Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu/Kalinju Forest 2025/2026
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu/Kalinju Forest; chimpanzee trekking is the main activity that attracts tourists to visit Kalinzu Forest. It involves moving through the forest to find habituated chimpanzees, and once discovered, visitors can spend an hour with them in their natural environment. Kalinzu Forest is located in southwestern Uganda, in Bushenyi district, near Queen Elizabeth National Park and Maramagambo Forest.
The forest is home to various primate species, including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, and over 261 bird species. Besides Kalinju Forest, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda also takes place in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.
Chimpanzees in Kalinzu/Kalinju Forest
Kalinzu forest is home to over 320 chimpanzees, of which about 50 are habituated, making it the second-best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda after Kibale forest. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking.
After the briefing, you will be allocated an experienced park guide who is well conversant with the trails in the forest. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are located, because they tend to move from one place to another in search of food.
During trekking, you will be able to encounter other primates like red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, view different bird species, plant and tree species, among others.
Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat, which allows you to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, fight, play, rest, groom young ones, take photos, and record the incredible moments to show people back home.
Cost of a chimpanzee permit for Kalinzu forest
A chimpanzee permit is a document or card issued to any visitor aged 12 or above, allowing them to visit a habituated chimpanzee family in Kalinzu forest. The permit in Kalinzu forest costs 130 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 65 USD per person for foreign residents, and 65 USD per person for East African citizens as well.
How to book your Chimpanzee permit for trekking in Kalinzu/Kalinju
A chimpanzee permit in Kalinzu forest can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the government body in charge of tourism, by contacting the park offices or headquarters in Kampala through email or telephone.
It can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When booking a chimpanzee trekking permit through a tour operator, you will contact us with the date, month, and year when you wish to visit the chimps.
After contacting us, we will check for permit availability, and once there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit payment for the permit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf.
Booking a chimpanzee trekking permit through a tour operator is the best option to use because we will not only book your chimpanzee trekking permit, but also plan for your entire safari, which involves accommodation, transportation, meals, and other activities to engage in during the safari.
Best time to visit Kalinzu forest
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest is carried out all year round, though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season, the forest receives less rainfall; therefore, access roads and chimpanzee trekking trails will be dry and passable compared to the wet/ rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery, which makes trekking difficult.
Where to stay for your chimpanzee Trek in Kalinju
There are no accommodations within Kalinzu forest, but there are a number of accommodation facilities close to the forest where you can stay during your chimpanzee trekking safari.
The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Elephant Plains Lodge, Marafiki Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Cottages, Park View Safari Lodge, Enganzi Safari Camp, Simba Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth Safari Camp, Elephant Hab Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Lake Chibwera Camp, Kyambura Tented Camp, Katara Lodge, King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Kitandara Hippo Hill Lodge among others.
Apart from chimpanzee trekking, Kalinzu forest offers other interesting activities like forest nature walks where you will explore the forest on foot, bird watching where you will be able to view different bird species such as the great blue turaco, sunbirds, forest wildlife viewing where you will be able to view different animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, giant forest hogs among others.
How to get to Kalinzu forest
Kalinzu forest is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means, whereby you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi and then to the forest headquarters, which takes about 6 to 7 hours’ drive.
Kalinzu forest can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth National Park whereby you will drive from Mweya peninsula to Kalinzu forest headquarters, which takes about 45 minutes.
Chimpanzee trekking here is an exciting activity that can be combined with other activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park, such as boat cruise on Kazinga channel, game drives, nature walks, bird watching, lion tracking experience, among others. For more information about trekking in Kalinzu forest, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for affordable packages.
