3-Day Kibale Chimp Trekking Tour Itinerary
This 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour takes you from Kampala or Entebbe to Kibale Forest, home to about 1,500 wild chimpanzees and one of the best places in Africa to see them. Along the way you visit the Amabere Caves, hike above the crater lakes of Fort Portal and meet the people of Bigodi village.
Every 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour is private, with your own English-speaking driver-guide and 4x4 safari vehicle, and can be tailored to your dates, budget and pace.
Day 1: Kampala or Entebbe to Kibale Forest via the Amabere Caves and Crater Lakes
Your 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour begins at about 7:00 am with a pick-up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. After a short briefing, your driver-guide heads west for about five hours (320 km) through green farmland, banana plantations and busy roadside markets.
You reach Fort Portal around lunchtime. The old British fort that gave the town its name has gone, but the setting is still beautiful: rolling tea estates and crater lakes beneath the Rwenzori Mountains, the legendary "Mountains of the Moon". Enjoy lunch at one of the town's best restaurants.
After lunch, visit the Amabere Caves. Amabere means "breasts" in the local Rutooro language, after the breast-shaped stalactites inside the cave. Milky, mineral-rich water drips from them, and local Tooro legend links the caves to Nyina Mwiru, the daughter of an ancient king. A short trail also leads to a pretty waterfall.
Next, hike up Kyeganywa Hill, often called the "Top of the World", in the Fort Portal crater lake field. From the summit you can see several crater lakes at once, and on a clear day the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains.
In the late afternoon, drive about one hour south to your lodge on the edge of Kibale National Park. Check in, relax and enjoy dinner as the forest comes alive with the calls of birds and primates.
Accommodation: Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale or Crater Safari Lodge. Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp. Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Optional extras: a cycling tour of a Fort Portal tea estate.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest and the Bigodi Village Walk
Day 2 is the highlight of your 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour. After an early breakfast, transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre in Kibale National Park for your chimpanzee trek, which starts promptly at 8:00 am. Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers brief you on the chimps and the rules of the trek before leading you into the forest.
Kibale protects about 1,500 chimpanzees and 13 primate species, the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. As you walk, look out for red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys and L'Hoest's monkeys.
Treks usually last two to five hours, depending on where the chimps are feeding. Kibale has one of the highest sighting success rates in Africa, at over 90%. Once you find the group, you spend a full hour watching them feed, groom, call and swing through the trees, with plenty of time for photos.
Return to the visitor centre for a picnic lunch. For many guests, this hour is the most memorable part of the 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour. Our guide to chimpanzees in Uganda explains more about their behaviour and the other places you can see them.
Bigodi Village and Wetland Walk
In the afternoon, visit the nearby community of Bigodi with a local guide. Walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a birder's paradise where the great blue turaco is often seen, then step into village life.
You meet a traditional healer who shares his knowledge of medicinal plants, hear elders' stories about birth, marriage and clan traditions, and see a local school and the busy trading centre. The walk is run by the community, and your visit on this 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour supports local schools and conservation projects.
With advance booking, you can add:
- A traditional Kitooro lunch of fresh, organic food under a thatched roof.
- Dance and drama by local performers.
- A handicraft demonstration by a women's group weaving baskets from local materials.
- A homestay night with a Bigodi family, with traditional meals included.
Accommodation: Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale or Crater Safari Lodge. Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp. Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ready to trek chimpanzees in Kibale?
Chimp permits for the 8:00 am trek sell out first. Send us your dates and we will check availability and send you a free quote within 24 hours.
Day 3: The Tooro King's Palace and Return to Kampala or Entebbe
The final day of your 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour is relaxed. After a leisurely breakfast, check out and drive to Fort Portal for a visit to the Tooro Palace on Karuzika Hill. It is the official residence of King Oyo, who became king in 1995 at the age of three, one of the youngest monarchs in the world.
A local guide shares the history of the Tooro Kingdom and the ceremonies held here. Visitors cannot enter the palace itself, but the 360-degree views over Fort Portal and the Rwenzori foothills make the visit worthwhile.
After lunch in Fort Portal, drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. This marks the end of your 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour.
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Optional extras: the full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, guided nature walks or a birding walk in Kibale Forest.
Chimp Permits for This Tour
Your chimpanzee permit is included in the price of this 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour. Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are limited each day, so we book yours as soon as you confirm.
| Permit (foreign non-resident, per person) | Price |
|---|---|
| Chimpanzee trekking, Kibale Forest | US$250 until 31 Dec 2026; US$300 from 1 Jan 2027 |
| Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, Kibale Forest | US$300 until 31 Dec 2026; US$400 from 1 Jan 2027 |
For more detail on booking, read our guide to the Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit, or explore more of the area in our guide to the best places to visit in Fort Portal.
Extend Your Chimp Trek With Gorillas
Kibale fits perfectly into a longer Uganda safari, and many guests turn their 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour into a full primate adventure. Add the tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth and the mountain gorillas of Bwindi with one of these popular safaris.
Book your 3-day Kibale chimp trekking tour
From US$1,405 per person sharing, with your chimp permit, lodges, meals and a private 4x4 included. Tell us your dates and we will confirm your permit and send a free quote.
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