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Chimp Trekking Tours
A chimpanzee trekking safari offers a special opportunity to see our closest relatives at close proximity. Although it doesn’t get the same attention as gorilla trekking, the experience can be quite similar. The intelligence and social structure of chimps make them fascinating subjects for observation, and no two visits are the same. Chimpanzees live in communities ranging from 20 to 150 individuals. Like humans, they tend to have strong personalities. Their expressive faces make their identities easily recognized by us, even during a short visit. Lucky visitors will be able to hear their pant-hooting, a communal, loud calling session which can be triggered by anything that excites them – including you.
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10-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Wildlife
$3,135 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Lake Mburo NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Murchison Falls NP, Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Entebbe (End)
Dav Safaris
5.0/5 – 84 Reviews
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5-Day Gorilla and Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
$2,079 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & BandaYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
Frena Adventures
4.8/5 – 91 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
7-Day Tour to See Gorillas - Custom Vacation in Uganda
$2,739 pp (USD)
Uganda & Rwanda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Budongo Forest (Chimps), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Kigali Airport (End)
Home To Africa Tours and Travel
4.9/5 – 278 Reviews
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4-Day Rwanda Bisoke Hike, Twin Lakes, Golden Monkey Trek
$1,596 pp (USD)
Rwanda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Kigali (Start), Volcanoes NP (Gorillas), Mt Bisoke (Virunga Mountains), Kigali (End)
Hermosa Life Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 102 Reviews
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5-Day Gorilla Trekking Chimp Trekking & Wildlife Safari
$2,145 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & BandaYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP), Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Lulu Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 76 Reviews
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6-Day Rwanda Adventures - Great Apes & Lake Kivu
$4,985 pp (USD)
Rwanda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Kigali (Start), Volcanoes NP (Gorillas), Lake Kivu, Nyungwe NP (Chimps), Kigali (End)
Kingfisher Journeys
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda
$2,530 to $2,750 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe Airport (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
5.0/5 – 122 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
8-Day Uganda Flying Safari
$10,390 to $15,042 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kyambura Gorge (Chimps), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 149 Reviews
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12-Day Holiday with Golden Monkeys, Gorillas and Chimps
$3,410 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & ResortYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Kisoro (Town), Mgahinga Gorilla NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Buyaga Safaris
4.9/5 – 50 Reviews
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10-Day Mid Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
$5,390 to $5,445 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Ganyana Safaris Uganda
4.8/5 – 25 Reviews
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Best Seller
6-Day Amazing Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Safari
$2,200 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kalinzu FR (Chimps), Entebbe (End)
Kajie Safaris
5.0/5 – 108 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
6-Day Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking
$2,838 pp (USD)
Rwanda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Kigali (Start), Nyungwe NP (Chimps), Karongi (Town), Volcanoes NP (Gorillas), Kigali (End)
Golden Rwanda Safaris
5.0/5 – 194 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Murchison Falls, Big 5, Chimps & Gorillas Tracking
$3,080 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe (End)
NGONI Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 140 Reviews
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3-Day Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Experience
$682 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Entebbe (End)
Moroka Expeditions
4.8/5 – 11 Reviews
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Best Seller
3-Day Rwanda Primates Trekking for Foreigners
$3,512 pp (USD)
Rwanda: Shared tour (max 20 people per group)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Kigali (Start), Genocide Memorial (Kigali), Volcanoes NP (Gorillas), Kigali (End)
Silverbird Tours Agency
4.9/5 – 15 Reviews
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8-Day Uganda Luxury Exclusive Wildlife Safari
$4,901 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Gorilla Link Tours
5.0/5 – 28 Reviews
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14-Day Explore Uganda Wildlife Safari and Apes Uganda
$4,131 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Jinja (Town), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Budongo Forest (Chimps), Murchison Falls NP, Hoima (Town), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Kampala (City), Entebbe (End)
Yaneta Safaris
4.7/5 – 42 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
$1,001 to $1,056 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 8 people per group)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Kibale NP (Chimps), Entebbe (End)
East African Jungle Safaris
5.0/5 – 136 Reviews
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7-Day Bwindi, Kibale & Queen Elizabeth NP Midrange Tour
$3,154 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Kampala (Start), Entebbe (City), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Kampala (End)
Bujo Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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6-Day Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Uganda
$2,585 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Resort
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe Airport (End)
Native Africa Tours
5.0/5 – 16 Reviews
6 Questions About Chimp Trekking Tours
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines. She recommends trekking at least twice during a safari. This is because experiences vary, and it will increase your chances of having a very special encounter with chimpanzees.› More about Ariadne
6 Questions About Chimp Trekking Tours
Why should I choose a chimp trekking safari?
“Chimpanzee trekking is totally different from the usual safari experience. As chimpanzees live in rainforest, the only access is by foot. Chimpanzee trekking is active and usually requires hiking for several hours to see chimps up close. A chimp trekking safari offers people a welcome break from game drives. Watching these great apes up close on foot is an amazing experience, almost on a par with gorilla trekking. Most African safaris are centered on car-based wildlife viewing, and activities such as chimp trekking offer a nice break from time sitting in vehicles. Chimp trekking is mostly done as part of a longer tour that includes other activities, such as wildlife viewing in savannah reserves and gorilla trekking. ”
1Which countries offer chimpanzee trekking tours?
“Chimp trekking can be done in several African countries. Chimpanzees occur naturally in West and Central Africa, and their range includes some East African countries such as Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. The East African countries are the most popular countries for chimpanzee safaris as they are more developed for tourism than West Africa. There are several parks in Uganda that offer chimp trekking and the activity is standard on most Ugandan safaris. One of the most reliable places to see chimpanzees is in Kibale Forest in Uganda. It’s arguably the most popular place in Africa to see chimpanzees. Sightings can get a bit crowded. Chimp trekking in Tanzania is only available in Mahale and Gombe Stream, two very remote parks on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Gombe Stream National Park is famous as the place where Jane Goodall did her chimpanzee research. Although chimp trekking is highly recommended here, it is not usually part of a standard Tanzania safari. As Rwanda is still an emerging destination, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest is not as well-known at this stage and sightings are possibly more hit and miss. Virunga Mountains National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers chimpanzee trekking as well. ”
2What fitness level is required?
“Chimpanzee trekking requires a reasonable amount of fitness. It depends on where you will be trekking ¬– and to some extent it just depends on the day. Even in a particular park, every day can be different. You might find the chimps after 10 minutes or after two hours. And then they might be stationary, or feeding in trees, or they might be on the move. The latter can result in a very challenging trek as you try to keep up with them moving through the undergrowth at high speed. The terrain in some of the parks is hillier than in others. One of the easiest places to see chimpanzees is in Kibale Forest in Uganda. Other rewarding places to see chimpanzees are Mahale and Gombe Stream in Tanzania. However, here the terrain is very hilly, and a fair amount of fitness is required.”
3How close can I get to the chimps?
“Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives and they share 98.8% of our DNA. That means they can easily pick up human diseases. For this reason, and also for safety reasons, it is vital to keep a reasonable distance when watching chimpanzees. You will track chimpanzees in a small group of up to 10 people. Your guide will give you very clear instructions on where to stay when you get close to the chimps. Having said that, the chimps themselves are very habituated and they don’t abide by rules. On top of that, the thick forest growth might make backing off difficult at times. So, it is very possible a chimpanzee may come within a meter of you. ”
4How much will this safari cost?
“The cost of chimp trekking packages depends on the country and the park. In Tanzania, the chimpanzee trekking fee is included in the park entrance for Mahale and Gombe Stream, which is respectively US$80 and US$100 per person per day. This is very affordable, but due to the exclusivity and remoteness of these parks, the overall price of a safari here is high. A chimp permit in Kibale National Park in Uganda costs US$150. In Queen Elizabeth’s Kyambura Gorge, the fee is US$50 on top of the general entry fee of US$40. A very affordable and popular alternative in Uganda is chimp trekking in Kalinzu Forest, an ecotourism project outside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The total price is only US$40. Chimp trekking in Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda costs US$90, on top of the park entrance fee of US$40.”
5How does chimp trekking compare to gorilla trekking?
“Gorilla and chimp trekking are very comparable experiences. You set out with a maximum number of visitors – eight for gorilla trekking and up to 10 in some places for chimp trekking. For gorillas, trackers go ahead, and your guide will be in touch with them by radio to guide you directly to the gorillas. This is not always the case with chimp trekking. Your guide might have to do the tracking themselves, which can make the hike more challenging and the success rate lower. Once you have reached the gorillas or chimps, you get an hour to spend time with them before heading back. Gorillas don’t cover as much ground as chimps, and you will most likely stay with gorillas in a small area. Chimps, on the other hand, when on the move, can be hard to follow. All gorilla groups for tourist visits are very habituated, so time spent with them tends to be of a very high quality. This isn’t always the case with chimpanzees. They are very habituated in places such as Mahale, Gombe and Kibale, but they might be less so in other places, and tend to move off slowly. In some cases, the males are more relaxed than the females and babies. I think both experiences are highly rewarding, but the chimpanzee trekking experience is more variable depending on several factors. As well, being close to an ape the size of a gorilla has a thrill factor that might not be quite the same with chimpanzees.”
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