Chimpanzee Tracking
Hear the forest erupt with pant-hoots as a chimpanzee community moves through the trees.
Follow wild chimpanzees through the tropical forests of Kibale, the primate capital of the world.
Kibale Forest National Park has one of the highest concentrations of primates in Africa, with around 1,500 chimpanzees and twelve other primate species. It is the best place in Uganda to track chimpanzees, and other good spots include Budongo Forest near Murchison Falls and the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Your tracking starts with a ranger briefing, then you walk through the forest listening for calls until you find the chimps feeding, grooming or swinging through the canopy. You then spend an hour with them. For a longer day, the chimpanzee habituation experience lets you join researchers with a community from dawn to dusk.
What's included
- Chimpanzee permit booking
- Transport to the park and the trailhead
- Experienced driver-guide throughout
- Lodges close to the forest
- Optional chimpanzee habituation experience
- Bigodi wetland walk on request
Made easy, made memorable
Permits secured early
Chimp permits are limited, so we book them as soon as your dates are confirmed.
Morning or afternoon
Choose a morning or afternoon tracking session, or a full habituation day.
More than chimps
Look out for red colobus, L'Hoest's monkeys and rich birdlife on the same walk.
From first message to the road
Choose your dates
Tell us when you would like to go, ideally a few weeks ahead.
We book your permit
We reserve your chimpanzee permit and a lodge near the forest.
Briefing and tracking
Meet the rangers and follow the calls until you find the chimps.
Relax
Spend the afternoon on a wetland walk or at a crater-lake lodge.
Frequently asked
How fit do I need to be?
Chimpanzee tracking is easier than gorilla trekking. The forest in Kibale is fairly flat, and most walks take two to four hours.
Is there a minimum age?
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is usually for visitors aged 12 and over. We confirm current rules when you book.
Can I combine it with gorilla trekking?
Yes. Many guests track chimpanzees in Kibale, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park and finish with gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
What should I wear?
Long sleeves and trousers, closed walking shoes, a rain jacket and insect repellent.
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