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:
|
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 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 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
Favourite lodges in Mahale
For more information about accommodation on a Tanzania chimp trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog. |
Other attractions in Tanzania |
|
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.
|
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 |
|
Best time of year to trek with chimps in Uganda | January to February and June to August. |
Getting there |
Getting to Kibale
Getting to Kyambura Gorge
|
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:
|
Favourite lodges in Uganda |
Favourite lodges around Kibale
Favourite lodges around Kyambura Gorge
For more information about accommodation on a Uganda chimp trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog. |
Other attractions in Uganda |
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 |
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 |
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.
|