For more than six decades, Dr Jane Goodall inspired the world to see primates as complex, social beings, and showed how tourism, when done well, can safeguard their future. From trekking to mountain gorillas in Rwanda to following chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream, not to mention big-eyed bushbabies and the proverbial cheeky monkeys, these extraordinary experiences give you a chance to connect with Africa’s primates while supporting the protection of their habitats and the communities who live alongside them.
Africa’s primates reveal a fascinating side of the continent’s wild heart—from the quiet intelligence of mountain gorillas to the mischievous curiosity of monkeys and bushbabies. Across lush rainforests, coastal mangroves and remote woodlands, these encounters remind us how closely connected we are to the natural world.
Chimpanzees – Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania
Stay: Mbali Mbali Mahale
Experience: It was here, on the forested slopes beside Lake Tanganyika, that Dr Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking chimpanzee research in 1960, a project that continues today as the world’s longest-running wildlife study. Trekking through tangled forests, you’ll follow experienced local guides who know each of the 13 family groups, their histories and the individual members. Encounters here are deeply personal: chimps feeding in fig trees, grooming each other in clearings, or vocalising across the valleys with their famous pant-hoots. The dense forest, legendary history, and lakeshore beauty make it one of the most intimate primate experiences anywhere in Africa.
Mountain Gorillas – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Stay: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Experience: Few wildlife encounters compare with meeting a family of mountain gorillas in their misty forest home. Trekking through the lush volcanic slopes of the Virunga Mountains is exhilarating, and the moment you step into the presence of a silverback or watch infants tumble through the ferns is unforgettable. For their benefit, you’ll spend just an hour in their presence, but the intimacy, intelligence and gentleness of these great apes leave a lifetime impression. It is utterly bewitching and humbling.
Chimpanzees – Mahale Mountains, Tanzania
Stay: Greystoke Mahale
Experience: To find the wild chimpanzees of Mahale, you’ll walk along forest trails beside crystal-clear Lake Tanganyika, hearing calls echo through the canopy. And when you do find them – grooming, playing, chasing, arguing, and sometimes simply sitting – you’ll be struck by how eerily human they are: social, political, hierarchical, funny, and sometimes downright mean to each other. Mahale, accessible only by boat, offers one of the most striking and pristine settings from where to watch our closest relatives in the wild – remote, raw and unforgettable.
Chimpanzees – Rubondo Island, Lake Victoria, Tanzania
Stay: Rubondo Island Camp
Experience: On this forested island in Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest island national park, rescued chimpanzees were reintroduced to the wild decades ago. Today, guests can trek to see chimpanzees and their offspring while exploring a unique freshwater island ecosystem also home to sitatunga, bushbuck, and hippos. The setting is wonderfully adventurous, with a true frontier feel.
Ruwenzori Black-and-White Colobus & Other Monkeys – Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda
Stay: Nyungwe House
Experience: Nyungwe’s montane rainforest is one of the most biodiverse in East Africa, home to an astonishing range of primates including chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabeys and the striking Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus. Distinguished by their flowing white mantles and long tails, these graceful monkeys are largely leaf-eaters and live in unusually large social groups, sometimes several hundred strong. They are among the biggest primate gatherings recorded anywhere in Africa, and guided treks here lead you deep into the misty forest canopy where these energetic troops leap between fig trees, their black and white coats flashing through the foliage – a quintessential Nyungwe experience.
Bushbabies – Nyerere (Selous) National Park, Tanzania
Stay: Impala Camp
Experience: Also known as galagos, bushbabies are among Africa’s most endearing nocturnal primates: wide-eyed, agile, and surprisingly vocal! They’re common in the woodlands and riverine forests of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous National Park), where guests at Impala Camp often see them leaping between the thatched roofs at dusk or bouncing through the trees beside the dining area. Several of our team have spotted them playing around their tents. Their cries and astonishing jumping ability – clearing several metres in a single bound – make them great for after-dinner entertainment. And while you’re here, you might also spot vervet and colobus monkeys out on activities.
Peters’ Angola Colobus – Diani Forest, Kenya
Stay: Kinondo Kwetu
Experience: Endemic to Kenya’s coastal forests, Peters’ Angola colobus is a striking, long-haired black-and-white monkey found in Diani’s wooded fringes and sacred kaya groves. Unlike the highland colobus of East Africa’s interior, this coastal subspecies thrives in lowland forests and mangroves — habitats increasingly rare along the Indian Ocean coast. With only 400 individuals, it’s a threatened sub-species, but travellers heading to Kinondo Kwetu for some post-safari relaxation will often spot small troops with their distinctive flowing tails, moving gracefully through the surrounding trees, or even using the dedicated aerial rope-bridges to safely cross the road. The nearby Colobus Conservation project also plays a vital role in protecting these endangered primates and fostering coexistence with local communities.
Zanzibar Red Colobus – Jozani–Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar
Stay: Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
Experience: Endemic to the island, the Zanzibar red colobus is one of Africa’s rarest and most approachable primates. With mahogany-coloured backs, tufted crowns, and expressive faces, these monkeys are the island’s most famous residents. The best place to see them is the Jozani–Chwaka Bay National Park, a remnant of coastal rainforest in the heart of the island, where habituated troops often feed low in the canopy, and even hang out along the electricity poles on the road outside the park entrance. Conservation efforts have helped the population rebound from near-extinction, making a morning walk here a fun wildlife experience and a glimpse into Zanzibar’s ecological heritage.
De Brazza’s Monkeys – Namunyak Conservancy, Northern Kenya
Stay: Sarara Camp
Experience: Distinguished by their white beards and vivid orange brows, De Brazza’s monkeys are among Africa’s most elusive forest primates. In Kenya, they are found in small numbers within Namunyak Conservancy in the Mathews Range, one of the few places outside western and central Africa where they can be seen. Guests at Sarara occasionally encounter them on guided walks through the mountain forests, where they move quietly through the dense canopy. Shy and secretive, they are a rare sighting even for experienced safari-goers, making for an exciting prospect in this already wonderful wilderness area.
Golden Monkeys – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Stay: Bisate Lodge
Experience: Endemic to the Virunga Mountains, golden monkeys are one of the most charismatic primates. With russet-gold fur and bright, inquisitive eyes, they live in lively troops that flit through the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of Volcanoes National Park. Guided treks set out from park headquarters each morning, following the sounds of rustling leaves and chatter through the canopy until you find them feeding on young shoots or leaping acrobatically between stems. Encounters are relaxed and highly photogenic, and Bisate Lodge provides a luxurious, conservation-focused base within easy reach of these rare, high-altitude monkeys.
If you’re considering your own journey, our specialists are here to help design a tailor-made safari that fits your style and travel time perfectly.
