Chimpanzee permit prices in Kibale at a glance
You need a permit for every chimpanzee trek. In Kibale the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sets the prices, and they depend on your category and on the month. The figures below are the base tariff for 2026. A higher tariff is announced for 1 January 2027. Check the current amount before you book. When you book a tour, the listing says whether the permit and park fees are included.
The permit for chimpanzee tracking already includes the park entry, the guide and a nature walk on the tracking day. The habituation experience includes entry and the guide. Other activities, such as a bird walk, need the entry fee on top.
Our picks: trips with the chimpanzee permit included
The 3-day trip also covers park fees and the Bigodi swamp walk, the 2-day trip pairs the permit with the crater lakes, and the 4-day trip adds Semuliki.
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.
4-day chimpanzee trekking and Semuliki safari
- Chimpanzee permit
- Park entry
- Airport pick-up and transfer
Covers Kibale tracking, a Bigodi swamp walk and Semuliki with Sempaya. Meals and accommodation are not included.
Check availability →
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.
Check availability →Kibale tours with chimpanzee permits
Tours that arrange the chimpanzee permit and transport for you, with live prices and availability.
Who pays which price
The visitor categories.
Foreign non-residents (FNR)
Visitors from abroad who do not live in Uganda. This is the category of most tourists.
Foreign residents (FR)
Foreigners who live in Uganda and can show proof. A long holiday does not make you a resident.
Rest of Africa (ROA)
Citizens of other African countries. Ask the operator for the rate for tracking and habituation.
East African Community (EAC)
Citizens of the East African Community, who pay in Ugandan shillings. Identity papers are needed.
Kibale National Park entrance fee and activity prices
Per person, 2026. USD for foreign visitors, UGX for East African citizens.
| Activity | Foreign non-resident | Foreign resident | East African citizen | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimpanzee tracking | $250 | $200 | UGX 180,000 | Guide, entry and nature walk included |
| Habituation experience | $300 | $250 | UGX 250,000 | Guide and entry included |
| Park entry, adult | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 | Per 24 hours; Rest of Africa $25 |
| Park entry, child 5 to 15 | $20 | $10 | UGX 5,000 | Under 5 free; Rest of Africa $5 |
| Bird or day nature walk | $40 | $30 | UGX 30,000 | Entry extra |
| Night nature walk | $50 | $30 | UGX 20,000 | Entry extra |
| Short nature walk for children | $5 | $5 | UGX 10,000 | Not a chimpanzee permit |
After 24 hours a new day of entry begins. The entry fee for a vehicle is separate: a foreign-registered car costs $40 and a foreign-registered tour vehicle or 4x4 costs $150 per 24 hours, while Ugandan-registered cars cost UGX 20,000 and UGX 30,000. The fee depends on the number plate, not on the driver's nationality. A group discount of 20 percent on the entry fee applies to groups of more than 20 people on the same day.
Neighbouring Semuliki National Park charges its own entry, $35 for an adult foreign non-resident.
Seasonal rates and the 2027 tariff
The price is not one flat figure.
April, May and November
A reduced rate for tracking is announced: $200 for foreign non-residents and $150 for foreign residents. Discounted permits cannot be rebooked. The reduced rate is for tracking only, not for habituation or East African citizens.
From 1 January 2027
Higher prices are announced. For tracking, foreign non-residents, foreign residents, Rest of Africa and East African citizens would pay $300, $200, $100 and UGX 180,000. For habituation they would pay $400, $300, $250 and UGX 250,000. Treat these as announced figures and check them before you book for 2027.
How to book and pay
Foreign visitors go through an operator.
Booking. Foreign non-residents and visitors from the rest of Africa book gorilla and chimpanzee permits through a licensed tour operator. A direct online payment is not open to every nationality. The slot on your permit is the time you must keep.
Payment. Payment options include card payment by POS terminal, bank transfer or deposit, mobile money and an online payment portal. Prices are in dollars or shillings. In 2026, a slot is secured with full payment, so do not plan on holding a date for free.
Cancellation. Cancellation and rebooking terms depend on your booking. Ask your booking agent for them in writing.
Plan the trek. The trekking page covers start times and rules, and the habituation page the longer experience. For gorillas, the permit is a different product in Bwindi: foreign non-residents, foreign residents, Rest of Africa and East African citizens pay $800, $700, $500 and UGX 300,000. See the guide to gorilla permits.
Chimpanzee permits: frequently asked questions
How much is a chimpanzee permit in Kibale?
$250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents and UGX 180,000 for East African citizens in 2026, with entry and guide included. A reduced rate applies in April, May and November. Check the current amount before you book.
Is the park entry included in the permit?
Yes, for chimpanzee tracking and the habituation experience. For other walks, such as a bird walk, the entry fee comes on top.
Can I buy a permit on this website?
No. This site does not sell permits and is not the official park website. Foreign non-residents book through a licensed tour operator.
Is there a discount for children?
Children from 5 to 15 pay a lower park entry fee, and children under 5 do not pay entry. Do not take that as a right to join the trek: the minimum age for tracking is 12 or 16, so ask the booking agent.
Can I get a refund if I do not see chimpanzees?
Refund rules depend on your booking, and a sighting cannot be promised. Ask your booking agent for the terms in writing before you pay.
Does a Kibale permit cover the Bigodi walk?
No. The Bigodi wetland walk lies outside the park and has its own guide and prices.