Safari guides · Uganda
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale: Permit, Cost and What to Expect
Kibale National Park is Uganda's main chimpanzee tracking forest. Here is how the permit works in 2027, what happens on the trek, and how to fit it around your gorilla days.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park means a guided walk with a UWA ranger to find a habituated chimpanzee group, then up to one hour watching them. Treks leave from Kanyanchu, with UWA listing start times of 8:00, 11:00 and 14:00 and groups of up to six people. You need a UWA chimpanzee permit, which you book through a licensed operator. UWA's revised tariff, including a new Kibale chimp rate, takes effect on 1 January 2027, and we confirm the exact figure in writing for your date. Kibale sits on the same circuit as Bwindi, so many travellers see chimps and gorillas on one trip.
Kibale at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Where | Western Uganda, near Fort Portal |
| From Kampala | About 326 km via the Fort Portal highway, about 6 hours, then about 1 hour from Fort Portal to the park (UWA) |
| Trek start point | Kanyanchu |
| Start times | 8:00, 11:00 and 14:00 (UWA Kibale page) |
| Group size | Up to 6 trekkers per group (UWA Kibale page) |
| Time with chimps | Up to 1 hour, at least 10 metres away |
| Minimum age | UWA sources say 12 or 16. We check with UWA for anyone under 16 |
| Permit | UWA chimpanzee tracking permit, booked through a licensed operator |
The Kibale chimpanzee permit in 2027
As with gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits for foreign visitors are booked through a licensed tour operator under UWA's tariff. UWA's letter of 26 February 2026 announced a revised tariff from 1 January 2027, with a new rate for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale. The same letter introduced lower low-season rates for April, May and November, with immediate effect in 2026. We quote the exact rate for your trek date in writing before you pay.
Two points we always explain:
- A permit is only held once it is paid. Since 1 March 2026, UWA no longer reserves permits for seven days without payment.
- Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled, according to UWA's letter.
Some of our trips include the chimp permit in the price. The 8-Day Gorillas, Chimps and Big Five trip, for example, includes both the gorilla and chimp permits. For the gorilla side of the budget, see our gorilla permit cost guide for 2027.
What happens on a Kibale chimp trek
Briefing at Kanyanchu
You arrive at Kanyanchu before your start time for a short briefing from a UWA ranger: how to behave near chimpanzees, how close you can go, and what to do with cameras and bags. Then your group of up to six sets off into the forest.
Finding the chimps
Chimpanzees move quickly and spend much of their time in the trees. You often hear them before you see them: loud calls and drumming on tree roots carry a long way through the forest. Your ranger reads these sounds and follows the group. Some days the walk is short; other days it takes much longer. Kibale's trails are generally easier than Bwindi's steep slopes, but you are still walking on forest ground.
Your hour with them
Once the group is found, you have up to one hour with them, keeping at least 10 metres away. You may watch them feed high in a fig tree, groom each other, or come down and move along the forest floor right past the trail. It is lively and noisy, and very different from the calm of a gorilla visit.
Chimpanzee habituation experience
For a longer visit, Kibale offers a chimpanzee habituation experience: a fuller day with a chimpanzee group that is still being habituated to people. It is a separate UWA permit with limited places, so book early and ask us for the 2027 rate.
Kibale is more than chimps
Kibale is famous for its primates, with 13 species in the forest. Many guests also enjoy:
- Bigodi Wetland. A community-run wetland walk right next to the park, good for birds and monkeys, and a way to support local people directly.
- The Fort Portal crater lakes. A scenic stop on the way in or out.
Read our Kibale destination guide for more on the area.
What to wear and bring
- Long trousers and long sleeves for protection from nettles and insects.
- Comfortable, closed walking boots with grip.
- A light rain jacket, in any month.
- Water and a small snack for after the trek.
- A camera without flash. Chimps are often in shade, so a fast lens helps.
Most of our gorilla trekking packing list works for Kibale too.
Chimps and gorillas on one trip
Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi form Uganda's classic western circuit. A common order is Kibale first for the chimps, then Queen Elizabeth for game drives and the Kazinga Channel, then Bwindi for the gorillas. Trips that include both great apes:
- 4-Day Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
- 5-Day Wildlife, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking
- 7-Day Gorillas, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Tour
- 8-Day Gorillas, Chimps and Big Five, with both permits included
Short on time? Queen Elizabeth's Kyambura Gorge also has chimpanzee tracking. It is a different experience from Kibale, and we will tell you honestly which suits your route.
Planning from abroad? Our country guides cover flights, currency and timing for your trip: from the USA, from the UK, from Canada, from Australia, from the Netherlands, from Germany, from Belgium and from Scandinavia.
Questions before you book? Send us a message on WhatsApp at +256 789 487 378, email info@mwanzotoursuganda.com, or use the Plan your journey form. We reply within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a chimpanzee permit in Kibale in 2027?
UWA sets the fee, and its revised tariff takes effect on 1 January 2027. We quote the exact rate for your date in writing before you pay, and our packages state whether the chimp permit is included.
What time do Kibale chimp treks start?
UWA's Kibale page lists walks leaving Kanyanchu at 8:00, 11:00 and 14:00. We book the slot that fits your drive and the rest of your day.
How long do you spend with the chimpanzees?
Up to one hour once the group is found, keeping a distance of at least 10 metres. Finding them can take from a short walk to several hours.
What is the minimum age for chimpanzee tracking?
UWA sources differ: the tariff says 12 and the Kibale park page says 16. If anyone in your group is under 16, we check with UWA before buying the permit.
Are chimpanzee sightings guaranteed?
No wild animal sighting can be guaranteed. Kibale's chimpanzee groups are habituated and tracked daily, so a sighting is very likely, but the forest decides.
Can I do chimps and gorillas on the same trip?
Yes. Kibale and Bwindi sit on the same western circuit, usually with Queen Elizabeth National Park in between. Allow at least four days, and ideally seven.