Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale and Beyond, Tours Compared

Most Uganda chimpanzee trekking happens in Kibale Forest, near Fort Portal: the permit is $250 ($300 from 1 January 2027), the walk starts at 08:00 and you get one hour with the chimps. Budongo (≈ $200), Kalinzu ($130) and Kyambura Gorge ($100, $200 from 2027) are cheaper forests used by Murchison and Queen Elizabeth trips. GetYourGuide lists 30 chimp tours, from $577 for a Kibale day trip with the permit included.

Updated Oct 2026 · Prices checked Oct 2026

Compare 30 tours ↓

30chimp tours compared

13include the chimp permit

$577day trip, permit included

$250Kibale permit · $300 in 2027

4forests: Kibale, Budongo, Kalinzu, Kyambura

1 hourwith the chimps

01Four forests

Where to Do Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking

Four forests sell chimp permits to visitors. Kibale is the default; the other three are picked because they sit on the road to a savannah park.

01With Murchison

Budongo Forest

Murchison Falls, north-west

Permit · 2026 → 2027≈ $200≈ $200

The chimp stop on Murchison and rhino trips

Pairs with Murchison Falls, Ziwa rhinos

7 tours on this page

02The main forest

Kibale National Park

Fort Portal · 5–6 h from Entebbe

Permit · 2026 → 2027$250$300 ↑

The largest chimp population in Uganda and the most tours

Pairs with Crater lakes, Bigodi wetland, Queen Elizabeth

17 tours on this page

03Small group

Kyambura Gorge

Inside Queen Elizabeth

Permit · 2026 → 2027$100$200 ↑

One small chimp community in a sunken gorge

Pairs with Kazinga Channel boat, game drive

2 tours on this page

04Budget

Kalinzu Forest

Edge of Queen Elizabeth

Permit · 2026 → 2027$130$130

A forest reserve used by Queen Elizabeth trips

Pairs with Queen Elizabeth game drives, Kazinga Channel

3 tours on this page

Tour counts add up to 29: one 10-day listing doesn’t name its forest. Two Murchison listings don’t say the forest either — Budongo is the forest on that route.

See the tours with full prices →

02Kibale National Park

A Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Day in Kibale

Kibale is where 17 of the 30 tours go. This is what a trekking day there looks like.

Permit: $250 · $300 from 1 Jan 2027
Start: 08:00 briefing at Kanyanchu visitor centre
Walk: 2–4 hours, depending on where the chimps are
With the chimps: 1 hour
Minimum age: 12
Base: Fort Portal, or a lodge by the park
From Entebbe: 5–6 hours by road

The trekking morning

08:00Briefing at Kanyanchu visitor centre

2–4 hWalk — depending on where the chimps are

1 hourWith the chimps

Also on the walk · Red colobus, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys are often seen on the same walk. Many tours add the Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon.

Source: operator itineraries on GetYourGuide (start time, walk length, hour with chimps) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

See the tours with full prices →

03Four kinds of trip

Compare Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Tours

The 30 tours split by length and by what comes with the chimps.

Day trips5 tours

From, permit included$577

3 permit included2 unclear

Kibale or Kyambura in one day

For Already in Fort Portal or Queen Elizabeth

See the picks →

2–3 days12 tours

From, permit included$700

6 permit included3 unclear

Chimps plus crater lakes, hot springs or Queen Elizabeth

For Chimps as the main event

See the picks →

Chimps + Murchison10 tours

From, permit included$1,148

2 permit included8 unclear

Murchison Falls and Ziwa rhinos, chimps in Budongo or Kibale

For Big game and chimps

See the picks →

6–10 days3 tours

From, permit included$2,295

2 permit included1 unclear

A western Uganda circuit

For A full safari

See the picks →

“From” is the lowest full price, permit included. Murchison trips are hard to compare: 8 of 10 don’t make the permit clear.

045 tours · our 4 picks

Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Day Trips

Five day trips. Four start in or near Fort Portal; one starts from Mbarara and goes to Kyambura Gorge.

TOP PICK

Fort Portal: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trek & Bigodi Walk Starts in Fort Portal

Kibale chimp trekBigodi wetlandCoffee and vanilla farmsLocal lunch

Permit, Bigodi entrance and lunch included — the cheapest full price

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$577

New

See tour →

PERMIT INCLUDED

Uganda: 1-Day Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale National Park Starts in Fort Portal

Kibale chimp trekLunch

Private transfers, permit and lunch — just the chimps

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$640

New

See tour →

NICHE

1-Day Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trek & Queen Elizabeth NP Starts in Mbarara

Kyambura Gorge chimpsKazinga Channel boatGame drive

Chimps, a boat trip and a game drive in one day

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$715

New

See tour →

FAMILIES

Kibale Forest: Chimpanzee Tracking & Family Nature Walk Starts in Kibale

Short forest walkActivities for childrenChimp tracking

Built for families — but chimp tracking starts at 12, so ask what younger children do

Permit: check

Tour $529 · permit not clear

Full price per person$529 + ?

New

See tour →

Source: GetYourGuide listings (30 chimp tours) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

0512 tours · our 4 picks

2–3 Day Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Tours

12 tours — the biggest group. Six include the permit; the cheapest starts in Fort Portal.

TOP PICK

Kibale Forest Park: 3-Day Chimpanzee Tracking & Crater Lakes Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Tea plantationKibale chimp trekBigodi swampTop of the World crater lakes

The best-reviewed chimp tour, permit included

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$1,169

★ 5.0(3)

See tour →

BEST VALUE

Fort Portal: 2-Day Crater Lakes & Chimpanzee Trek Tour Starts in Fort Portal

Crater lakesNight at Kibale Forest CampChimp trek

Permit and a full-board night by the forest

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$700

New

See tour →

NICHE

Queen Elizabeth National Park 2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Tour Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Queen Elizabeth game driveKalinzu chimps

Savannah and chimps in two days — Kalinzu forest

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$1,200

New

See tour →

PRIVATE

3-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking Private Safari Starts in Entebbe airport

Airport → KibaleChimp trekBigodi culture walkBack to Entebbe

From the airport and back, full board, permit included

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$1,750

New

See tour →

Source: GetYourGuide listings (30 chimp tours) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

0610 tours · our 4 picks

Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking with Murchison Falls and Rhinos

10 tours that pair chimps with Murchison Falls — usually with Ziwa rhinos on the way. Most trek in Budongo.

BEST VALUE

Murchison Falls Park: 3-Day Big Five & Chimpanzee Tracking Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Ziwa rhinosTop of the FallsNile boatBudongo chimps

Chimp and rhino permits included — meals are not (bed only)

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$1,148

New

See tour →

PERMIT INCLUDED

From Entebbe: 4-Day Murchison Falls Safari & Chimp Trek Starts in Entebbe

Ziwa rhinosMurchison game drivesNile boatBudongo chimps

All meals, airport transfers and the permit

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$1,750

New

See tour →

TOP PICK

Uganda: 4-Day Murchison Falls & Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Ziwa rhinosMurchison FallsNile boatKibale chimps

The only reviewed Murchison trip — Kibale rather than Budongo

Permit: check

Tour $1,800 · permit not clear

Full price per person$1,800 + ?

★ 5.0(1)

See tour →

CHEAPEST

From Kampala: 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari & Chimpanzee Trek Starts in Kampala

Ziwa rhinosTop of the FallsGame drive and Nile boatBudongo chimps

The lowest price on the page — the permit isn’t clear

Permit: check

Tour $905 · permit not clear

Full price per person$905 + ?

New

See tour →

Source: GetYourGuide listings (30 chimp tours) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

3 tours · 6–10 days

Longer Safaris with Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking

Three longer safaris with chimps as one stop.

PERMIT INCLUDED

Uganda: 6-Day Wildlife and Chimpanzee Safari Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Ziwa rhinosMurchisonKibale chimpsBigodi

Rhinos, Murchison and Kibale with the permit

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$2,295

New

See tour →

NICHE

Uganda: 7-Day Wildlife & Primate Safari Adventure Starts in Entebbe

Murchison and rhinosSempaya hot springsKazinga ChannelKyambura chimpsLake Mburo walk

Hot springs, a night game drive and a walking safari

Permit: check

Tour $2,300 · permit not clear

Full price per person$2,300 + ?

New

See tour →

NICHE

Uganda: 10-Day Safari with Chimpanzee Tracking Starts in Kampala / Entebbe

Rwenzori trekQueen ElizabethCommunity walkChimps

Adds a Rwenzori mountain trek; full board

Permit ✓ included

Tour price includes the permit

Full price per person$3,468

New

See tour →

Source: GetYourGuide listings (30 chimp tours) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

07Two price lists

Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Permit Prices, 2026 and 2027

Chimp permits rise on 1 January 2027 in Kibale and Kyambura. The other forests stay the same.

Kibale — tracking$250$300+ $50

Kibale — habituation$300$400+ $100

Kyambura Gorge$100$200+ $100

Budongo≈ $200≈ $200no change

Kalinzu$130$130no change

Is it in the tour price?

Of the 30 tours:

13314

13 included
3 extra
14 unclear

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority rates via 4x4uganda.com, foreign non-resident. Budongo can cost more if you stay over 24 hours in Murchison Falls.

Tracking or habituation?

TrackingWhat tours book$250

Morning walk of 2–4 hours
1 hour with a habituated group
What every tour on this page books

Habituation$300

A longer day with a group still getting used to people
Fewer people, more time watching
Ask the operator — tours here book tracking

Habituation rises to $400 in 2027.

See the tours with full prices →

The two main forests

Kibale vs Budongo for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

The two forests most tours use, side by side.

KibaleBudongo

Permit 2026Kibale$250Budongo≈ $200

Permit 2027Kibale$300Budongo≈ $200

Tours hereKibale17Budongo7

Cheapest full priceKibale$577 day tripBudongo$1,148 for 3 days

Pairs withKibaleCrater lakes, Bigodi, Queen ElizabethBudongoMurchison Falls, Ziwa rhinos

Choose it ifKibaleChimps are the point of the tripBudongoYou want Murchison and the Big Five too

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority rates via 4x4uganda.com, foreign non-resident. Budongo can cost more if you stay over 24 hours in Murchison Falls.

See the tours with full prices →

08One listing

2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking and Hot Springs Tour Uganda

One listing pairs Kibale chimps with the Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki National Park, in two days from Kampala or Entebbe.

Uganda: 2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking, Hot Springs & Craters

Kampala / Entebbe → Fort Portal
Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes
Kibale chimps
Bigodi wetland
Sempaya hot springs
Back to Kampala

Full price per person$1,700 + ?

The permit isn’t listed as included or excluded — ask before you book.

See tour →

Without the hot springs: 2 days from Fort Portal, permit included, $700 →

09Not a trek

Ngamba Island vs Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking

Ngamba Island is a sanctuary, not chimpanzee trekking.

Ngamba is an island in Lake Victoria, reached by boat from Entebbe. It looks after chimpanzees rescued from the pet trade and poaching; you watch them from a raised platform at feeding time.

It suits a half day near Entebbe, families with children under 12, or anyone who can’t do a forest walk. It doesn’t replace a trek: the chimps aren’t wild and you don’t walk through a forest to find them.

Sanctuary tours

1-Day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary Tour$370Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary Tour$400From Kampala-Entebbe: Ngamba Island Sanctuary Tour$664

10The full list

All 30 Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Tours

Every chimpanzee trekking tour on GetYourGuide in Uganda, with the forest and the full price including the permit. “Check” means the listing doesn’t make the permit clear.

Trip

Kibale Forest: Chimpanzee Tracking & Family Nature Walk1 dayKibale Permit: check $529 + ? Fort Portal: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trek & Bigodi Walk1 dayKibale Permit ✓ $577 Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking and Birding Day Trip1 dayKibale Permit: check $629 + ? Uganda: 1-Day Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale National Park1 dayKibale Permit ✓ $640 1-Day Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trek & Queen Elizabeth NP1 dayKyambura Permit ✓ $715 Queen Elizabeth National Park 2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Tour2 daysKalinzu Permit ✓ $1,200 Fort Portal: 2-Day Crater Lakes & Chimpanzee Trek Tour2 daysKibale Permit ✓ $700 Uganda: 2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking, Hot Springs & Craters2 daysKibale Permit: check $1,700 + ? Kibale Forest Park: 3-Day Chimpanzee tracking & Crater lakes3 daysKibale Permit ✓ $1,169 Uganda: 3-Day Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Safari3 daysKibale + $250 permit $2,550 Uganda: 3-Day Kibale National Park Primate-Tracking Tour3 daysKibale + $250 permit $2,550 3-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking Private Safari3 daysKibale Permit ✓ $1,750 3-Day Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Tour3 daysKibale Permit ✓ $1,650 3-Day Chimpanzee Visit-Kibaale NP3 daysKibale Permit: check $1,645 + ? Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Trekking, Culture, Farm tour3 daysKibale Permit: check $1,718 + ? From Entebbe: 3-Days Uganda wildlife &chimpanzee trek Safari3 daysKalinzu + $130 permit $2,430 LOCATION: 3 Days Queen Elizabeth Park & Chimp Trekking Tour3 daysKalinzu Permit ✓ $1,665 Uganda: 2-Day Murchison Falls & Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking2 daysKibale Permit: check $1,140 + ? From Kampala: 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari & Chimpanzee Trek3 daysBudongo Permit: check $905 + ? 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Chimp Trek3 daysBudongo Permit: check $1,040 + ? 3-Day Ugandan tour with Murchison Falls, Rhinos & Chimpanzee3 daysBudongo (by route) Permit: check $1,180 + ? Murchison falls Park: 3-Day Big five & chimpanzee tracking3 daysBudongo Permit ✓ $1,148 Uganda: 3-Day Murchison Falls & Budongo Chimpanzee Trekking3 daysBudongo Permit: check $1,250 + ? Uganda: 3-Day Murchison Falls & Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking3 daysKibale Permit: check $1,350 + ? Uganda: 4-Day Murchison Falls & Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking4 daysKibale Permit: check $1,800 + ? Uganda: 4-Day Wildlife, Rhinos and Chimpanzee Safari4 daysBudongo (by route) Permit: check $2,300 + ? From Entebbe: 4-Day Murchison Falls Safari & Chimp Trek4 daysBudongo Permit ✓ $1,750 Uganda: 6-Days wild life and Chimpazee6 daysKibale Permit ✓ $2,295 Uganda: 7-Day Wildlife & Primate Safari Adventure7 daysKyambura Permit: check $2,300 + ? Uganda: 10-Day Safari with Chimpanzee Tracking10 daysNot stated Permit ✓ $3,468

Prices are “from” per person. Full price adds the forest’s permit when the listing leaves it out: $250 Kibale, $130 Kalinzu.

Source: GetYourGuide listings (30 chimp tours) · UWA rates via 4x4uganda.com

119 answers

Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking FAQ

Where is the best chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Kibale National Park, near Fort Portal — it has Uganda’s largest chimp population and 17 of the 30 tours go there. Budongo is the choice on Murchison trips.

How much is a chimp permit?

$250 in Kibale, about $200 in Budongo, $130 in Kalinzu and $100 in Kyambura Gorge (2026, foreign non-resident).

What changes in 2027?

From 1 January 2027 Kibale tracking goes to $300, Kibale habituation to $400 and Kyambura to $200. Budongo and Kalinzu stay the same.

Chimp tracking or habituation?

Tracking is a 2–4 hour morning walk with one hour at the chimps — what tours book. Habituation is a longer day with a group still getting used to people, $300 in Kibale.

What age can you go chimp trekking?

12 and over. For younger children, Ngamba Island near Entebbe is the alternative.

Is Ngamba Island the same as chimp trekking?

No. Ngamba is a sanctuary for rescued chimps on an island in Lake Victoria; you watch them from a platform, not in the wild.

How long is a chimpanzee trek?

In Kibale, 2–4 hours walking from the 08:00 start, of which one hour is with the chimps.

What else is near Kibale?

The Fort Portal crater lakes, the Bigodi wetland walk, Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki and, further south, Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Is there a 2-day chimpanzee trekking and hot springs tour in Uganda?

Yes — one listing combines Kibale chimps with the Sempaya hot springs and crater lakes in two days from Kampala or Entebbe, from $1,700.

See the tours with full prices →

Keep planning

More gorilla trekking Uganda pages

Gorillas and chimpanzees togetherRhino trekking at ZiwaThe complete gorilla trekking guideGorilla safaris (4+ days)

Live availability

Check Dates for Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Tours

Fort Portal: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trek & Bigodi Walk

Kibale Forest Park: 3-Day Chimpanzee tracking & Crater lakes

Prices and dates come straight from GetYourGuide.

One hour with the chimps, four forests to choose

30 chimp tours, every one with the full price including the permit.

Chimp tours from $577