Primate Trekking Permits- Gorillas & Chimpanzee: Self Drive East Africa

East Africa is popular for three safari activities like the Mountaineering adventures in Tanzania , Uganda known for primate Safaris ( Gorillas & Chimpanzees) and Kenya is known for Big five watching adventures and all these safari activities can be enjoyed while on Self drive Safari in East Africa with strong car rental jeep.

Primate in Uganda that require the Permit include the following

  • Mountain Gorilla Trekking
  • Chimpanzee Tracking
  • Golden Monkey tracking

Among the most popular wild animals found in Uganda are the primates–the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. And the fascinating animal visitors who come on Uganda safari to see are the mountain gorillas found in Bwindi montane and the Virunga Mountains and the playful human cousins, the chimpanzee found in Kibale, Budongo, and Kaniyo Pabidi Forests.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking Permits

When booking a Gorilla permit through a Trusted Tour Company.

Mountain GorillasSelf Drive Uganda limited is a company that is licensed by Uganda Tourism board and a member in Association of Uganda Tour operators.  If you are interested in doing a gorilla trek, the simplest way is to just contact the company, Self-Drive Uganda LTD. The tour company will provide the needed information and they will go through the hustle for you. No extra charges when booking a gorilla tour with a trusted tour company that will at the sometime handle transfers, guidance and accommodation arrangements.

Given that the local tour company on the ground have enough knowledge about the different locations and so will make good choice for you to meet your preference and budget for example they choose a location to match your accommodation. If you only book a gorilla permit and do self-drive, a small fee will be charged to cover some costs that the tour agency will incur while trying to get in touch with Uganda wildlife Authority on your behalf.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in parks that is Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park but all permits have to be booked from Uganda wildlife Authority offices in Kampala and no booking is done on arrival at the park offices. Bwindi Impenetrable national park also allows visitors to participate in gorilla habituation process which lasts up to four hours with gorillas on each day visit and the permits are also booked like the normal gorilla trekking.

Gorilla permit cost

Uganda Gorilla permit Cost; to be able to take part in Gorilla trekking, you must obtain a Gorilla permit so the cost of the Gorilla permit largely determines the cost of Gorilla trekking in Uganda.

  • $800 for foreign nonresidents,
  • $700 for foreign residents of East African countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania)
  • 500$   African Residents
  • 300,000 UGX for East African citizens through the year.

Note : Please be a ware that no low season discounts anymore or any other discounts so do not be deceived or misled and the Company will help you in booking the gorilla permits at no extra cost.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience permit / pass costs

  1. $1,500 for foreign nonresidents,
  2. $1,000 for foreign residents in East Africa
  3. 750,000 UGX for East African Citizens.

Chimpanzee Tracking Permit

A chimpanzee trekking permit is Kibale forest national park is a document that allows you the visitor to go and enter the park to engage in chimpanzee tracking. Similar to gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks, visitors for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest must obtain a chimpanzee trekking permit before they are allowed into the park for this activity.

Besides Kibale forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking is conducted in other destinations including Budongo central forest reserve in Murchison Falls National park, Kalinzu forest in Queen Elizabeth National park as well as in Kyambura George still in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzee trekking permits especially for Kyambura George in Queen Elizabeth National Park and those is Kibale Forest National park are booked directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority. You can as well book your chimpanzee trekking permit through a prominent tour operator by providing your detail including when you would like to trek the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee TrackingOnce this is done it is the responsibility of the tour operator to check the availability of permits with UWA citing the dates you indicated you would be traveling and upon confirming the availability of these permits, you will again be conducted to make initial payments for securing your booking days. Chimpanzee trekking permit costs in Uganda are friendly to any visitor wishing to visits the Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking. About the cost of a gorilla trekking permit, the cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit is lower which makes them cost-effective to travelers.

In Kibale Forest National park, the cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit stands at goes for $ 250 for foreign nonresidents, $ 200 for foreign residents of East African countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania) and 200,000 UGX for East African citizens through the year.

Chimpanzee habituation at $ 300 for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents of East African countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania) and 200,000 UGX for East African citizens through the year.