Tourists in East African countries can enjoy a variety of attractions. Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and many other nations have a lot to offer visitors in terms of animals, mountains, rivers, lakes, greenery, and more.
East African countries are unparalleled in terms of primates, particularly great primates such as mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. The countries have fantastic locations where these amazing creatures can be seen.
However, mountain gorillas can only be found in three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Destinations where primates can be seen in East African countries
- Uganda
Uganda is truly blessed with its climate and diverse natural habitats. We are proud to say that it is only in Uganda where you will find the world’s remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. There is a variety of forests that are a great home to chimpanzees as well. In Uganda, you will be able to track gorillas and chimpanzees in the places below.
Bwindi National Park: This is among the most visited parks in Uganda, and it is known to be home to almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. The park has many gorilla families, both habituated and those that are not habituated. Bwindi National Park is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist destinations, and it is home to about half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park is home to several habituated and non-habituated gorilla families.
Bwindi is divided into four portions, each of which serves as a park entry for distinct gorilla groups. Their names are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Tracking begins in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters or entrances.
Aside from gorilla tracking, there is another approach for gorilla habituation. Visitors are permitted to spend one hour with gorillas after locating them for tracking purposes, but four hours with gorillas for habituation. Visitors accompany researchers to observe semi-habituated gorilla families. Visitors will leave the forest understanding what it means for a gorilla family to prepare for tracking. Because visitors may spend more time with the gorillas, they will be able to learn and enjoy their human counterparts.
Bwindi has 4 sections, and each is a park entrance to different families of gorillas. They are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Tracking starts in the morning with a briefing from the park headquarters or entrances.
Besides gorilla tracking, there is another option of doing gorilla habituation. For gorilla tracking, visitors are allowed to spend 1 hour with the gorillas after finding them, but for gorilla habituation, visitors are allowed to spend 4 hours with the gorillas. Visitors go with researchers to see semi-habituated gorilla families. Visitors will leave the forest knowing what it means for a gorilla family to make it ready for tracking. Gorilla habituation will enable a visitor to learn and enjoy the human cousins since more hours are allowed to stay with the group.
Mgahinga National Park: This is the second gorilla park in Uganda, found in western Uganda in Kisoro near the border of Uganda and Rwanda. The park is known to be home to 1 gorilla family called Nyakagezi. Mgahinga National Park is located on the Virunga Massif, which is shared between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorillas are the same in both Bwindi and Mgahinga, but the topography of the forest and the park are different.
Kibale National Park: Kibale National Park is located in Uganda, one of the places with a high percentage of chimpanzees, and besides, the forest is known to be home to over 13 species of primates.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is done either in the morning or in the afternoon, so it depends on the visitors’ preferences or itinerary. Tracking chimpanzees is done every day at Kibale, and visitors assemble at the headquarters in Kanyanchu for a briefing before entering the forest. After finding the chimpanzee group, visitors are allowed to spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee habituation. Chimpanzee habituation is also another activity related to chimps in Kibale. For tracking, visitors are allowed a second hour with chimps. As well as chimpanzee habituation, visitors are allowed to stay with the group for longer.
Besides Kibale, other places in Uganda where chimpanzees can be tracked include Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest, Ngamba Island, and Kyambura Gorge.
2 Rwanda
In Rwanda, chimpanzees can be tracked in Nyungwe National Park. This is a magnificent forest located near the border of Rwanda and Burundi. Nyungwe Forest has a variety of species, making it a conservation area. Nyungwe has 13 species of primates, including the great chimpanzees. Daily visits are conducted for visitors to track these great creatures. The park also has many species of birds, making it an important bird area in Rwanda.
Visitors will come to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee tracking, birding, nature walks (long and short), canopy walks, and many more.
3 Tanzania
In Tanzania, chimpanzees can be seen in Gombe Stream National Park. The park is located along the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. It is renowned for its population of chimpanzees, which was studied by the famous primatologist Jane Goodall. The park offers a unique opportunity for visitors to observe and learn about these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.
Besides chimpanzees, the park is home to many other primates like baboons, red colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys. The park’s diverse ecosystem includes lush forests, waterfalls, and stunning views of Lake Tanganyika. The park is accessed by boat.
4 Kenya.
In Kenya, visitors can only see chimpanzees in Sweetwaters. The chimpanzee sanctuary, located within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, provides refuge for orphaned and abused chimpanzees. It is a joint initiative between the Jane Goodall Institute and the Kenya Wildlife Service. Visitors to the Sweetwater Chimpanzee Sanctuary can observe these intelligent and social animals in their semi-wild enclosures and learn about their individual stories and the challenges they have faced.
The sanctuary also aims to raise awareness about the plight of chimpanzees in the wild and the importance of conservation efforts to protect them.
5 Burundi
In Burundi, chimpanzees can be seen in Kibira National Park, which is the largest protected area in Burundi, covering an area of approximately 40,000 hectares, located in the northwest part of the country, near the border with Rwanda.
The park is home to several primate species, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys, making it a popular destination for primate enthusiasts and wildlife lovers.
Activities in this park include primate tracking, guided nature walks, and bird watching. In addition to its natural beauty and wildlife, Kibira National Park also offers stunning scenic views, picturesque waterfalls, and opportunities for cultural experiences, as it is situated in an area with a strong cultural heritage.