Discounted chimpanzee permits for Kibale Forest National Park

Discounted chimpanzee permits for Kibale Forest National Park: Kibale Forest National Park is popularly known for chimpanzees worldwide, as it hosts more than half of those left in the world. This park is located in the Kabarole district in the western part of Uganda, covering a total area of 766 square kilometers. It was gazetted as a national park in 1993 to protect different wildlife species that were living in the tropical rainforest.

The main reason for gazetting Kibale Forest National Park was to protect the chimpanzees from extinction. The government of Uganda, together with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, has done a great job to make sure that the number of these chimpanzees increases. Currently, Kibale Forest National Park is the best place to watch the chimpanzees, as the forest hosts more than half of these species.

On 1st March 2026, Uganda Wildlife Authority announced discounted chimpanzee permits for travelers in April, May, and November. This was done to increase the number of travelers who visit chimpanzees during the low season. With the reduction in chimpanzee permit price and the love people have for these primates, Kibale will start receiving more tourists in the low season.

Cost of discounted chimpanzee permits for Kibale Forest National Park.

Discounted chimpanzee permits for April, May, and November are sold at $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and Rest of Africa, while citizens of East African Member States pay UGX180,000. These permits are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority to licensed tour operators. Tourists who intend to travel should search for licensed operators who can organize the safaris and also purchase permits.

During the other months of the year, chimpanzee trekking permits are $250 for foreign non-residents and $200 for foreign residents and the rest of Africa, while citizens of East African member states pay UGX180,000. Early booking is advised because a lot of tourists travel during the high season and permits tend to sell out quickly.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Kibale Forest National Park, a home to the highest population of chimpanzees. The activity starts early in the morning with a briefing at Kanyanchu Park headquarters, where trekkers are taught the rules and regulations of the activity. Grouping is done, and armed ranger guides are allocated to lead trekkers in the jungle where the chimpanzees live.

Trekkers who have excess luggage can hire porters at an affordable fee to help them with their luggage throughout the activity. Trekkers are driven to the starting point of the trek, where armed ranger guides give them sticks to help them while walking through the jungle. The search for the chimpanzees goes through a number of trails, but finally the trekkers locate the chimps.

While searching for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, trekkers are able to meet different forest attractions, including small mammals, birds, and primates. Searching and locating the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest takes 1 to 4 hours, and as soon as they are spotted, trekkers get to spend 1 hour around the members.

Trekkers are given one hour to be around the habituated chimpanzees of Kibale Forest, and this comes with an opportunity to learn about their habits. Chimpanzees are said to be the closest relatives to human beings, with more than 99% human DNA. Trekkers get to take photos and record videos of chimpanzees for future memories.

Trekkers around chimpanzees are able to watch the members jump from one tree branch to another, hunt, mate, breastfeed, or even rest. After a good time around the chimpanzees, trekkers are asked to leave; the family continues with daily activities. As trekkers leave the jungle, they get an opportunity to meet forest attractions like the birds, mammals, primates, and unique vegetation cover.

How is chimpanzee trekking during the low season?

The low season is also known as the rainy season in Kibale Forest National Park, and it happens from March to May and October to November. This is a period when the park is receiving plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. Tourists will find the trekking trails muddy and slippery, and vegetation will be tall with unclear views of the attractions, including chimpanzees.

Tourists looking for the best time to visit Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking it’s the dry season. This happens from June to September and December to February, a period when the park receives little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. The weather is good, keeping the trekking trails dry and passable, which makes movements in the forest easy.

During the dry season, the vegetation within the forest is not tall, which gives trekkers a clear view of some of the attractions within the forest. Tourists intending to travel in the dry season will purchase their permits at $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and Rest of Africa, while citizens of East African Member States pay UGX180,000 only.

Where to stay on a safari in Kibale Forest National Park?

On a safari to Kibale Forest National Park, tourists have a lot of accommodation facilities where they can stay if they want to spend a night or more within the park. These are standard, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, with tourists staying at lodges they can afford. Lodges include Isunga Lodge, Rubalika Safari Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Kibale Lodge, and Primate Lodge, among others.