Kibale National Park at a glance
Kibale National Park lies in western Uganda, near Fort Portal. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which runs the park, also uses the name Kibale Forest. It is a forest with patches of savanna and bushland, and it has been a national park since 1993. Visitors meet at the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, about 35 km from Fort Portal. The park is home to 13 primate species and an estimated 1,500 or more chimpanzees in at least 12 communities.
This guide covers the chimpanzee trek, the habituation experience, permits and what they cost in 2026, tours from Kampala and Fort Portal, the other primates, the Bigodi wetland, the crater lakes, the Amabere caves and Semuliki National Park. You can only track chimpanzees with a booking, so read the permit page before you plan dates.
Our picks: Kibale chimpanzee tours
From a one-day trek out of Fort Portal to a five-day trip that adds gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The 3-day trip is the clearest all-in choice, with permit and park fees included; the day trip suits you if you are already in Fort Portal.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
5-day gorilla and chimpanzee safari
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Park entry
- Full board and accommodation
Links Kibale and a crater lake with gorilla trekking in Bwindi, in a 4x4 with an English-speaking guide. Visa and flights are extra.
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2-day tracking, crater lakes and hot springs
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Guided crater lakes
- Sempaya hot springs
Meals and accommodation are included, with return transport from Kampala or Entebbe. Ask whether the permit and park fees are included before you book.
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3-day Kibale chimpanzee tour from Kampala
- Tracking and permit
- Crater lakes
- Accommodation
Adds a nature walk and community visits, with a driver-guide in a safari vehicle and pick-up from the airport or your hotel.
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3-day chimpanzee tracking and crater lakes
- Chimpanzee permit and park fees
- Two nights' accommodation
- Bigodi swamp walk
Tracking at Kanyanchu, the Bigodi swamp walk and a crater lakes hike in a 4WD van with an English-speaking driver-guide. Breakfast is included.
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2-day crater lakes and chimpanzee trek
- Chimpanzee permit
- Crater lakes visit
- Accommodation with full board
Pairs the Top of the World crater lakes with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, with a local guide and transport.
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Chimpanzee tracking day trip from Fort Portal
- Hotel pick-up and return
- Tracking from Kanyanchu
- Transport and water
A full day from Fort Portal, with the tracking starting at Kanyanchu. Ask whether the chimpanzee permit is included before you book.
Check availability →Kibale tours and chimpanzee trips
Chimpanzee trekking, Fort Portal day trips and multi-day safaris through western Uganda, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Kibale trip
Start with the trek and the permit, then pick the pages you need.
Chimpanzee trekking
Start times, group size, rules and what the walk is like.
Habituation experience
Up to 4 hours with chimpanzees that are still getting used to people.
Permits and park fees
Tracking, habituation and entry prices for each visitor category.
Tours and trips
How Kibale fits into a trip from Kampala, Fort Portal or Queen Elizabeth.
The chimpanzees
Communities, behaviour and numbers.
Red colobus and other primates
The 13 primate species and where you may see them.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
A guided swamp walk for birds and monkeys, outside the park.
Fort Portal and Tooro
The town, the kingdom and the botanical garden.
Crater lakes
Nkuruba, Nyinambuga and guided walks west of the park.
Amabere ga Nyinamwiru
A rock overhang, a waterfall and a legend.
Semuliki National Park
Sempaya hot springs and lowland rainforest.
Weather and best time
Rainy seasons and what they mean for your trek.
Where to stay
Staying by the forest, near Bigodi, at the crater lakes or in town.
Kampala to Fort Portal
Road, bus and the flight to Kasese.
History of the park
From timber forest to national park.
A few things to know before you go
Facts that decide how you plan.
The permit price depends on the month
The base price for chimpanzee tracking is $250 for foreign non-residents, with entry and guide included. In April, May and November a reduced rate of $200 applies, and discounted permits cannot be rebooked. A higher price of $300 is announced for January 2027. Check the current amount before you book.
Permit prices →The minimum age is 12 or 16
The minimum age for chimpanzee tracking is 12 or 16 years, depending on which UWA rule applies. Do not assume the gorilla rule of 15 applies. Ask the booking agent which age applies before you pay for a child.
Trekking rules →Habituation is up to 4 hours with the animals
The habituation experience limits the time with the chimpanzees to 4 hours. The whole excursion is longer, and you can start from 6:30 a.m. It is not a guaranteed day beside the animals.
Habituation experience →Bigodi is a separate visit
The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary lies outside the park and is run by the community. It has its own guide and its own prices. A Kibale permit does not cover it.
Bigodi walk →Tooro has a new king in 2026
The Tooro kingdom announced the death of Omukama Oyo on 27 August 2026. Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has been Omukama since 29 September 2026.
Fort Portal and Tooro →Entry and health in 2026
A single-entry tourist eVisa costs $50. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended and no longer required. Check your government's travel advice for western Uganda before you book.
Getting there →Kibale in a longer Uganda trip
Other parks have their own guides.
Many visitors combine Kibale with other parks. For gorillas, see the guide to gorilla trekking in Bwindi. For lions, hippos and the Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park lies to the south. For the falls and the Nile, there is Murchison Falls. This site stays with Kibale and the places you can reach from it.
More independent Uganda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Jinja
The source of the Nile, rafting, boat trips and Lake Victoria at Jinja.
Kalangala
The Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria: Bugala, Banda, ferries and quiet beaches.
Bwindi
Gorilla trekking, permits, the four sectors and Lake Bunyonyi in southwest Uganda.
Murchison Falls
Safaris, Nile boat cruises to the falls, shoebills and the Ziwa rhinos.
Queen Elizabeth
Game drives, the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha's tree climbing lions and the Rwenzori.
Lake Mburo
Zebras, boat trips and horseback safaris between Kampala and Bwindi.
Kidepo Valley
Remote savanna safaris in the Narus Valley, cheetahs, ostriches and Karamoja in the far northeast.
Kibale National Park: frequently asked questions
How much does chimpanzee tracking in Kibale cost?
The base permit price in 2026 is $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents and UGX 180,000 for East African citizens. Entry, guide and a nature walk on the tracking day are included. A reduced rate of $200 and $150 applies in April, May and November. Check the current amount before you book. See permits and fees.
Will I see chimpanzees?
The chances are good, and UWA puts the success rate at over 90 percent. It is still a wild animal in a forest, so no tour can promise a sighting. Once the group finds chimpanzees, you may stay up to one hour at a distance of at least 10 m.
Where does the trek start?
At the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, about 35 km from Fort Portal. You register and get a briefing there. Check the start time on your permit, because the time slot is printed on it. More on the trekking page.
What is the best time to visit?
Tracking is possible all year. Rain is most frequent from March to May and from September to November, and paths can be wet. The weather page has the monthly figures.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
Most visitors apply online for an eVisa. A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 and allows up to 3 months. The East Africa Tourist Visa costs $100 and covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months.
Is kibale-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Bigodi project, the Tooro kingdom, any lodge or any tour operator.