12 Day Uganda, Rwanda primate safaris with the big five in Akagera

Upon arrival, you will begin your primate safaris adventure with a drive to Kibale Forest National Park, known for its high concentration of primates. The park hosts over 13 species, including red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. In the afternoon, explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, home to more primates and a rich bird population. This experience adds depth to your primate safaris, offering opportunities to observe wildlife in a tranquil setting

Your primate safaris adventure continues with a chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest, where you’ll watch these intelligent primates interact. Rangers explain their behavior, from grooming to territorial calls. Later, visit a local cultural village, where residents share their traditions, including basket weaving and banana beer making. This visit deepens your understanding of Uganda’s communities while keeping your primate safaris immersive and culturally enriching.

Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a prime destination for wildlife. A Kazinga Channel boat cruise offers close views of hippos and crocodiles, while elephants roam along the shore. In the evening, an exciting game drive brings encounters with buffaloes and big cats. Though known for savanna wildlife, this park also hosts baboons and vervet monkeys, ensuring your primate safaris remain diverse. The mix of ecosystems makes every wildlife sighting memorable in your primate safaris experience.

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a world-famous home for mountain gorillas, along the way, you’ll pass on beautiful villages and terraced hills, showcasing rural life. Bwindi’s dense rainforest marks a shift in your primate safaris, introducing unique flora and the zeal of tracking gorillas. The drive itself is an experience, offering glimpses of primates in the trees, reinforcing the rich biodiversity of Uganda’s primate safaris destinations.

Set off on a gorilla trekking adventure, following expert guides into Bwindi’s jungle. The trek may take hours, but finding a gorilla family is worth the effort. Watching their interactions mother gorillas nurturing their infants, juveniles playing offers rare insights into their world, enriching your primate safaris experience. Later, visit the Batwa community, forest-dwelling people with a deep connection to Bwindi. Their traditions and storytelling provide another layer to your primate safaris exploration.

Crossing into Rwanda, head to Volcanoes National Park, a landscape famous for its conservation history, the border transition introduces new cultures and landscapes, reflecting the diversity of East African primate safaris. Along the way, you’ll see more primates in roadside forests, including golden monkeys. As you arrive, the towering volcanoes create an exciting backdrop, setting the stage for another remarkable chapter in your primate safaris adventure.

A second gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park offers fresh perspectives on these primates. With each trek, behaviors vary some gorillas remain shy, while others display curiosity. Visiting Karisoke Research Center afterward reveals Dian Fossey’s conservation work, which revolutionized gorilla protection efforts. Her legacy shapes ongoing conservation strategies, making your primate safaris not just an adventure but an insightful journey into wildlife preservation. Understanding her work adds meaning to every primate sighting in your primate safaris experience.

Start your day tracking golden monkeys, a lively and social species native to Volcanoes National Park. Their bright orange fur makes them easy to spot as they leap through the bamboo forests. Following the trek, drive to Nyungwe Forest, renowned for its primate safaris opportunities. The journey offers sightings of more primates along the roads, reinforcing how primates dominate Rwanda’s landscapes. Arriving at Nyungwe sets the stage for another exciting primate safaris encounter.

The Nyungwe Forest is home to large chimpanzee groups that communicate through loud calls. Unlike Kibale’s chimps, these groups often spread across wide areas, making tracking an engaging challenge during primate safaris. The experience highlights the differences between primate populations in various parks. Later, step onto the canopy walkway, where a suspension bridge reveals sweeping rainforest views. High above the forest floor, the depth of primate habitats comes into perspective, adding another dimension to your primate safaris adventure.

Shift from forests to open savanna as you enter Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only park where the Big Five roam. The transition showcases the variety of ecosystems East Africa offers within its primate safaris destinations. In the evening, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema introduces water-based wildlife encounters, with hippos and crocodiles dominating the shores. Baboons also appear along the banks, maintaining the primate theme in this section of your primate safaris journey.

A morning game drive in Akagera focuses on lions, elephants, and rhinos, completing the Big Five experience. Though primates aren’t the main attraction here, baboons and vervet monkeys still feature prominently, reminding travelers of their ongoing presence in East Africa’s primate safaris regions. A guided nature walk allows you to appreciate smaller details animal tracks, bird calls, and plant species bringing a sense of immersion beyond game drives. The contrast between forests and savanna adds richness to your primate safaris exploration.

The trip ends in Kigali, where visits to historical sites offer perspective on Rwanda’s transformation. The Kigali Genocide Memorial provides an educational experience, while local markets and museums showcase the country’s resilience. Though the trip focuses on primate safaris, this final day balances wildlife encounters with cultural insights. Departing from Kigali, the memories of diverse landscapes, primates, and conservation efforts remain strong, ensuring your primate safaris experience is both rewarding and unforgettable.