Budget chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda involve encountering the chimpanzees in their natural habitat at an affordable cost. The different destinations where budget chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda can take place include Kibale forest national park which is popular for primate tours, the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park and Budongo forest in north western Uganda.
One of the ways to engage in budget chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda is by choosing a destination where permits for the activity are less costly since there are different alternatives for chimpanzee trekking tours in the country.
Before engaging in the chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda, tourists are required to have chimpanzee permits which are documents which allow the individuals above the age of 12 years to spend time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
Booking of the chimpanzee permits in advance is something that tourists are encouraged to do so as to avoid missing out on the trek due to limited permits which are in high demand.
For budget chimpanzee trekking tours, booking of budget lodges around the destinations where the chimpanzee treks take place is also a more affordable option which helps to reduce the price of the tour.
Joining groups for the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda is another way to enjoy a budget safari because of the shared costs of accommodation and transport among other costs incurred during the safari experience.
To get discounts on accommodation, tourists can also choose to travel to the destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda during the low season around March to May and in November when fewer tourists visit different locations in the country.
Chimpanzee trekking on a budget in Kibale forest national park
The chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale national park is an exciting activity which can be done in the morning or in the afternoon.
Chimpanzee permits for trekking in Kibale national park cost 250 USD for foreign nonresidents, 200 USD for foreign residents and 180,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
A briefing is done at the Kibale park headquarters by the park officials about the rules and safety procedures to follow while in the forest and after this, tourists are assigned ranger guides to accompany them during the search for the chimpanzees.
During the chimpanzee trekking tour in Kibale forest national park tourists are encouraged to follow the different rules and regulations such as keeping a distance of about 7 meters from the chimpanzees while watching them and taking their photos and observing their behavior.
In addition to chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is home to a various primate species which are about 13 in number such as red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, and blue monkeys among others as well as different bird species including Albertine rift endemics.
Budget lodges around Kibale national park include Isunga lodge, Kibale forest camp, Lake Nkuruba nature reserve and community campsite among others.
Budget chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge
The Kyambura gorge is the part of Queen Elizabeth national park where tourists can engage in chimpanzee trekking tours as they visit south western Uganda.
Permits for chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura gorge costs 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 80 USD for foreign residents and 50,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens which is more affordable as compared to trekking in Kibale national park and Budongo forest.
Kyambura Gorge is renowned for its scenic beauty and is referred to as the valley of apes and is located on the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. A river crosses through the gorge which is a very scenic part of the national park.
The gorge is about 100 meters deep and consists of forests where the chimpanzees and other wildlife species live. Other primates found in the Kyambura gorge include olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys among others.
Similar to other chimpanzee trekking tours, a briefing is done before tourists take part in the search for the chimpanzees of the Kyambura gorge which is also done with ranger guides who are knowledgeable of trails through the forest.
Apart from chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, other activities which take place around the destination include guided nature walks, hiking and bird watching experiences. Budget lodges around the Kyambura gorge include
Chimpanzee trekking on a budget in Budongo forest
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest is one of the affordable options of visiting the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
The Budongo forest is located in north western Uganda in Murchison falls national park and it is one of the large rainforests in the country covering over 500 square kilometers. Apart from the chimpanzees, there are also various bird species found around the destination in areas such as the Royal Mile which is a popular birding spot found in the forest.
Permits for chimpanzee trekking tours in the Budongo forest cost about 130 USD per person for an activity which can takes place in the morning or in the afternoon. Briefing is done at the Kaniyo Pabidi headquarters where tourists are also assigned ranger guides to accompany them for the search of the chimpanzees in the forest.
For a period of about 3 to 4 hours, tourists can engage in chimpanzee trekking tours in Budongo forest and spend 1 hour in the presence of the chimpanzees and enjoy watching them closely and observing their behavior.
Best time for budget chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda
Traveling during the low or rainy season is considered the best time to engage in a budget chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda. This is because of discounts offered during the low season because of the rains which make tourists avoid travel.
However, budget tours in Uganda can also be done during the dry season around June to September and in December, January and February when it is easy to trek through the trails in the forests to search for the chimpanzees across the different destinations including Budongo forest, Kibale forest and the Kyambura gorge.
