Best Places for Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris in Uganda & Prices

Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda offer an exceptional opportunity for primate lovers to immerse themselves in the true African jungle and interact with chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is all about embarking on the off-the-beaten-path trekking adventure.

Over 5050 chimpanzees survive in different locations in Uganda, making it the premier destination in Africa.

Top Places to Visit for Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris in Uganda

Discover a complete list of amazing places to explore on chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. They include Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

Kibale Forest National Park -the Best Location for Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris

Kibale National Park is undoubtedly Uganda’s premier destination to explore on a chimpanzee safari. Lying in the Kabarole district, Kibale is most famous as the primate capital of the world.

Visitors who embark on a chimp trek in Kibale enjoy over a 90% success rate for chimpanzee sightings and also other diverse species of primates.

Kibale chimpanzee treks often begin from the Kanyanchu Visitor Center and expect to explore different chimpanzee communities. The popular chimpanzee sectors in Kibale Forest National Park include Buraiga, Kanyanchu, Sebitole, Ngogo, Kanyawara, and others.

Each of the Kibale chimpanzee tracking sectors serves a specific purpose. The sectors are designated for chimpanzee tourism and research.

Beyond seeing chimpanzees, Kibale also holds a huge profusion of other primates, including bush babies, black & white colobus monkeys, Uganda mangabeys, l’hoest monkeys, and Uganda red colobus monkeys.

Other diurnal primates to find in Kibale Forest include blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys.

The key experiences in Kibale go beyond chimpanzee trekking safaris. Kibale National Park also offers the best chimpanzee habituation experience, guided primate/forest walks, and birding.

Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge stands out as one of the key sites to visit chimpanzees in Uganda.

Lying in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge offers exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experiences starting in the morning and afternoon.

As in Kibale Forest National Park, the guided chimpanzee treks at Kyambura Gorge begin with an orientation.

Kyambura Gorge is most popular as the Valley of Apes, an exceptional site with a breathtaking 100m deep valley. It is here where you can explore habituated chimpanzee communities.

Kyambura features a unique landscape and protects not only chimpanzees but also other primates including the colobus monkeys and olive baboons.

Budongo Forest

Budongo is East Africa’s biggest mahogany dominated-forest reserve, also home to an estimated population of about 800 chimpanzees.

This rainforest reserve straddles in the northwestern part of Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking and habituation are the top adventures in Murchison Falls National Park.

The standard duration of a chimpanzee trek in Budongo is about 3-4 hours. Expect to have about an 80% chance of finding chimpanzees.

Besides, you can also interact with several other species of primates such as vervet monkeys, the red-tailed monkeys, & colobus monkeys.

The Kampala-Gulu route then via Kichumbanyobo gate offers easier access to Budongo Forest in the Southern part of Murchison Falls National Park.

At Budongo, guests can have an overnight in the Budongo Eco Lodge- an ideal accommodation property to stay and you start your adventure with chimps.

Kalinzu Forest

Situated in the Western part of Uganda, Kalinzu is amazingly one of the best places to visit for chimpanzee trekking safaris. The forest reserve sits on 297 sq. km and is most popular for chimpanzee tracking experiences.

Within the lush Kalinzu Forest alone, there reside up to 300 chimpanzees. A composition of about 2 habituated chimpanzee communities is present for trekking purposes, and expect to enjoy 2-4 hours while searching for them.

Beyond chimpanzees, Kalinzu is an interesting birding site. It holds incredible species of birds such as the sunbirds, great blue turacos, black and white casqued hornbills.

The other insights about Kalinzu Forest tours include waterfall trails like Palm and Musizi River trails.

By road, Kalinzu can be reached in about 1.5 hours of driving from Mbarara or not more than 40 minutes from the Mweya sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The common/eastern chimpanzees in Uganda also roam in lush forests of Semuliki National Park, Bwindi, and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

How many chimpanzees live in Uganda?

Uganda is where the highest profusion of chimpanzees resides. It accounts for about 5050 chimpanzees, and it is incredibly the best spot to locate these amazing primates in their natural habitat.

How to book Chimpanzee Permits 2027

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda can be booked through Flawless Adventure Planners. We are a fully registered company with a mandate to organize Uganda safaris and beyond.

We don’t only plan but also ensure a visitor gets everything he or she requires on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda.

From booking chimpanzee trekking permits to securing the right accommodation and transportation logistics.

How much is a chimpanzee permit in Uganda

Chimpanzee permit prices vary by destination. In Kibale National Park, visitors can obtain a permit for chimpanzee trekking for US Dollars 250 per person for foreign non-residents; US Dollars 200 for foreign residents; and UGX 180,000 per visitor for East African citizens.

During the peak season, Budongo chimpanzee permits cost US Dollars 130 per person for non-resident visitors, US Dollars 120 for resident travelers, and US Dollars 85 for Ugandans.

The low-season chimpanzee permits in Budongo cost USD 120 for non-resident guests, $110 per person under the foreign residents’ category, and lastly, USD 80 per visitor for all Ugandans.

Chimpanzee habituation permits in Budongo cost US $230 per person for foreign non-residents, US $160 for foreign residents, & US $90 for all Ugandans.

The updated chimpanzee permits for Kyambura Gorge cost $200 per person for non-resident visitors, US Dollars 150 for the foreign residents, and the Rest of Africa USD 100 per person.

Ugandans and other East African citizens book chimpanzee permits at UGX 50,000 per person.

Kibale Vs Kalinzu Chimpanzee Trekking

Kibale National Park offers the highest success rate of seeing chimpanzees compared to Kalinzu Forest.

Kibale is an established chimpanzee tracking destination, unlike Kalinzu, where even places to stay are still fewer.

It is possible to conduct a chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale, which isn’t offered in Kalinzu Forest.

Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari

Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safaris can be combined on a Uganda tour.

All Uganda chimpanzee safari destinations are strategically located in regions where guests can easily connect to and track mountain gorillas.

At Flawless Adventure Planners, we can easily customize a primate package that combines chimpanzee and gorilla trekking.

Check out some of our amazing gorilla and chimpanzee safari offers.

Where to stay on chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda

Best accommodation options in and around Kibale National Park:

Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Canopy Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, and Primate Lodge.

Guereza Canopy Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Turaco Treetops Lodge, and Papaya Lake Lodge.

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park near Kyambura Gorge;

Kyambura Gorge Lodge, the Bush Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Bulbul Safari Lodge, and others.

Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda

The dry seasons (peak months) offer the best weather conditions for tourists to go about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.

Each year, there are only 2 dry season phases, with the longest often extending from June to September, then the second phase begins from December to February.

The off-peak (low/wet) season is often characterized by heavy rains, and some clients tend to avoid.

But the beauty about this season is that you can easily locate chimpanzees as they have plenty to feed on and don’t have to move long distances.

What to carry for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda

Essentials for any chimpanzee safari include handy gloves, long-sleeved shirts, insect repellents, a waterproof daypack, a pair of socks, and trousers. A camera, some energy-giving snacks, a safari hat, and a first aid kit.

Conclusively, chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda introduce you deep into the lush rainforest to explore chimpanzees. There are multiple chimpanzee trekking options to take up on Uganda safaris, each promising incredible encounters.

Book with us your dream chimpanzee tracking safari in Uganda and explore the finest destinations in East Africa.