Can I Do Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Safari In Uganda Without A Permit

You cannot do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda without a permit. The gorilla or chimpanzee permits in Uganda are the only tickets that confirm participating in either gorilla or chimpanzee trekking adventure. Without the permit that you present at the ranger station you may not be admitted to join the rest of the participating tourists. Contact Us

In Uganda, the maximum number of gorilla trekking permits open to the public per day is 8 per gorilla family and chimpanzee trekking permits maximum 6 per troop per session. Alternatively, you can do gorilla habituation experience. This is where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of habituators to have four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas. Chimpanzee habituation Experience (CHEX) is open to the public where maximum four tourist accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with semi-habituated chimpanzees.

Even though the availability of both gorilla permits and chimpanzee permits in Uganda is restricted, advance booking is necessary to avoid last minute panic. At the last minute when you decide to book a gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking permit, expect some pressure as you are not certain of finding availability especially in the peak season.

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How To Book Gorilla Trekking or Chimpanzee Trekking Permits In Uganda

• Have dates when to do gorilla trekking or chimp trekking in Uganda. The minimum number of days to be at the gorilla trekking destination in Uganda is 3-day gorilla trekking.  Know the number of eligible persons to do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking with in Uganda.
• Check availability of gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permits per your dates of preference.
• As soon as you find Uganda permit availability, purchase them as soon as you can because there status changes any minute without warning. First come first served basis is used to sell the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and none is reserved without payment.
• Full payments for the gorilla or chimpanzee permit is the best choice but chances of instalment purchases are available terms and conditions apply.

Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Destinations In Uganda

Gorilla Trekking Destinations

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This is the largest and most prominent gorilla trekking destination of Uganda with about 19 families open to the public. Bwindi forest is divided into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. When booking gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi impenetrable National Park, they are reserved according to the four areas.

When reserving accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Bwindi, consider the area where your permit is booked. This is to avoid having to drive in the dark to get to the ranger station in another gorilla trekking area to attend briefing. Bwindi forest is also home to over 350 bird species, over 200 natural tree species, more than 320 butterfly species and others.

Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is open with so far one family to the public that is Nyakagezi. Mgahinga National Park is the smallest National Park in Uganda but home to the rare golden monkeys too and other primates. The gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga National Park is more authentic since the park is less visited.

The presence of the three Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park provides a stunning view that is Mountain Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhavura. More than 115 bird species have been recorded as residents of Mgahinga forest.  

Chimpanzee Trekking Destinations In Uganda

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is the cardinal chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. The park hosts about 1500 chimpanzees as per the recent census. In general about Uganda has about 5000 chimpanzees in different part of the forested areas of the country.

So far about 12 chimpanzee communities are fully habituated and open to the public.  Kibale forest is a prehistoric rain forest and home to 13 primate species too. Other residents primates in Kibale National Park include black and white colobus, vervet moneys, grey checked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and more. About 325 bird species including Albertine rift endemics have been registered as residents of the Kibale National Park.

Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge National Park is open and you can be part of this adventure while on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth national Park. To get to Kyambura gorge, you have to hike down the cliff to the floor if the gorge where the chimpanzees spend most of the time.

In addition to the chimpanzees, Kyambura Gorge is home to a number of other primates including olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and more. Forest birds are residents of Kyambura Gorge too.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park

While on Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park, you can do chimpanzee trekking too in Kaniyo Pabidi forest. The forest has fully grown Mahogany trees which are the few left in Uganda. Watch out for resident birds in the forest and a number of other primates are residents of Kaniyo Pabidi forest too.

Budongo Forest

A community of chimpanzees is resident in Budongo forest. Budongo forest is one of the few leftover natural forests in Uganda and home to the chimpanzees plus other primates. The National Forest Authority (NFA) and Uganda wildlife Authority ( UWA) have the mandate to protect and regulate activities in Budongo forest. The chimpanzees in Bundongo forest are used for research purposes mainly but are open to the public too.

Semuliki National Park

Chimpanzees are residents of Semuliki National Park although they are open for research purposes mainly. Semuliki National park is a pristine forest that is believed to have survived the ice age era that affected many forests in African in the past. To get the best chimpanzee trekking experience in an untamed environment, Semuliki National Park is a great choice.

Kalinzu forest chimpanzee trekking

On the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth National Park is Kalinzu forest where chimpanzees are residents. The chimpanzees of Kalinzu forest are mainly used for research but during the peak tourism season when there is no availability of chimpanzee permits for Kyambura gorge, this is another option.

What To Expect during Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda

During gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking, expect to move in the forest which is dense and sometimes trails are obstructed by protruding under growth. Get ready to move in the jungle and encounter other resident along the way.

The chimpanzees or mountain gorillas still posses there natural traits so try to obey the rules of either gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari.

When with doing gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking, expect to have one hour with the fully habituated primates.

The time of finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during the search is hard to determine because they are free primates that must fend for themselves to survive.

Expect to do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking with other tourists because the permits are open to the public and are randomly sold. Even after briefing, tourists are allocated a gorilla family or chimpanzee community randomly.

The forests where mountain gorillas or chimpanzees live have other occupants which you may meet on the way to find these primates including black and white colobus, olive baboons and others.

Gorilla Trekking Versus Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda Which is better

Both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking take you to see the endangered primates in the world in there natural setting other than those reserved in confinements or zoos.

• During gorilla trekking, you are in company of maximum 8 tourists while chimpanzee trekking maximum 6 tourists are allowed to visit a chimpanzee troop per session.
• Gorilla trekking happens once in a day per gorilla family starting only in the morning whereas chimpanzee trekking is twice that is morning and afternoon session.
• The nature of the terrain where mountain gorillas in Uganda live is undulating because of Volcanic action that affected this area whereas chimpanzee trekking destinations are fairly flat. No straining is required to explore the forest in search for chimpanzees.
• From chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, you may proceed to do additional Uganda safari activities on the same day whereas after gorilla trekking, it is quite challenging to combine with other safari activities.
• Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda can only happen in two destinations Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park. For Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda, there are different options each charging a different price for a chimpanzee permit.

Cost of Gorilla Trekking or Chimpanzee Trekking Permits in Uganda

Currently, the cost of gorilla trekking permits Uganda is $800 for international non residents, $700 for international residents, 300000shs for east Africans. The inclusions in the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Uganda are ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, conservation support, community support and others.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits for Uganda is according to the destination you choose. Currently the cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park is $250 for international nonresidents, $200 for international residents, 1800000shs for east Africans. Inclusions in the cost of chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale National Park are ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, conservation support and others.

In addition to the cost of gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda, the price for other necessary amenities to support this is Uganda safari vary with your budget. The logistics necessary to support the Uganda safaris such as accommodation cost, transport cost and others.

 How Long Is The Walk To Do Gorilla Trekking Or Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda

The time to take on the walk to do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking in Uganda varies with factors prevailing in the wilderness. From the starting point of the gorilla trek, to get to the mountain gorillas some tourists have reported taking 2 hours while other may take more time. The location of the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees varies with factors prevailing in the wilderness.

In order to still maintain the excitement to take on the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking adventure shift your mind to seeing other forest dwellers including monkeys, birds, features and more.

Having some level of fitness and determination gets you to the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees without noticing the time covered. Even when you find the chimpanzees or gorillas, you may forget the challenges you may go through along the way.

Whether you go on gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda only one hour is accepted with these primates. The mountain gorillas or chimpanzees have to search for there own food that will support them through the day and night. As you get away from the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees do it without being noticed.

Why Do Gorilla Trekking or Chimpanzee Trekking safari in Uganda

Gorilla trekking or chimpanzees trekking is an encounter with the largest primates in Uganda. Most of the primates elsewhere in the world are protected in confinements but there schedules are influenced by human interference.

When you purchase a Uganda gorilla permit, it is a contribution to the conservation of these primates as they are still vulnerable. The Uganda wildlife Authority has the mandate and sell or manage the gorilla or chimpanzee permits.

Beyond the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, the forests were these primates live have other inhabitants including black and white colobus, vervet moneys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and others.

You can contribute to the existence of the mountain gorillas by hiring a porter from the community where these primates are residents. Some porters were former poachers who have reformed and are currently ready to work with park authorities in a better way to protect the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, other forest dwellers and there habitats.

From gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, you can get other safari destinations within the country by drafting the right Uganda Safari itinerary. The gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda are safe because on ground there are well trained ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Every tourist much attend compulsory briefing where communication about these primates and how to behave with them is explained in details

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