Primate Safaris in Uganda

Although Uganda is home to no fewer than 20 species of primate, primate tracking safaris generally focus on three species: the mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, and the golden monkey.

Gorilla Tracking
Undoubtedly Uganda’s greatest wildlife attraction are the estimated 500 remaining mountain gorillas that reside in the country's densely forested south-west. To track these gentle giants, and to watch in close proximity as they eat, play and rest, is an experience unlike any other.

Uganda’s gorillas are split between two national parks – Bwindi and Mgahinga. Both parks are situated less than 100km apart in the far south-west of the country, straddling the borders with neighbouring Congo and Rwanda. The experience at each park is comparable, though Bwindi shelters a larger number of gorilla families, has more access points, and hence more gorilla permits, and is thus the most popular choice for tracking gorillas in Uganda.

Chimpanzee Tracking
Uganda is home to over 5,000 chimpanzees. Our closest relative, to watch these creatures at close range is a marvel, and an experience quite different to gorilla tracking. Indeed, the two experiences complement each other wonderfully. Where the gentle mountain gorilla is generally docile, the chimpanzee presents a very different character, more prone to play and squabble, and often highly aware of its audience!

Chimpanzee tracking is available in several locations across Uganda, including Budongo Forest, adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park in the north of the country; Kibale Forest, in the west; and Kyambura Gorge, north of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south-western region of the country. This means it is often easy to incorporate a chimpanzee safari into a broader safari or trekking itinerary, even if the chimps are not your primary focus.

Of the three locations, Kibale and Budongo offer the most reliable tracking experience. The chimpanzees of Kyambura, by comparison, are wilder and more itinerant, and while sightings are expected, they are never guaranteed in Kyambura (as they all but are in nearby Kibale). Permit fees vary with the choice of location, with Kibale being the most expensive region to track chimpanzees, but in all cases are considerably lower than the permit fees required for gorilla tracking.

Golden Monkey Tracking
Endemic to the Virunga Massif, the golden monkey is perhaps the shyest of Uganda’s primates, confining itself to the high-altitude bamboo forests of the Virungas. Golden Monkey tracking takes place exclusively in Mgahinga National Park, in the far south-west of the country on the border with Rwanda. Depending on the rest of your itinerary, this may involve a detour, but access to Mgahinga is generally easy from Bwindi, particularly the southern sectors, meaning the golden monkeys can quite easily be combined with a gorilla safari.