May 20, 2024
by Nicole Rowles

Chimps are found across East Africa. When you are planning your chimp trek, it is important to pick the destination that best suits the experience you want, your budget and the time of year you will travel. The four best destinations to trek with chimps include:

  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Rwanda 
  • DRC

Our favourite is Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, the birthplace of chimpanzee research and the one of the best off-the-beaten-track adventures in Africa. However, if you’re planning to add a gorilla trek to your itinerary, you may wish to trek in Uganda, where chimp trekking is available and gorilla trekking permits are most affordable.

To help you decide which country is the best fit for your once-in-a-life-time chimp trek, we’ve put together our recommendations for chimp trekking in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. At Adventure Out Loud, we can help book treks in all of these destinations, and are happy to discuss options with you anytime. 

 

 

 

Chimp trekking in Tanzania 

 

Best National Park to trek with chimps in Tanzania

Gombe National Park or Mahale National Park
Number of chimps in Tanzania

Approx. 2,500 individuals with:

  • Gombe: approximately 90 individuals
  • Mahale: approximately 1,000 individuals
    Recommended for

Anyone who can complete at least two hours of continuous hiking exercise in steep and rugged terrain.

If you are older or less fit, your guides will make an effort to find the closest possible chimp group, and it is possible for porters to carry you if you are disabled or injured. 

 Chimp permit cost in Tanzania USD$150 per person for foreign non-residents
Best time of year to trek with chimps in Tanzania January to February and June to August.
Getting to Gombe or Mahale

Gombe National Park
Gombe National Park is only accessible by charter boat from Kigoma town. This takes approximately one - two hours. Alternatively, you can take a public lake taxi, which takes around four hours.

Daily domestic flights to Kigoma are available from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam with Air Tanzania at a cost of approx. US$200/flight. It is also possible to small commercial flights from Arusha or the Serengeti, but these tickets will cost approx. US$1,500pp and are not available everyday. 

Mahale National Park
The easiest way to get to Mahale National Park is by air, arriving at Kalilani airstrip. Flights to Kalilani are available from Arusha or the Serengeti, but tickets will cost approx. US$1,500pp and are not available everyday (usually only Monday & Thursday). From Kalilani, you take a one - two hour chartered boat ride. 

Alternatively, you can catch a domestic flight to Kigoma, and charter a boat to Mahale or you can use a combination of road and boat. Either way, allow a full day’s travel from Kigoma to Mahale.

Visas for Tanzania You can apply online for a visa to Tanzania at Tanzania eVisa (immigration.go.tz)
Itinerary length Set aside three to five days for your trek. Budget permitting, you may wish to purchase a second permit, in the unlikely event that you don’t see any chimps during your initial trek.
Favourite lodges 

Favourite lodges in Gombe

  • Mid-range: National Park Bandas | From US$100pp/night
  • Luxury (over-priced): Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge | US$250 - US$650pp/night

Favourite lodges in Mahale

  • Mid-range: National Park Bandas
  • Luxury: Greystoke Mahale, Nkungwe Luxury Tented Camp or Mbali Mbali

For more information about accommodation on a Tanzania chimp trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog.

Other attractions in Tanzania
  • Safari (Tanzania is Africa's best safari destination with attractions such as the Great Migration, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire,  Lake Manyara and many more world-class safari parks)
  • Climb Mt Kilimanjaro
  • Relax on Zanzibar's pristine beaches
  • Swim with whale sharks on Mafia Island

 

 

 

 

Chimp trekking in Uganda 

 

Best National Park to trek with chimps in Uganda

Kibale National Park or Kyambura Gorge
Number of chimps in Uganda

There are approximately 5,000 chimps in Uganda. 

  • Kibale: Approximately 1,500 individuals with high population density - sightings are most common in Kibale.
  • Kyambura: Approximately 80 individuals.
Recommended for

Kibale is a very flat area to trek with chimps, with most trekkers finding chimps within one hour of starting their trek. This make Kibale a fantastic place to trek with chimps if you are older or unfit. Trekking with chimps in Kyambura Gorge on the other hand is very steep and requires a reasonable level of fitness. 

If you are older or less fit, your guides will make an effort to find the closest possible gorilla group, and it is possible for porters to carry you if you are disabled or injured. 

Chimp permit cost in Uganda
  • Kibale: USD$250 per person for foreign non-residents
  • Kyambura Gorge: USD$50 per person for foreign non-residents
Best time of year  to trek with chimps in Uganda January to February and June to August.
Getting there

Getting to Kibale

  • By road: Drive from Kampala city on the Kampala-Fort Portal Highway for approximately seven - nine hours.
  • By air: There are no direct flights to the park, but small domestic flights are available from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip with Aerolink. The flight time is approximately one hour, followed by an approximately two hour drive to the park headquarters.

Getting to Kyambura Gorge

  • By road: Drive from Kampala city to Queen Elizabeth National Park for approximately seven - nine hours.
  • By air: Small domestic flights are available from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip with Aerolink. The flight time is approximately one hour, followed by an approximately one hour drive to the park headquarters.
Visas for Uganda

You can apply for a tourist visa online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug 

If you are visiting Rwanda and/or Kenya as well, apply for the East African Visa which will allow you to enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya multiple times. 

Itinerary length This is dependent on what you want to do:
  • Chimps only: 3 - 4 days
  • Gorillas, chimps and safari: 8 - 12 days
  • Gorillas, chimps, safari and white water rafting: 10+ days 
Favourite lodges in Uganda

Favourite lodges around Kibale

  • Mid-range: Turaco Treetops or Isunga Lodge
  • Luxury: Chimpundu Lodge 

Favourite lodges around Kyambura Gorge

  • Mid-range: Bush Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp
  • Luxury: Parkview Safari Lodge 

For more information about accommodation on a Uganda chimp trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog.

Other attractions in Uganda
  • White water rafting on the Nile River
  • Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Murchison’s Falls
  • Lake Victoria

For more information about the things you can do before or after your chimp trek, visit our blog Things to do before or after your gorilla or chimp trek

 

 

 

 

 

Chimp trekking in Rwanda 

 

Best National Park to trek with chimps in Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest National Park
Number of chimps in Rwanda 500 individuals
Recommended for

Anyone who can complete at least one - two hour of continuous hiking exercise in steep and rugged terrain.

If you are older or less fit, your guides will make an effort to find the closest possible gorilla group, and it is possible for porters to carry you if you are disabled or injured. 

Chimp permit cost in Rwanda USD$150 per person
Getting to Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

By car: Travel south from Kigali through rolling hills. The drive takes approximately five - six hours, and can be made by hire car or as arranged by your tour operator. Driving can be a great way to see other attractions on the way, including the Nyanza King’s palace and the genocide memorial.

By air: During peak season, there are a number of domestic flights available from Kigali to Kamembe International Airport, which is located about 40km from Nyungwe Forest National Park. You can arrange a transfer to your accommodation through your tour operator. There are also helicopter charters available.

Visas for Rwanda Apply for a visa to Rwanda online at Visitors visa (migration.gov.rw)
Itinerary length Set aside three to five days for your trek. Budget permitting, you may wish to purchase a second permit, in the unlikely event that you don’t see any chimps during your initial trek.
Favourite lodges in Nyungwe

Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel 

Luxury: Bisate Lodge 

Other attractions in Rwanda
  • Canopy walkway at Nyungwe Forest National Park
  • Waterfall treks (highly recommended)
  • Rwandan Genocide Memorial

For more information about the things you can do before or after your chimp trek, visit our blog Things to do before or after your gorilla or chimp trek

 

 

Chimp trekking in the DRC 

 

Best National Park to trek with chimps in the DRC

Virunga National Park
Number of chimps in Virunga National Park 1,000 individuals
Recommended for Experienced and fit travelers with a high risk tolerance and who want to get off the beaten track.
Chimp permit cost in Virunga National Park USD$90 for foreign non-residents 
Best time of year  to visit Virunga National Park June to September and December to February
Getting to Virunga National Park

The easiest way to travel to Virunga National Park is via the Grande Barrier border crossing between Rwanda & the DRC. Arriving at Kigali International Airport, you should take a chartered car for the four to five hour drive to the border. 

Visas to enter the DRC It is currently unsafe to visit Virunga National Park. 
Itinerary length If you are putting the effort into visiting Virunga, you are best to set aside four to six days to visit the Nyiragongo volcano and trek with gorillas and chimps. Budget permitting, you may wish to purchase a second permit, in the unlikely event that you don’t see any chimps during your initial trek.
Favourite lodges in Virunga National Park

Mid-range: Kibumba Tented Camp

Luxury: Mikeno Lodge

Other attractions in Virunga
  • Nyiragongo volcano
  • Safari in Virunga National Park
  • Lake Kivu (3rd deepest lake in Africa - 480m)

For more information about the things you can do before or after your chimp trek, visit our blog Things to do before or after your gorilla or chimp trek

 

 

Gorilla & chimp itineraries

Need help planning your gorilla or chimp trek? 

Book a free consultation with one of our African adventure experts today. 

Otherwise, check out our ultimate guide to trekking with mountain gorillas and chimps for everything you need to know to start planning your trek. 

About The Author:

Nicole Rowles

PR & Content Manager

Nicole is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for travel and adventure. A publicist, podcaster and former journalist, she loves to weave words into magic!