chimp tracking destinations: Kibale forest national park, Murchison falls national park, and Queen Elizabeth national park. Kibale forest is the best destination for chimp trekking as the forest has high population densities and sightings are most common here.

• Kibale national park is located in western Uganda and is one of the country’s most liked and popular chimp tracking sites in the country with about 1500 chimps. the park is admirably named the “primate capital” since it’s home to 13 primate species such as chimps, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, bush infants, pottos. The trekking has two sessions, one at 8:00 am and one at 3:00 pm.

The activity of chimpanzee tracking in the forest takes around 2 to 3 hours and after chimps have been found, you will be able to spend 1 hour with them in their natural habitat enjoying their company as they feed and play, swing into the trees making amazing sounds. Travelers who would desire to spend more time with the chimps can take advantage of Kibale National Park’s chimp habituation experience.

 Chimpanzee habituation is the process by which chimps are educated to get accustomed to human presence. The procedure is carried out by a team of researchers, guides, and trackers among others. The full-day chimpanzee habituation experience works with a chimp community that is undergoing habituation. early travelers can observe chimps leaving their overnight nests between 6:00 -6:30 am before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting patrolling, and displaying until it’s time to build new nests around 7 pm.

• Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s largest and most visited national park. This park with its extension of the Budongo forest is Uganda’s second finest chimp trekking and habituation destination after Kibale national park. Budongo forest is the largest natural rainforest in East Africa just 40 minutes drive after the Murchison gate of kichumbanyobo The forest harbors a lot of tree species for research and has the most mahogany trees in Uganda and East Africa at large. Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison/Budongo is managed by the Jane Goodall institute for research.
• Kalinzu forest: Kalinzu is a natural forest reserve in western Uganda between Maramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth national park. the forest is home to chimps
• Kyambura gorge: the gorge is located in queen Elizabeth national park. Uganda’s second biggest national park. This park is also knowns as the “valley of apes” due to the abundance of primate species such as chimps, olive baboons, and black and white colobus monkeys.

Other areas in East Africa where Chimpanzee Tracking can be done are Gombe Stream National park in Tanzania and Nyungwe forest national park in Rwanda.

When is the best time to track chimpanzees?

The best time to track chimpanzees in Uganda is through its two dry seasons between December and February and between June and August when conditions are especially good for trekking to watch chimpanzees. To track chimpanzees, you need a chimp permit. chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are legal documents issued by the Uganda wildlife authority to travelers above the age of 15 years permitting them to visit habituated chimpanzee families. chimpanzee trekking is an adventurous activity in Uganda where tourists can move to tropical rainforests in search of habituated chimpanzees and take up to an hour with them in their natural habitats.

How much is a chimpanzee trekking permit?

The chimpanzee tracking permits are issued to the visitors at the Uganda wildlife authority offices, these chimpanzee trekking permits come along with interesting activities of nature walks bird-watching sightseeing in Kibale, kalinzu, and budongo forests, and along the chimpanzee tracking trails. The cost of chimpanzee tracking permits will make no meaning after the experience because the activity is satisfying as you spend a complete 1 hour learning the behaviors of the chimpanzees

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda differs according to the destination you wish to visit for instance a chimpanzee trekking permit ( 2022-2024 ) in Kibale forest national park costs 200USD per person for foreign non-residents, 150USD per person for foreign residents, and 150000 UGX for east Africans per person. Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu gorge costs 50USD per person for foreign non-residents, 40USD for foreign residents, and 30000 UGX per person for east African citizens.  A permit in Budongo forest during the high/peak season costs 130 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 120 USD per person for foreign residents, and 85usd person for east African citizens. Chimpanzee habituation has an extra special permit which costs 250USD for non-foreign residents,200USD for foreign residents, and 200000UGX for east African citizens.

There are two alternatives for booking Uganda chimpanzee trekking permits the first one is booking with the Uganda wildlife authority a government body in charge of the conservation of wildlife, the second one is booking through a trusted tour operator like All in Africa safaris. When booking your chimpanzee trekking permit through a tour operator, you will contact us or email info@allinafricasafaris.com for the details of your tour like the dates and destinations you wish to visit.  We will check the availability and if there are permits that are equivalent to your dates. The permit should be booked 2 to 3 months earlier before the trekking date, more likely in the peak seasons.

What do you need to pack on your safari?

You should include the following when preparing for your chimp trekking safari in Uganda.

• Chimp trekking permit
• Hiking shoes, rain jacket
• Bug repellent, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants
• Warm sweater
• Energy snacks
• Camera
• Pair of binoculars

Chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations.

• Trackers with diseases like diarrhea, cough, and flu may not be permitted to trek.
• A distance of about 8-12 meters is important between you and the chimpanzee.
• Flash photography is not allowed
• No one is allowed to feed the chimps
• Travelers are not allowed to eat near the chimpanzee
• Do not make noise while trekking because this irritates the chimps
• The minimum age for chimp trekking in Uganda is 15 years.