Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda – Our “When in Uganda” Moment

When planning our Uganda trip, we had one of those “when in Uganda” moments: Should we add chimpanzee trekking to our itinerary — on top of gorilla trekking? Very quickly, the answer was: absolutely. But as soon as you dive into the details, you realize there are a number of options, and the costs vary significantly depending on where you go and what kind of experience you choose.

Where You Can Trek Chimpanzees & Permit Costs

Here are some of the main chimp trekking destinations in Uganda — and what a permit costs as of the latest UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) tariff (valid July 2024 – June 2026)

Location	Permit Type	Cost for Foreign Non-Residents	Notes
Kibale National Park	Standard Chimp Tracking	US$ 250	1-hour trek with a habituated group
Kibale National Park	Chimpanzee Habituation / Research	US$ 300	Up to ≈ 4 hours with chimps and researchers
Budongo Forest	Standard Chimp Tracking	US$ 130	Trekking through Murchison Falls Forest area
Kyambura Gorge (Queen Elizabeth NP)	Standard Chimp Tracking	US$ 100	Scenic gorge hike
Kalinzu Forest	Standard Chimp Tracking	~US$ 50–70	One of the more affordable options

Why Kibale Is Special — and Why We Picked It

We opted for Kibale National Park. The reason is simple: it offers one of the highest probabilities of seeing chimps, and it's very well set up for trekking. Plus, Kibale is the only place where we found a habituation permit (i.e., a more immersive, research-style experience). For us, the chance to spend four hours with chimpanzees — not just an hour — was too appealing to pass up.

Standard vs. Habituation Permit — What’s the Difference?

• Standard Chimp Tracking Permit

  • Duration: ~1 hour of observation

  • Cost (for non-residents): US$ 250

  • Includes: a ranger guide, park security, and chimp tracking walk

• Habituation / Research Experience Permit

  • Duration: Up to ~4 hours with chimpanzees and researchers

  • Cost (for non-residents): US$ 300

  • Includes: park entrance, guide, and a deeper insight into chimp life

    
    

This Habituation option is more limited and in high demand — ideal if you’re really into wildlife research or just want a richer experience.

How We Actually Booked Our Permit

We didn’t want a full safari package — we were only after the permit. After filtering through a bunch of tour companies, we found Trek Africa Expeditions. Here’s how it went:

1. I pinged them on WhatsApp.

2. They checked availability, answered all my questions, and secured the permit.

3. After payment, we had the digital permit in our WhatsApp and email — ready to use.

Other Trekking Options

(If Kibale Is Booked or Not for You)

• Budongo Forest — cheaper than Kibale; standard trek is US$ 130.

• Kyambura Gorge — US$ 100 for standard trekking.

• Kalinzu Forest — super budget-friendly for chimp trekking, around US$ 50–70.

These are great alternatives, especially for a more flexible itinerary or a tighter budget.

A Chance to Meet Our Almost-Relatives

One thing that makes chimp trekking so special is how close they actually are to us — we share around 98% of our DNA with chimps. They’re basically our almost-relatives living in the forest. Watching them interact, communicate, or just hang out feels surprisingly familiar, almost like seeing a different version of us in the wild.

That’s why we’re extra excited for this part of our trip. It’s not just a cool wildlife encounter, it’s a chance to get a little glimpse into our own story — in the middle of a rainforest, with the chimps leading the way.

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