East Africa’s Primates — Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and More
East Africa is home to a remarkable diversity of primates, but two species sit in a category of their own: the mountain gorilla and the chimpanzee. Both are our closest living relatives, both are highly intelligent, and both can be observed in the wild in ways that no zoo or documentary can replicate. Spending time with either species — watching them move, eat, interact, and care for their young in their natural forest habitat — is consistently described by our clients as the most profound wildlife experience of their lives.
Mountain gorillas live in two places on earth: the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda and the Virunga Volcanoes range straddling Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The total wild population numbers around 1,063 individuals, making them one of the rarest great apes. Chimpanzees are more numerous and found across a wider range — Uganda’s Kibale Forest has the highest density of chimpanzees in East Africa, while Tanzania’s Gombe and Mahale offer trekking experiences in more remote settings. The other primates — golden monkeys, colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and various vervet and red-tailed species — add texture to any forest safari even when they are not the primary goal.