The cost of a chimpanzee permit is required in order to track primates in Kibale Forest National Park, a protected region in the Kabarole district of western Uganda that spans an area of roughly 795 kilometres. The primary inhabitants of the park are chimpanzees, although there are twelve other species that can be found there as well, such as red-tailed, blue, black, and white colobus monkeys, as well as over 300 species of birds, the majority of which are forest birds and others of which are savannah or endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley region.
Up to 98% of human DNA has been found to be shared by chimpanzees, which number about 1,500 in the wild. They live in groups of 100 or so, each headed by a male alpha, and each has its own distinct personality and mannerisms. They eat primarily forest plants, fruits, and insects, but they also occasionally eat monkeys. A mature chimpanzee weighs 70 kg, and they are sophisticated animals that can remove termites from mold using tools like sticks.
The main activity in Kibale Forest National Park is chimpanzee tracking, which starts at the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre and ends at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. The benefit of chimpanzee tracking in this park is that there is a 99% chance of seeing the primates, the hike is not as strenuous, and finding the primates is not difficult.
The first step in starting a chimpanzee tracking adventure is to ask the authorities for space and validity. From this point on, permission costs can be talked about. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the source of all chimpanzee permits. In contrast to other national parks, Kibale Forest National Park charges different costs for chimpanzee permits. Visitors who reside outside of Uganda and the countries of East Africa, that is, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—are required to pay a permit cost of $200. $150 for foreign workers who are citizens of another country and have proof of residency; East African nationals are charged 150,000 shillings.
After locating the chimpanzee and obtaining a permit, there are guidelines to follow. For example, tracking chimpanzees is not permitted for individuals under the age of twelve, and only groups of six people are allowed at a time. Additionally, feeding the primates and taking flush photos are forbidden.
The equator crosses Uganda, so some areas experience an equatorial climate. While it is possible to visit the Kibale Forest National Park year-round, it is best to do so during the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to early September. This period is also known as the peak travel season.