Primate safaris have presently become common in tourism industry. Travelers who have done primate safaris before review it as a breathtaking experience they would wish to do again and again. The most visited primates are mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and bonobos among others. Interestingly, most of these primates are close relatives to human beings whose human-like characters make them more adorable. Also, primates are herbivorous animals, which wholly feed on vegetation, shoots, flowers, fruits and bamboos. Primates are listed among the endangered species due to their less population but different strategies have been put to save these creatures from extinction. There are 5 places that have been recorded to offer memorable primate safaris. If you want to enjoy the company of primates in their natural habitat, visit any of the following places:
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Situated in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a haven for primates. The tropical rain forest is a home to the highest population of the world’s mountain gorillas making it the best destination for gorilla safaris in East and Central Africa. Based on last census’ results, 480 out of the 1006 mountain gorillas in the world dwell in Bwindi while the remaining population lives in the Virunga conservation area. Fortunately, a gorilla safari in Uganda is much cheaper costing 700usd-compared to the lifetime experience travelers gain. Gorilla trekking allow travelers to spend an hour with mountain gorillas. Interestingly, 12 gorilla families which are Nshongi family, Nkuringo family, Mishaya family, Oruzogo family, Bitukura family, Mubare family, Habinyanja family, Rushegura family, Kahungye family, Bweza family, and Busingye family have been habituated to make trekking easy in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Also, Bwindi offer travelers with gorilla habituation experience allowing them to spend four hours with mountain gorillas. However, gorilla habituation is quite expensive costing 1500 usd but the experience is worth it. For life changing gorilla tour and wildlife experiences, contact Africa Adventure Safaris an experienced tour operator in Uganda and Rwanda
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda
This comes second after Bwindi in sheltering the highest population of mountain gorillas. Volcanoes national park is mostly preferred due to the short distance from Kigali international airport to the national park. Also, volcanoes national park is a luxury gorilla tour destination, where a single gorilla permit costs 1500usd for an hour’s interaction. 10 gorilla groups are available for trekking in volcanoes and these include Titus group, Susa group, karisimbi group, Umubano group, Amahoro group, Agashya group, Sabyinyo group, kwitonda group, Hirwa group, and Ugenda group. Besides mountain gorillas, travelers to volcanoes national park hike to the graveyard of Dian Fossey an American primatologist.conservationists and gorilla lover who sacrificed her life for the conservation of mountain gorillas that were at the verge of extinction. Travelers coming to see mountain gorillas are reminded that whether in Rwanda or Uganda, gorilla treks divided into short, medium and long treks. Travelers are therefore advised to disclose their physical fitness and hiking abilities so as to be allocated a gorilla family fit for them.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Much as gorilla safaris to Congo has been closed till further notice, travelers still have a chance to visit the bonobos in Lomako forest reserve and at the Lola Ya bonobo sanctuary in kinshasha. In most cases, travelers prefer the sanctuary to the forest due to its strategic location in kinshasha in the heart of Democratic Republic of Congo, which make its access easy. Bonobos are believed to be the closest relatives of human beings and cousins to chimpanzees. A matriarch who acts like a silverback in a gorilla family heads a group of bonobos. In an exceptional way, Bonobos settle disagreements within their group by having sex, which make them different and unique from other primates. Unfortunately, few tour operators arrange safaris to see bonobos but the experience is surely worth doing.
Kibale forest national park Uganda
If you want to clearly see the chimpanzees, look not further than kibale forest national park. The tropical rain forest is a home to 13 primates most of which are chimpanzees, which make it a best destination to see and interact with chimpanzees. Interestingly, a chimpanzee tour cost only 100usd, which make it cheaper, compared to mountain gorillas but the experience is memorable. Just like mountain gorillas in Bwindi, kibale also habituates chimpanzees at a cost of 220usd. This allows travelers to interact with Chimpanzees for the whole day. All chimpanzee hikes in kibale, start from the kanyanchu information center after a short briefing.
Sabah, Borneo
Borneo in Sabah is a home to Orangutans, one of the critically endangered species at the verge of extinction. Orangutans are listed in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Orangutans are rehabilitated at an island of Borneo shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The endangered species converge at open air-feeding platform two times a day at 10am and 3pm for feeding and this is the best time for travelers to see and interact with them. The fact that the site is an island reward travelers with other sight seeing opportunities like the boat, and clear views of pygmy elephants.
Conclusively, doing a primate safari is a once in lifetime experience, which you should not miss out. Visit volcanoes national park Rwanda and bwindi impenetrable forest national park for mountain gorillas, trek chimpanzees for chimpanzees, Congo for bonobos and Sabah, Borneo for Orangutans. Visits to all these places make a complete package rewarding you with a memorable primate safari experience.