Into the World of
Chimpanzees
Track our closest living relatives through Kibale Forest — home to the world's highest concentration of primates and over 1,500 chimpanzees. An intimate, exhilarating encounter unlike anything else in Africa.
Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest — Where
Chimps Rule
the Canopy
Kibale National Park is the finest place on Earth to track wild chimpanzees. Spanning 766 square kilometres of tropical rainforest and woodland, the park hosts over 1,500 chimpanzees across numerous habituated groups — giving you an outstanding chance of an extended, intimate encounter.
Unlike gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking is fast-moving, dynamic, and electrifying. You may hear them before you see them — drumming on tree buttresses, calling through the canopy — and then suddenly you are surrounded. The energy is extraordinary.
Your Chimpanzee
Tracking Day
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is a different kind of wild — unpredictable, high-energy, and deeply intimate. Here is how the experience unfolds.
Kibale Forest
in Images
Africa's Premier
Primate Sanctuary
Gazetted in 1993, Kibale National Park in western Uganda protects one of the most diverse and intact tropical rainforests in Africa — a living laboratory for primate research and an extraordinary destination for wildlife travellers.
The park connects to Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south, creating a vast wildlife corridor through which elephants, buffaloes, and leopards roam freely alongside the primates.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Packages
Fully tailored to your preferences. Contact us to build your perfect primate safari.
Essential Information
Permits & Tracking Rules
- Tracking permit: USD $250 per person (standard) / $300 (habituation experience)
- Habituation permit: Full day with a chimp group still being researched
- Group size: Maximum 6 people per habituated chimp community
- Duration: 2–4 hours for standard tracking; full day for habituation
- Age minimum: 12 years old
- Health: Do not trek with respiratory illness or if unwell
Best Time to Visit
- Year-round: Chimpanzees are tracked throughout the year
- Dry seasons: June–August and December–February — easier trails
- Wet seasons: March–May, October–November — lush forest, fewer crowds
- Morning sessions: 7:30am–12pm (best for chimp activity)
- Afternoon sessions: 2:00pm–5:00pm (available in some sectors)
What to Wear & Bring
- Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers (neutral, dark colours)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Insect repellent (DEET-based)
- Camera with good zoom — chimps move fast
- Water bottle and light snacks
- Small daypack for essentials
Fitness & Health
- Fitness level: Moderate — trails can be steep and muddy
- Pace: Chimpanzees move quickly — be prepared to keep up
- Medical: Malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination (required)
- Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance including emergency evacuation strongly recommended
- Altitude: Kibale sits at approximately 1,100–1,600m above sea level
Ready to Track
the Chimpanzees?
Contact our team to secure your Kibale permits and begin planning your Uganda primate safari. We handle every detail — you simply arrive and experience.
Into the World of
Chimpanzees
Track our closest living relatives through Kibale Forest — home to the world's highest concentration of primates and over 1,500 chimpanzees. An intimate, exhilarating encounter unlike anything else in Africa.
Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest — Where
Chimps Rule
the Canopy
Kibale National Park is the finest place on Earth to track wild chimpanzees. Spanning 766 square kilometres of tropical rainforest and woodland, the park hosts over 1,500 chimpanzees across numerous habituated groups — giving you an outstanding chance of an extended, intimate encounter.
Unlike gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking is fast-moving, dynamic, and electrifying. You may hear them before you see them — drumming on tree buttresses, calling through the canopy — and then suddenly you are surrounded. The energy is extraordinary.
Your Chimpanzee
Tracking Day
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is a different kind of wild — unpredictable, high-energy, and deeply intimate. Here is how the experience unfolds.
Kibale Forest
in Images
Africa's Premier
Primate Sanctuary
Gazetted in 1993, Kibale National Park in western Uganda protects one of the most diverse and intact tropical rainforests in Africa — a living laboratory for primate research and an extraordinary destination for wildlife travellers.
The park connects to Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south, creating a vast wildlife corridor through which elephants, buffaloes, and leopards roam freely alongside the primates.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Packages
Fully tailored to your preferences. Contact us to build your perfect primate safari.
Essential Information
Permits & Tracking Rules
- Tracking permit: USD $250 per person (standard) / $300 (habituation experience)
- Habituation permit: Full day with a chimp group still being researched
- Group size: Maximum 6 people per habituated chimp community
- Duration: 2–4 hours for standard tracking; full day for habituation
- Age minimum: 12 years old
- Health: Do not trek with respiratory illness or if unwell
Best Time to Visit
- Year-round: Chimpanzees are tracked throughout the year
- Dry seasons: June–August and December–February — easier trails
- Wet seasons: March–May, October–November — lush forest, fewer crowds
- Morning sessions: 7:30am–12pm (best for chimp activity)
- Afternoon sessions: 2:00pm–5:00pm (available in some sectors)
What to Wear & Bring
- Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers (neutral, dark colours)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Insect repellent (DEET-based)
- Camera with good zoom — chimps move fast
- Water bottle and light snacks
- Small daypack for essentials
Fitness & Health
- Fitness level: Moderate — trails can be steep and muddy
- Pace: Chimpanzees move quickly — be prepared to keep up
- Medical: Malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination (required)
- Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance including emergency evacuation strongly recommended
- Altitude: Kibale sits at approximately 1,100–1,600m above sea level
Ready to Track
the Chimpanzees?
Contact our team to secure your Kibale permits and begin planning your Uganda primate safari. We handle every detail — you simply arrive and experience.