Who is eligible to trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park

Who is eligible to trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park? Located in the Kabarole district, the park is home to the highest number of chimpanzees in the whole world. This forest, which covers a total area of 795 square kilometers,   was gazetted by Uganda Wildlife Authority in 1993 with the aim of protecting and expanding the population of chimpanzees. As of today, the park has more than half of the remaining chimpanzees in the whole world living in this forest.

Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Kibale Forest National Park, which allows tourists to see the species of primates that are said to be the closest to human beings. Tourists from across the globe fly to Uganda to visit Kibale Forest National Park, where the chances of seeing chimps are more than 95%.

Who is eligible for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

For their own safety and the protection of chimpanzees, Uganda Wildlife Authority sets rules for chimpanzee trekking that tourists must follow. Tourists eligible for chimpanzee trekking are those who are aged 12 years and above. While at the Kanyanchu Visitors Centre, trekkers must present their passports for age confirmation before being allowed to trek. Tourists must not be sick on the day of chimpanzee trekking, as these chimps can easily catch tourist diseases.

Tourists are also allowed to trek chimpanzees only if they have chimp-trekking permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority. These documents have the trekking date, and the trekking family a tourist is supposed to trek with that day. The permits must be present at the Kanyancu, which is the briefing and starting center for verification.

What’s the cost of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park?

To trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, every tourist needs a chimpanzee trekking permit. This is a document from Uganda Wildlife Authority allowing tourists to trek with chimpanzees and be around them for a maximum of 1 hour.  These permits are sold to licensed tour operators and citizens of Uganda at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala.

During the high season, chimpanzee trekking permits go for $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX180,000 for citizens of East African member states. The low season rates will be $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX180,000 for citizens of East African member states. Starting July 2026, these chimpanzee permits will be $300 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, $100 for the rest of Africa, and UGX180,000 for citizens of East African member states.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is an everyday activity conducted in Kibale Forest National Park, where trekkers with chimpanzee permits are allowed to visit the jungle and have 1 hour with the habituated chimpanzees. On the day of chimpanzee trekking, trekkers are asked to be at Kanyanchu Visitors Centre early in the morning for a briefing where all trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the activity.

After the briefing is done, trekkers are grouped not exceeding 8 people, and each of the groups is led by armed ranger guides. It’s these rangers who know the right trails to use and locate the chimpanzees. They give trekkers walking sticks to help them balance in the jungle, and those with excess luggage can hire porters at a fee.

Searching and locating the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park takes tourists through trails where they even get an opportunity to spot some of the forest attractions like the birds, mammals, primates, and unique vegetation cover. It takes 1 to 4 hours to locate the chimpanzees, and as soon as they are spotted, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members.

The time around the chimpanzees helps the trekkers to learn about the chimpanzee habits, which helps them to know if they are close relatives to human beings. Trekkers also get an opportunity to watch the members carry out different activities, including nesting, hunting, breastfeeding, mating, playing, and much more. Trekkers are allowed to take photos and record videos of these primate species for future memories.

When to trek the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park

The dry season, which happens from June to September and December to February, is the best for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. These months are characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, keeping the trails dry and easier to walk through. Vegetation is short with good views of the chimpanzees and clear photography.

Other tourists may trek the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park during the rainy season months. These are low-season months according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and tourists who trek in April, May, and November do benefit from the discounted permits. Tourists should, however, know that there is plenty of rainfall and little sunshine, which keeps the trekking trails muddy and slippery, while the vegetation is tall, giving clear views of the chimps.