Our Premier Primate Trip to Uganda & Rwanda for Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Golden Monkeys
To trek into the rain forest and sit with a family of mountain gorillas, catching the gaze of a huge silverback at close range, seeing them devour leaves stripped from branches, watching babies cling to their mothers, laughing at animated youngsters playing in the trees...it's a profound experience for a wildlife lover. And to capture these rare moments in photographs lets you relive the wonder in enduring images. Our extended time with endangered gorillas is the centerpiece of this primate-focused safari that also includes the chimpanzees of Uganda's Kibale Forest and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park in neighboring Rwanda. Many of our guests say they are never the same after these encounters...and your visit may be a life-changing experience for these species as well, as conservation tourism is the main hope for protecting their future.
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Rich de Gouveia
Mountain gorilla and Nat Hab guest, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Rich de Gouveia
Nat Hab guests and local porters, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Court Whelan
Nat Hab guests, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Court Whelan
Mountain gorilla and Nat Hab guest, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Rich de Gouveia
Nat Hab guests, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.
Chimpanzee, Kibale National Park, Uganda.
Rich de Gouveia
Malachite kingfisher, Uganda.
Court Whelan
Nat Hab guests and mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Andy Rousse
Silverback mountain gorilla, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Court Whelan
Dining room at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Uganda.
Rich de Gouveia
Nat Hab guest, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Rich de Gouveia
Nat Hab guests photograph a golden monkey, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Eric Rock
Mountain gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Rich de Gouveia
Farmland in front of the Rift Valley, Rwanda.
Rich de Gouveia
Chimpanzee and Nat Hab guests, Kibale National Park, Uganda.
Rich de Gouveia
Nat Hab guest photographs a mountain gorilla, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Trip Highlights
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- Four Separate Gorilla TreksFour different gorilla-tracking expeditions—two each in Uganda and Rwanda—maximize your time with the last of the world's endangered mountain gorillas
- A Total Primate ImmersionLook for golden monkeys and complete the primate experience in Kibale National Park with a chance to photograph wild chimpanzees and colobus monkeys
- Classic Game Drives, TooWhile primates are our focus, we also visit Queen Elizabeth National Park where African plains game and predators abound on the Rift Valley savannas
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WWF In Action
Photo Departures Available
Our photo safari maximizes your chances to capture intimate, thrilling shots of Africa's most charismatic primates. We also include classic game drives and exceptionally scenic routes through lush countryside, offering myriad photo subjects. Notably, driving enables you to take all your camera equipment, since gear can be restricted on small planes with tight weight limits. Your Expedition Leader is a highly certified naturalist guide who is also a top photographer, by your side with personalized tips and expert coaching on all details from shot composition to follow-up editing.
View Photo Itinerary
What Makes Our Ultimate Gorilla Safari So Exceptional?
Few moments with wildlife are as riveting as those we experience on our Ultimate Gorilla Safari. To maximize our stirring interactions with gorillas and other primates, we've designed this wide-ranging safari to surpass what other companies typically offer. Take a look at all we've included to ensure the ultimate primate-viewing experience:
- You Won't Find a More In-Depth Primate Itinerary
Many gorilla safaris give you just one day in therain forest to track these reclusive animals. But we include four separate gorilla tracking expeditions—two days each in Uganda and Rwanda—to maximize your opportunities for incredible photos. Add wild chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, plus a chance to see golden and colobus monkeys (and others), and you've got the most comprehensive primate safari Africa has to offer. - Experience the Full Diversity of Africa's Wildlife
While gorillas are our focus, we include wildlife viewing in other areas as well, including iconic big game such as elephants, buffalo, zebra, lions, crocodiles and hippos—and more! Our diverse itinerary features the best of both: primates plus general wildlife viewing on forest treks, 4x4 drives over the savanna,and a private boat cruise. - Comfortable Vehicles with a Window Seat for Every Traveler
Get the best possible photos with a guaranteed window seat on board the highest-quality safari trucks. Our state-of-the-art vehicles have features such as multiple roof hatches to enhance viewing. There's no way around it—East Africa's mountainous regions have some pretty rough roads—so full 4-wheel-drive capacity with a top-quality suspension system is a key feature of our vehicles. - Unique Accommodations Offer Character & Seclusion
Where you stay on safari makes a big difference to your overall experience. That's our focus is small, intimate camps and lodges in nature. We choose our locations for their scenic settings and proximity to wildlife—in contrast to large lodges in busier areas where hundreds of tourists congregate. - Photo Departures Offer Special Benefits for Photographers
Uganda and Rwanda are among the most beautiful countries in Africa. We've designed our itinerary to include scenic drives between safari locations, offering a chance to photograph the countryside and scenes of rural life. And, crucially important, driving allows you to take more photography equipment, avoiding restrictions on small planes with tight weight limits. Because we do a point-to-point trip from Entebbe to Kigali, we don't do any backtracking, unlike many gorilla itineraries—which means more diversity en route. And finally, expert photo Expedition Leaders are by your side with personalized tips and instruction, from shot composition to follow-up editing—for photographers of all ability levels. - Our Nat Hab Expedition Leader Accompanies You Throughout Your Safari
We take pride in hiring the finest naturalist guides in Africa. In addition to their exceptional warmth and hospitality, our Expedition Leaders' in-depth training also includes resources and direction from WWF’s premier scientists. Check out our Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments. - Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures an Outstanding Safari
With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee, which clearly states that we will meet the lofty expectations we set in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise for yourself! - Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007. - Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our adventures, World Wildlife Fund—the world's leading environmental conservation organization—has named Natural Habitat Adventures as its worldwide travel partner, a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
