Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is an isolated strip of forest that drops about 100 m below the surrounding savanna and runs for about 11 km. It is the chimpanzee area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and UWA sells its own Kyambura tracking permit. You walk down into the forest with a UWA guide and look for chimpanzees on foot.
Kyambura is a tracking permit, and the chimpanzee group is small. A sighting is possible, not assured, so do not book this expecting a sure meeting. If chimpanzees are your main goal and you want more options, compare it with Kibale, which has its own primate program: see chimpanzee trekking in Kibale.
Check the current amount before you book; tours state whether permit and park fees are included.
Our picks: Kyambura Gorge chimp trips
Both include the Kyambura chimp permit. Take the 1-day trip from Mbarara for a short visit, or the 6-day trip if you also want Lake Mburo.
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.
6-day Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo safari with Kyambura trek
- Kyambura trek with chimp permit
- Five nights with full board
- Game drives in both parks
A private vehicle with driver-guide, park entries for both parks, the Kazinga boat ride and a guided nature walk. The price is per person.
Check availability →
1-day Kyambura Gorge chimp trek with Kazinga boat ride
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Park entry
- Kazinga boat ride
A small-group day trip in a 4x4 with an English-speaking driver-guide, returning to Mbarara. Seeing chimpanzees is never guaranteed.
Check availability →Kyambura Gorge tours and safaris
Chimpanzee tracking combined with game drives and boat trips in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with live prices and availability.
Kyambura tracking permit and park entry
UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026. Check the current amount before you book.
| Item | Foreign non-resident | Foreign resident | East African citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyambura tracking, guide included | $100 | $80 | UGX 50,000 |
| Park entry, adult, per 24 hours | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Park entry, child 5 to 15 | $20 | $10 | UGX 5,000 |
Children under 5 enter the park free. Foreign non-residents book primate permits through a licensed tour operator. For most visitors from abroad, the simplest plan is to book tracking inside a safari that already covers the park, because the entry applies per 24 hours and the operator handles the permit.
Do not mix this up with the Kibale permit. Kibale costs $250 for chimpanzee tracking for a foreign non-resident, and it is a different park with a different permit. Each park sells its own permit, so book the one that matches the gorge or forest you plan to visit.
Rules and what to expect
Follow the briefing on the day.
Distance and time
Keep 10 m from the chimpanzees. The time with them is limited to a maximum of 1 hour. Do not try to follow or chase animals that move away.
Health
If you are ill, do not join the tracking. Chimpanzees can catch human illnesses, which is why the rule exists. Follow your briefing on any further health precautions, and ask your operator whether masks are required on your day.
No flash
Use your camera without flash. Silent mode helps, and the forest light is dim, so a camera with a good low-light setting is useful.
Start times
Chimpanzee tracking usually starts at 08:00 or 14:00. Confirm the briefing time for your day when you book.
The gorge itself
The gorge walls are steep and the path can be slippery after rain. Wear closed shoes with grip, long trousers and a light rain layer. The wet seasons are March to May and September to December.
Habituation
Kyambura tracking is a standard permit. A habituation experience, where you spend a longer day with a group that is being accustomed to people, is a separate product that the tariff lists for Kibale.
The chimpanzees of Kyambura
Monitoring work in the gorge started in February 2026. By July 2026, 25 chimpanzees were individually identified, and fieldwork to identify more continues. The count is not a final population and not a sighting rate, but it shows that the group is watched closely.
Where Kyambura sits in the park helps with planning. The open plains of Kasenyi and Ishasha are the game-drive areas, Kyambura is the chimpanzee area and the Kazinga Channel is for boat trips. A realistic stay in the park uses all three in different time slots: tracking in the gorge, a game drive on the plains and a cruise on the channel. Our safari guide shows how those fit together.
The gorge also holds other forest life. Black-and-white colobus, vervet monkeys and olive baboons live in the park. Which ones you meet depends on the day.
Plan the rest of your stay
Tracking fits well into a park itinerary.
Kyambura Gorge: frequently asked questions
Will I see chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge?
A sighting is possible but not assured. The group is small, so do not book expecting a sure meeting.
How much does Kyambura tracking cost?
The UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026 costs $100 for a foreign non-resident, with a guide included and park entry extra. Check the current amount before you book; tours state whether permit and park fees are included.
What is the minimum age?
12 years. Confirm it with your operator.
What time does tracking start?
Usually 08:00 or 14:00. Confirm the briefing time when you book.
How is Kyambura different from Kibale?
Both offer chimpanzee tracking, but they are separate parks with separate permits. Kibale costs more for a foreign non-resident and has its own program, covered in the Kibale guide.