Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda are a good idea if you are looking for what to do while visiting Uganda. Encounter Africa Safaris organizes gorilla and chimp safaris for clients who want to visit Uganda. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking can be combined and you can choose to start with gorilla trekking and end with chimpanzees or vice versa. This experience is one of a lifetime that should be on your bucket list if you like travelling.
Popular Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking Safari Packages in Uganda
Here are some packages tailored by Encounter Africa Safaris that you can consider for your next trip if you are interested in Chimpanzees and Gorillas.
- 8 days Uganda gorilla safari through Kigali
- 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimp safari
- 3 day Uganda gorilla trekking experience
- 10 Days Uganda primates and game safari
These are some of the packages you can look at for your consideration but also know that you can have a trip that is tailor made to suit your personal preferences. All you have to do is contact Encounter Africa safaris with your desired tour package.
Gorilla Trekking Locations
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done in two locations which are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. These parks are both homes for the endangered mountain gorillas which can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This park is located in southwestern Uganda and has the highest number of gorillas in the world. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park can be done from four different sectors which are known as Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija. Bwindi has over 20 gorilla families that can be visited on a daily basis making it the best location to do gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Mgahinga National Park is also located in southwestern Uganda in the Virunga ranges. This park has one Gorilla family which can be trekked on a daily basis. The park is also known for being a home to the golden monkeys. For more information on gorilla trekking in Uganda please contact Encounter Africa Safaris
Chimpanzee Trekking Locations
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is majorly done in Kibale Forest National Park but it can also be done in Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kalinzu forest that is also close to Queen Elizabeth Park. Uganda is known to have over 4000 chimpanzees with about 1500 of them in Kibale National Park.
Kibale National Park is located in western Uganda and conducts daily chimpanzee trekking at the Kanyanchu headquarters. The Kyambura Gorge is also located in western Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Budongo forest reserve on the other hand is located in northwestern Uganda and has fewer chimpanzees compared to Kibale National Park. However Budongo, Kalinzu and Kyambura Gorge are most preferable for those who would like to see the chimpanzees with fewer tourists as compared to Kibale National park which is more popular. For more information on chimpanzee trekking and which location would work best for you, feel free to inquire from our professional tour consultants at Encounter Africa Safaris.
Gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can only be done if you have a gorilla trekking permit. Both Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks are under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority which means that you have to get the gorilla permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a registered local tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. The cost of the gorilla permits differs accordingly as shown below
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 800
Resident Foreigner – USD 700
African citizens – USD 500
East African Citizens – UGX 300,000
The cost of the gorilla permit above is for the normal experience which allows you an hour with the gorillas after being trekked and found. If you would like to spend more time with the gorillas, you can choose to pay for the gorilla habituation permit which costs;
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 1500
Resident Foreigner – USD 1000
African citizens – USD 1000
East African Citizens – UGX 750,000
The process of booking gorilla permits is very easy. All you have to do is reach out to Encounter Africa Safaris with your desired dates of trekking and our tour consultants will be able to check availability for you from UWA. Once it is confirmed that the permits you want are available, then booking is done and once the payment is made, then a receipt and copy of the gorilla permit are shared with you.
Please note that Gorilla habituation can only be done in Bwindi whereas normal gorilla trekking can be done in both Bwindi and Mgahinga.
It is also important to know that for every gorilla family, only 8 normal gorilla permits are issued on a daily basis and only 4 for the habituation permits. It is advisable that you book your gorilla permits before planning your trip. Booking gorilla permits should be done within 6 months.
Chimpanzee trekking permit cost in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking and habituation permits in Uganda differ in cost depending on the location that you intend to visit. Chimpanzee permits have the same process as gorilla permits and they can only be gotten through a licensed tour Operator. The chimpanzee permit costs are as follows below in regards to the locations.
Normal chimpanzee permit In Kibale
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 250
Resident Foreigner – USD 200
East African Citizens – UGX 200,000
Chimpanzee habituation permit in Kibale
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 300
Resident Foreigner – USD 250
East African Citizens – UGX 250,000
Chimpanzee permits in Budongo Forest reserve
Unlike Kibale, Budongo Forest Reserve is under the management of the National Forestry Authority and its permits are issued out by Uganda Lodges Management. If you are interested in seeing the chimpanzees in Budongo, below is the cost
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 120 high season, 110 in the low season and USD 220 for habituation
Resident Foreigner – USD 110 high season, 100 in the low season and USD 150 for habituation
East African Citizens – USD 75 high season, 70 in the low season and USD 80 for habituation
Chimpanzee permits in Kalinzu Forest
Kalinzu forest has a good number of chimps that are visited on a daily basis and tourists have very high chance of seeing them. This forest has a good number of chimpanzees coming to about 300 chimps. The Chimp permit in Kalinzu cost is below
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 130
Resident Foreigner – USD 65
East African Citizens – USD 65
Chimpanzee permits in Kyambura Gorge
The Chimpanzee permits in Kyambura Gorge are cheaper than the other locations and are definitely budget friendly. You can choose to trek this community if you have a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The chimp permit here costs
Non Resident Foreigner – USD 100
Resident Foreigner – USD 80
East African Citizens – UGX 50,000
For more information and assistance on booking chimpanzee permits in any of these locations please contact Encounter Africa safaris
Rules and regulations of Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
If you plan on trekking both gorillas and chimpanzees, you have to adhere to all the rules and regulations that have been set up by management. The rules and regulations are set up to ensure both your safety and the safety of the gorillas and chimpanzees. These include the following
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking should be done when you are healthy. No one is allowed to trek when they are sick. This is because it is easy to spread the disease to the gorillas and chimps which causes them harm. Another reason is that the trek can be very long and tiresome and cannot be managed by a sick person
- The minimum age limit for trekking is 15 years for gorillas and 12 years for chimpanzees. The age limit was put in place because children under the age limit are hard to adhere to rules and regulations and also can’t handle the trekking
- Do not feed the gorillas or chimpanzees. These are wild animals that are used to finding food for themselves and also not used to the food you might feed them which might cause health issues for them.
- Do not try to mimic or copy the sounds and actions of the gorillas and chimpanzees because you never know what they mean and it can be translated differently by the gorillas and chimpanzees.
- Using a flash while taking photos is not allowed because the flash light might be intimidating for the gorillas and chimpanzees.
- You are not allowed to leave or throw rubbish when trekking gorillas and chimpanzees. This is for conservation purposes of the environment as this is where the gorillas and chimps also get their food.
- You are not allowed to enter the parks and reserves without a guide. This is for safety and security purposes.
For more information on the guidelines of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, our tour consultants at Encounter Africa Safaris are available to assist.
Is it Safe to Trek Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Uganda?
Yes it is very safe to trek Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Uganda. All the locations that have been listed above are under management by prominent organizations that ensure that security is available. When in the parks and the reserves of Uganda, you will be safe as you are escorted by rangers and guides who are very conversant with the locations and who ensure that you see the primates without any challenges. Uganda as a country is also a safe and stable country which makes it a safe option to visit if you want to Trek gorillas and Chimpanzees. If you are planning a trip in Uganda or want to Trek Gorillas and chimpanzees, Contact Encounter Africa Safaris to help you with the entire process.
Best Time to Visit Uganda for Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking.
Visiting Uganda for Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking can be done all year round. Uganda is a tropical climate country that experiences both dry and wet seasons. For the case of gorillas and chimpanzees, we advise that you visit during the dry season. This is because most of them are in forested areas and it is easier to trek in the dry season and they can be easily seen because the vegetation is not thick. The wet season is also okay to see gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda and the advantage is that it won’t take a lot of time to trek the primates as food in this season is abundant and the primates don’t have to move far in search of food. Overall, Gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda can be seen at any time you choose. The dry season runs in the months of June to September and January to March and the wet season is in the months of March to May and September to December. For more information and help organising your trip to Uganda, contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
Why use Encounter Africa Safaris as your trusted tour operator.
Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the leading tour operators for the East African region, we have been organizing amazing tour experiences to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania for the last 15 years and are in a position to give you the best advice in terms of getting the best out of any penny spent. We have a team of competent safari designers and guides who will make sure that planning and executing your safari is done with ease. Encounter Africa Safaris is owned and run by locals and part of the money paid by you is channelled to benefiting projects that support community development as well as conserving the environment. If you are looking for an operator to curate and plan your trip to Uganda and the rest of East Africa, choose Encounter Africa Safaris and I assure you that the package will be amazing. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on Trip Advisor as well as safari bookings. Feel free to visit these platforms and get to see what other clients say about our service.
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