Chimpanzee Trekking Permits in Uganda – Experience the magical Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with us and create everlasting memories. The Chimpanzee Trekking Permits in Uganda are legal documents offered to eligible travelers who would like to participate in the chimpanzee trek king experience. The Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of the top safari activities to include in your safari in Uganda since it offers magical jungle experiences. To trek chimps in Uganda, you are required to acquire a chimpanzee trekking permit.
Chimpanzee Trekking Permits in Uganda – What is a chimp trekking permit? A chimpanzee trekking permit is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to visitors of the age that are eligible to trek the chimps. The chimp trekking permit grants you access to the chimpanzee trekking premises where you will enjoy exclusive chimp trekking adventures. Uganda Wildlife Authority is the sole government organization that is responsible for issuing chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda involves hiking in the forest in search of the Chimps. Trekking Chimpanzees is an interesting experience that allows you will follow chimps in the forest as you watch them feed; play, mate and the mothers groom their young ones. Uganda Chimpanzee Adventures will take you to some of the country’s tropical rainforests like Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest, and Kyambura Gorge.
Chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives sharing up to 97% of DNA, trekking them will give you a sense of familiarity as they mimic human behaviors and ways of life. Uganda is home to around 5,000 chimpanzees with Kibale forest habituating around 1500 of the total population. Chimpanzees live in distinct social structures just like mountain gorillas however; chimps are more complex in their structures.
Chimpanzee trekking is just as interesting as mountain gorilla trekking. Tracking down these primates in their natural habitats can be interesting with many visitors describing it as exceptional. Just like Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees live in forests however trekking them may be a little difficult compared to mountain gorillas.
Chimps are lighter and faster and thus tracking them requires some level of fitness compared to mountain gorilla trekking. Chimps are vocalists compared to the gentle mountain gorillas and can be easily located during the trek based on their sound.
Usually every early morning, Chimpanzee trekking starts from the visitor center at 08.00 am and 15: 00 pm depending on your trekking destinations. You will be briefed about the trekking exercise before you embark on the life-changing experience which lasts for a few hours before you return to the visitor’s center.
You will then indulge yourself deep in the forests to look for these fascinating animals. Upon locating Chimps in the wild, you are usually allowed about one hour to enjoy watching these primates as they do their daily routines like feeding, grooming their young ones, and mating among others. This will grant you opportunities to take photos and learn more about these beautiful animals, especially about their social behaviors. The treks last about three hours and include a maximum of one hour with the chimps, during which you can expect to see them from a safe but intimate distance of 8-10 meters. Get up close and personal with the chimpanzees and discover their beauty, intelligence, and social structures.
Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are more affordable compared to gorilla trekking permits. Different chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda have different prices for their chimpanzee trekking permits, unlike the gorilla trekking permits that have the same price in all trekking destinations in Uganda.
During the peak season, the Kibale Forest National Park which is the primary Chimp trekking destination in Uganda offers chimp permits at around USD 150 and around USD 100 during the low season.
Budongo forest chimp permits cost around USD 90 in both low and high seasons, while Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth offers chimp permits at around USD 50 during both high season and low seasons.
In most chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda, Chimps are the primary attraction however a lot more can be spotted especially primate species that may include the black & white colobus, red-tailed monkey, or the grey-cheeked mangabey.