Frequently Asked Questions on Chimpanzee Tracking and Habituation
Chimpanzee Tracking and Habituation
The chimpanzee tracking experience gives you a rare and exciting opportunity to see habituated chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in their natural habitat. Habituation means the chimpanzees have been made used to human presence but still behave naturally even when being observed by the humans.
Who can track or habituate chimpanzees?
Anybody of age 12 and above
Where can chimpanzee tracking be done?
In Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kyambura gorge)
In Kibale National Park (Kanyanchu)
Where can chimpanzee habituation be done?
In Kibale National Park (Buraiga)
How many people can track/habituate a chimpanzee group?
Maximum of 6 people (chimpanzee tracking)
Maximum of 8 people (chimpanzee habituation)
How much do I pay for the chimpanzee tracking experience?
In Kibale National Park (Kanyanchu)
US $ 200 for foreign non residents (chimpanzee tracking)
US $ 150 for foreign residents (chimpanzee tracking)
UGX 150,000 for East African Community citizen (chimpanzee tracking)
In Queen Elizabeth National Park
US $50 for foreign non residents (chimpanzee tracking)
US $50 for foreign residents (chimpanzee tracking)
UGX 30,000 for East African Community citizen (chimpanzee tracking)
How much do I pay for chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park?
US $ 250 for foreign non residents
US $ 250 for foreign residents
UGX 150,000 for East African Community citizen
How long do I stay with the chimpanzees?
One hour (chimpanzee tracking)
Four hours (chimpanzee habituation)
Where do I book from?
You can book by any of the following means:
· Walk-in clients book from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) reservations office, Plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya, KAMPALA
· Phone bookings can be made by calling 0414 355410 or 0414 355 409
· Email bookings can be made through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How do I pay after booking?
Cash
Credit/debit card or
Bank transferHow do I prepare for tracking after payment?
After payment, you will be given a permit, including your invoice and receipt.
Travel at least one day before the tracking date to be in time for the tracking which starts by 07:00 am.
Present all the above documents to the staff at the park, including your identification documents for verification (permit, invoice and receipt).
An UWA guide will then be allocated to brief and take you for the chimpanzee tracking experience or chimpanzee habituation experience
What kind of clothing or luggage can I use when tracking?
Jeans, safari clothes (dull colours) and strong jungle boots
Rain gear is also recommended
A bottle of drinking water
How do I get to Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kibale National Park?
You could use the services of a tour company which will organise your travel by road or air.
Alternatively, you can use public transport (buses) which ply the route from Kampala to Kasese via Mubende (430 kilometers). From Kasese you could hire a special hire car to Kyambura gorge (70 kilometers) across the Kazinga Channel where you will be tracking the chimpanzees (In Queen Elizabeth National Park). The other route to Queen Elizabeth National Park could be by bus from Kampala via Mbarara to Bushenyi town (480 kilometers). From bushenyi, you could hire a special hire car to Kyambura gorge (50 kilometers) for tracking.
For Kibale National Park, you could use public bus services that move direct from Kampala via Mubende to Fort Portal town (290 kilometers). From Fort Portal, you could hire a private car to Kanyanchu in the park for further arrangements. UWA has an information office in Fort Portal town. You could get more information about chimpanzee tracking/habituation from the information office.
What are the COVID-19 standard operating procedures to observe?
Click this link to read procedures: https://www.ugandawildlife.org/phocadownload/press_releases/SOPs-for-opening-tourism-and-research-post-covid-protected-areas.pdf
Contacts for more information about booking and payment
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +256 414 355 410 or +256 414 355 409
Website: www.ugandawildlife.org
Frequently Asked Questions on Gorilla Tracking and Habituation
Gorilla Tracking and Habituation
The gorilla tracking experience gives you a rare and exciting opportunity to see habituated mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in their natural habitat. Habituation means the gorillas have been made used to human presence but still behave naturally even when being observed by the humans.
Who can track gorillas?
Anybody of age 15 and above
Where can gorilla tracking be done?
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which has four sectors (Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija) and In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Nyakagezi)
You can choose to track gorillas in any of the above sectors
How many people can track/habituate a gorilla group?
Maximum of 8 people (gorilla tracking)
Maximum of 4 people (gorilla habituation)
How much do I pay for the experience?
US $ 700 for foreign non residents (gorilla tracking)
US $ 600 for foreign residents (gorilla tracking)
UGX 250,000 for East African Community citizen (gorilla tracking)
US $ 1,500 for foreign non residents (gorilla habituation)
US $ 1,000 for foreign residents (gorilla habituation)
UGX 750,000 for East African Community citizen (gorilla habituation)
How long do I stay with the gorillas?
One hour (gorilla tracking)
Four hours (gorilla habituation)
Where do I book from?
You can book by any of the following means:
· Walk-in clients book from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) reservations office, Plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya, KAMPALA
· Phone bookings can be made by calling 0414 355410 or 0414 355 409
· Email bookings can be made through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How do I pay after booking?
Cash
Credit/debit card or
Bank transfer
How do I prepare for tracking after payment?
After payment, you will be given a printed permit, including your invoice and receipt.
Travel at least one day before the tracking date to be in time for the tracking which starts by 07:00 am.
Present all the above documents to the staff at the park, including your identification documents for verification (permit, invoice and receipt).
An UWA guide will then be allocated to brief and take you for the gorilla tracking experience or gorilla habituation experience
What kind of clothing or luggage can I use when tracking?
Jeans, safari clothes (dull colours) and strong jungle boots
Rain gear is also recommended
A bottle of drinking water
How do I get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
You could use the services of a tour company which will organise your travel by road or air.
Alternatively, you can use public transport (buses) which ply the route from Kampala to Kabale (420 kilometers). From Kabale you could hire a private car to any of the sectors where you will be tracking the gorillas (In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park).
For Nyakagezi gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you could use bus services that move direct from Kampala to Kisoro town (510 kilometers). From Kisoro, you could hire a private car to the nearby park headquarters in Ntebeko (15 kilometers) for further arrangements. UWA has an information office in Kisoro town. You could get more information about gorilla tracking from the information office.What are the COVID-19 standard operating procedures to observe?
Click this link to read procedures: https://www.ugandawildlife.org/phocadownload/press_releases/SOPs-for-opening-tourism-and-research-post-covid-protected-areas.pdf
Contacts for more information about booking and payment
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +256 414 355 410 or +256 414 355 409
Website: www.ugandawildlife.org
