The minimum age for trekking chimpanzees used to be 12 years old, but this was recently changed to 15 years of age. The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking in all areas where chimpanzees are found is determined by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda.
For children who are almost 15 years of age, they will be examined on the ground, and the wardens will determine whether to allow the child to trek chimpanzees based on the child’s maturity during the examination. They might also allow your child to trek chimpanzees if you can provide proof of their physical fitness, which can be done by presenting scouting certificates and so forth.
The age limit for trekking chimpanzees is always determined by passports, so keep in mind that looks alone are not enough to allow your child to trek chimpanzees. All visitors are required to present their permits and passports during the briefing on the day of chimpanzee trekking.
Many lodges offer optional activities for children under the age of fifteen years. These activities can occupy the children while their parents trek gorillas. Activities like nature walks and many others are always adjusted to the child’s ability to avoid them becoming too exhausted.
Chimpanzee permit prices differ depending on where you are trekking the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda charges $200 per person, Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking permits cost $35 per person, Budongo Forest permits cost $85 per person, Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee trekking permits cost $50 per person, and chimpanzee permits in Rwanda cost $100 per person at Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The chimpanzee habituation experience can only be done at Kibale Forest National Park. This involves joining trekkers and researchers in the process of habituation to make chimpanzees get used to human presence. The cost of a chimpanzee habituation permit is $250 per person.
