Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, Uganda; habituation and prices.

Uganda is a country that is gifted with diversity and abundance. It possesses over 18783 species of fauna and flora. Among this diversity and abundance includes the primate populations, mammals and birdlife among others. Such primates include the gorillas and chimpanzees.

Uganda is gifted with over 5000 chimpanzees.  These chimps are nested within different areas in the country where they may be found. Among these areas includes kibale national park, (the primate capital of the world) maramagambo forest within queen elizabeth national park and ngamba island sanctuary which serve as the key areas where chimps can be tracked.  Kibale is referred to as the primate capital of the world since it possesses 13 primate species that include the chimpanzee. The park holds over 1500 individuals.

Kyambura gorge is also another environment that hosts the chimps. The area has one family of chimpanzees that travelers are able to visit. Ngamba is a 95-hectare gazetted piece of land that holds an estimated 69 chimps. 40 of these are habituated and are available for viewing.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and the habituation experience.

Kibale Forest National Park has the biggest population of Chimpanzees numbering more than 1500 individuals. The park is also gifted with the highest population of primates than any park in Africa, comprising of 13 different species. Kibale Forest National Park is thus a primate lover’s haven and the primate capital of the world. The forest is also home to East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus and the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, bush baby and potto. It is the best place to track chimpanzees in the world. 

You will get to track a large community of nearly 100 habituated Chimpanzees. After your chimp trek in Kibale forest, a nature walk through the Bigodi wetlands at the edge of the park will offer more primates including several species of monkeys and birds. The chimp trekking permits cost $150 for international travelers, $100 foreign residents and shs. 100,000 for East Africans.

For those who are very keen to observe the primates for the whole day, you can also do the Chimpanzee Habituation experience which starts at 6:30 am, a time before which the chimpanzees start moving out of their nests. During this experience, you go about following chimps with researchers and get a chance to see the Chimpanzees waking up, gathering together in large families and as they start to feed through the day. You also witness some rare characters exhibited by chimps during feeding like hunting other animals for food. You also get to observe and witness most of the techniques that are employed during the chimp habitation process. The chimpanzee habituation permits cost $220 each for foreign non-residents and $150 for foreign residents. East African nationals pay $70.

The best Chimpanzee trekking Uganda prices for your chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park.

Currently the chimpanzee trekking Uganda price is subsidized as follows till the 1st of June, 2021.

• East African Community resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from UGX150,000 to UGX100,000
• Foreign Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD150 to USD100
• Foreign Non-Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD200 to USD150