How do I book a chimpanzee trekking permit?

How do I book a chimpanzee trekking permit? : Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most popular tourist actives done in Uganda, the pearl of Africa and is carried out in a number of beautiful destinations including Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.

A chimpanzee trekking permit is a pass that allows tourists to visit a habituated chimpanzees in the one of the chimpanzee habitats in Uganda, the chimpanzee permit document has the following details

Your name as seen on your passport
Tracking date
The local of chimpanzee trekking
A unique identification number

As a tourist going for a chimpanzee trekking activity, you will report the Visitor Center before you head into the forest and present your permit (printed chimpanzee trekking permit) to the warden together with your passport for verification.

The revenue collected by Uganda Wildlife Authority for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is very vital in financing chimpanzee conservation programs, scientific research and the protection of their natural habitats. The also supports sustainable programs that improve the livehoods of communities living around the protected forest reserve.

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and they can be obtained through a tour company or travel agency.

What does the chimpanzee permit in Uganda include?

Chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda includes access to a habituated group of chimpanzees in a protected forest reserve and one hour with the chimpanzees.

With your chimpanzee permit, you can trek with a controlled group of not more than 8 other tourists, two armed rangers for security and an expert tracker leading the group.

During the chimpanzee trekking experience, the tracker is your guide and will keep you informed about the rain forests, its inhabitants and the chimpanzees. They will also guide you if there is an unexpected change in the environment such a hostility from the chimpanzees.

The chimpanzee permit also includes park entrance fees and trekking only on the date stated on the pass document, the ticket cannot be used or transferred once used and the date passes.

The chimpanzee trekking permit does not include any other expenses on your chimpanzee trekking safari such as accommodation, transport and logistics. The chimpanzee trekking permit fees only cover the activity “Chimpanzee trekking experience” and nothing else outside of the adventure.

How much does a chimpanzee permit cost in Uganda?

A cost for chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda varies from the site you are intending to do the chimpanzee trekking experience as follows

In Kibale National Park, a chimpanzee permit costs US $ 200 for foreign Non – residents, US $ 150 for Foreign Residents and UGX 150,000 for East African Nationals.
In Budongo Forest, a chimpanzee trekking permit costs US $ 90 per person.
In Kyambura Gorge, a chimpanzee trekking permit costs US $ 50.
Chimpanzee Habituation Permit in Kibale National Park costs US $ 450 for spending a full day with the chimpanzees along with researchers and follow wild chimpanzees for the whole day.

Is chimpanzee trekking worth it?

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with worth every penny, trekking our evolutionary cousins through the jungle of Uganda is one of the most exhilarating adventures worth every cost.

Observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat deep in the thick rainforests is a worth adventure and in Uganda one of the best places for chimpanzee trekking is Kibale Forest National Park a home to Five habituated group open for chimpanzee trekking experience.

Frequently asked questions about Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Uganda?

Can I buy last minute chimpanzee permits?

Yes, you can purchase last – minute chimpanzee permits from your tour operator.

During the high season, chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda are in high demand and availability is not assured. If you are planning go chimpanzee trekking in high season, it is best to book for your chimpanzee permit about 4-3 hours.

Can I cancel a chimpanzee permit?

Yes, you can cancel your chimpanzee trekking permit and receive a refund only if you have full paid for the permit.

Note: You do not get a refund on a cancellation with a 30% deposit booking.

If you have fully paid for you chimpanzee trekking permit, the following are UWA’s cancellation policies apply.

91 days + before trekking – 75% refund
46 to 9 days before the trekking – 50% refund
9 to 45 days before – 25% refund
0 t0 8 days before – No refund

However, if the park warden established (on -site) that you cannot trek due to illness, you will get a 50% refund of your chimpanzee trekking permit.

Human diseases such as flue and cough can be fatal to chimpanzees which is why it is important for the wardens to verify everyone’s health before allowing tourists to go chimpanzee trekking.

In case you unknowingly let the permit expire beyond the trekking date, the permit is deemed unusable.

In anticipation, you can reschedule your chimpanzee trekking permit to another date up to seven days before the tracking date, Uganda Wildlife Authority allows you to reschedule the permit twice for up two years ahead, however a third reschedule incurs a 25% fee.

Also you can reschedule your permit to another trekking date only once, it it is partly paid with a 30% deposit, full payment is required is required for a second reschedule.

You can book a permit for up to two years ahead with anon – refundable 305 deposit, UWA requires you to pay 70% of the permit price 90 days before chimpanzee trekking date otherwise the permit will be cancelled.

In case you do not see the chimpanzees during the experience, Uganda Wildlife Authority may authorize to reschedule the permit o the following days subject to availability. If there is no availability, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will approve a refund of 50% of the permit price on confirmation from the warden.