Uganda and Rwanda are prime destinations for observing these magnificent great primates in their natural habitats. These countries offer pristine rainforests, expertly guided treks, and conservation efforts that ensure you can watch these incredible ape creatures up close while contributing to their protection and preservation.
The term “great apes” refers to a group of large primates that share a common ancestry with humans. Scientifically classified as Hominidae or hominids, this group includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans. Africa is the exclusive home to three of these great ape species, making it a fascinating destination for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
Go on the Great Apes of Africa Expedition to Uganda and Rwanda for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to watch gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitats, while contributing to the conservation efforts.
Volcanoes National Park- Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is Africa’s most celebrated gorilla trekking destination thanks to its association with Dian Fossey of ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ fame. It protects the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of stunningly beautiful volcanoes whose steep slopes are lined with rainforest and towering stands of bamboo. There are 12 gorilla families available for tracking here. The most famous is the Susa group, which lives high up on Mt Karisimbi and was studied by Fossey when she lived in the area. Other groups roam lower down the slopes and are easier to track, although being wild, they’re constantly on the move.
Once you’ve made it as far as Volcanoes National Park, think about doing some other activities there. Our favorites include golden monkey trekking, the steep forest walk to Dian Fossey’s grave at the abandoned Karisoke Research Center, and the steeper hike to the beautiful crater lake on top of Mt Bisoke. If you time your trip for September, you might witness the annual Kwita Izina naming ceremony of baby gorillas, which attracts thousands of visitors to the park headquarters at Kinigi.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a vast park of high-altitude forested mountains, known for its thick vegetation, thick mists, streams and dew, endangered mountain gorillas and loud, colorful birds.
Located in the southwest of Uganda, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country because of its famous gorilla treks. On a gorilla trek you go on a guided hike through the forest to find and spend an hour in the presence of a mountain gorilla troop. It’s a truly special experience that few get to enjoy. And it almost never leaves you unchanged.
Bwindi has more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas around 400. It’s also the only place on the globe where mountain gorillas and chimpanzees live in the same ecosystem. At Bwindi you can go a guided trek in the forest to find and observe a mountain gorilla family, known as a troop.
Bwindi also offers a gorilla habituation experience where you spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated group. These will be less predictable and docile than habituated groups, but the outing offers a fascinating, intimate glimpse into how gorillas gradually get used to humans.
The two main ways of reaching Bwindi National Park are to travel there from Kampala, the capital of Uganda, or from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The quicker route is actually via Kigali, but you’ll then need to clear immigration twice: at the airport in Rwanda and when crossing the border into Uganda. If you’re heading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you’re probably also planning to see more of Uganda, in which case it makes the most sense to travel to Bwindi via Kampala.
Kibale National Park-Uganda
Kibale National Park is renowned for its extraordinary primate diversity, and the Kanyanchu Primate Walk stands as the park’s flagship experience. This immersive trek offers visitors a rare chance to encounter 13 different primate species, with diurnal monkeys such as red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, and grey-cheeked mangabey frequently spotted in the forest canopy.
Since 1993, the Kanyanchu chimpanzee community has been intensively monitored and habituated to human presence, significantly improving the chances of sightings. With a sighting success rate of over 90%, visitors are almost guaranteed an unforgettable encounter with these intelligent primates in their natural habitat.
These treks typically last between two to five hours, depending on the chimpanzees’ movements and other factors such as weather and terrain. Upon finding the chimpanzees, visitors are allowed one hour in their presence to observe their social interactions, playfulness, and feeding habits, offering an unparalleled window into their fascinating lives.
Nyungwe National Park -Rwanda
Nyungwe is a wonderful option for visitors wanting to see some of Rwanda’s spectacular endemics, its 13 primate species, and of course, to experience a chimpanzee trek to view one of its semi-habituated troops. It is also a place of active adventure, with hiking and cycling trails, exciting Canopy Walkway, and the enchanting Ndambarare and Kamiranozu waterfalls.
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest is a year-round activity. Every morning groups of tourists set off as early at 4:00am under the guidance of experienced guides to search for one of the two habituated clans found the Uwinka and Cyamudongo sections of the park. One needs to be prepared for the demanding activity which requires following highly mobile primates who do not necessarily follow the main trails but can wander off to thick untouched forest.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-Uganda
Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest national park – just 34 km². The park is breathtakingly beautiful. Behind the dramatic volcanic skyline, in front Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and to the left of Mutanda and Bunyonyi – lakes so scenic you can’t believe more people don’t know about them – Mgahinga is at the frontier of Uganda’s wilderness experiences.
The montane-woodland, montane-forest and large swathe of bamboo forests supports a large population of golden monkeys, found only here in Uganda. They are also home to the Nyakagezi family of mountain gorillas, the only habituated group outside of Bwindi.
Gorilla trekking permits for Mgahinga cost the same as for Bwindi. Because numbers are limited, the park has a more low-key feel than Bwindi or Volcanoes, at least in terms of tourist traffic. There are also other fabulous walking opportunities on offer, from golden monkey trekking and guided bird-watching trails to steep day hikes to the peaks.
In conclusion
Whichever destination you choose, it requires you to prepare well for your trek. Hiking through mountainous rainforest can be muddy work. It can be hot and humid with occasional short downpours too, so appropriate clothing, sturdy hiking boots, and gear like trekking poles and gaiters all add up to a more comfortable trek. It’s a bucket-list experience precisely because it isn’t easy to get close to gorillas in the wild but, when you do, you’ll be more than thrilled.