Chimpanzee Permit Fees in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee permit fees are charged to attain permission to do the chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, the protected area is located in the western part of Uganda covering an area space of approximately 795 kilometers in the Kabarole district. Chimpanzees are the main residents of the park with 12 other species including the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, white-cheeked monkeys, olive baboons, and nocturnal species like pottos and bush babies and over 300 species of birds recorded most of which are forest birds while others are savannah species and endemics to the Albertine rift valley region.

Chimpanzees have been scientifically proven to share up to 98% of the human DNA there are about 1,500 individuals in the wilderness, these live in communities of about 100 members led by a male Alpha, each of these presents a unique character and way of doing things, they feed on the forest plants, fruits, insects and are selective with what they eat on meats, sometimes feed on monkeys. They are intelligent in nature and have the ability to use tools like sticks to dig out termites from aunt mold, a mature chimpanzee weighs 70 kilograms. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is the key activity done in the national park, it takes place beginning at the Kanyanchu visitor center, it is done in the morning from 8:00 am East African time and the afternoon at 2:00 pm, the beauty of tracking chimpanzee here is that there are 99% chances of seeing the primates, the hike is not as tiring, it is easy to find the primates.

To begin a chimpanzee tracking experience, the first is to inquire about space and validity at the authorities, it is from here that you can permit fees will be discussed, all Chimpanzee permits are purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority,  the chimpanzee permit fees in Kibale forest national park differ from those of other national parks,  permit fees are as $200 for foreign nonresidents- Visitors who live outside Uganda and east African countries that is to say Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, $150 foreign residents -foreign people who live in the country working here with proof of residence and the 150,000 shillings charged to east African citizens. There are rules and regulations to be followed upon finding the chimpanzee and acquiring a permit, 12-year-olds are not allowed to track chimpanzees, a group of only 6 members is allowed while with the primates when sick visitors are not permitted to be with the chimpanzee, eating food and the use of flush photography is prohibited.

Uganda has 2 seasons of weather conditions, the dry season and the wet season, it is crossed by the equator hence some regions experience the equatorial type of climate, visiting the Kibale Forest National Park is done in any of these seasons but it is best during the dry season between December-February and June – Early September this time is also regarded as a high tourism season.