8 www.wildfoottravel.com Following the footsteps of the continent’s rarest apes PRIMATES OF AFRICA DESTINATION Africa offers some of the most rewarding primate encounters anywhere, each region shaped by landscapes that have guided the evolution of remarkably varied species. Inspired by the legendary Dian Fossey, travellers are drawn to East and Central Africa, where mountain gorillas live in the cool, mist covered forests of Rwanda and Uganda, whilst western lowland gorillas are to be found in the Republic of Congo. Meeting a gorilla family in the rainforest is a calm, quietly powerful experience, defined by slow movements, deep social bonds, and the sense of stepping briefly into their world. Uganda also offers some of the continent’s most rewarding chimpanzee tracking. Following them along forest trails, listening for distant calls and watching them forage or rest in family groups gives travellers a fascinating sense of their complex social lives. Their tool use and close genetic link to humans make these encounters especially compelling. Beyond the great apes, East Africa’s forests and woodlands support a range of other primates. Black-and-white colobus leap through highland canopies, while guenons and mangabeys add colour and movement to riverine habitats. Each species reflects the landscape it occupies, from dense rainforest to open woodland.In the savannah regions of Uganda and neighbouring East African countries, baboons and vervet monkeys are frequently seen during game drives or quiet moments near waterholes. Their behaviour mirrors the open terrain they inhabit: large troops, shifting hierarchies and constant negotiation within the group. Whether you find yourself in Uganda’s volcanic Simon Rowland Founder, Wildfoot Travel | Wildfoot Horizons Magazine - Summer 2026
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