Included in Africa's spectacular mammal fauna are 107 species of primates.
Add subspecies to that list and the continent's total increases to 192 taxa, or 'varieties', which belong to four families. Today, reports the IUCN Primate Specialist Group, just over half of these African primates (52.6%) are threatened to varying degrees of endangerment due to overhunting and habitat devastation.
Incredibly, Madagascar, while being about half the size of South Africa and accounting for just 2% of the African landmass, is home to 106 primate species. Again, if we cobble subspecies onto the list, the total increases to 110 taxa, allocated to five families. Unfortunately for Madagascar though, a staggering 94.5% of its primates are threatened. Additionally, some poorly understood African monkeys are quietly sliding into oblivion.
Among the primates of Africa and Madagascar are some of the world's most charismatic and compelling species. And this means they're often the focal point of wildlife travel 'bucket list' entries.
Here’s a roundup of signature excursions we offer for those wanting to see the great ape populations in equatorial Africa, Madagascar's lemurs and some gravely endangered monkeys of the West African rainforests.
A Thrilling Wildlife Adventure: Tracking Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
There are very few wildlife experiences in Africa as impressive and awe-inspiring as tracking the majestic mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of Rwanda and Uganda.
In 2019, the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) estimated that 1,063 of these critically endangered great apes remain in the wild. About half the population lives in Uganda, with the other half being split between Rwanda and DRC. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts over the years, it's now the only great ape whose population is on an upward trajectory.
Uganda
In Uganda, mountain gorillas are predominantly distributed in the sprawling Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They can be observed in all four sectors – Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and high-lying Ruhija. Additionally, a small number of mountain gorillas inhabit the compact Mgahinga National Park. As of January 2024, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has been able to issue 200 permits per day for the country’s presently 25 habituated gorilla families. Around 24 of Bwindi’s approximate 50 families are habituated, while in Mgahinga there's just one habituated family.
Rwanda
Across the border in Rwanda, there are ten habituated mountain gorilla families in Parc National des Volcans, for which 80 tracking permits are issued per day. It's worth noting that the cost of a tracking permit in Uganda is US$800, compared with US$1,500 for the same experience in Rwanda. Additionally, in Uganda, it's possible to partake in a ‘habituation experience', which entails spending four hours observing a family group that's in the slow process of being habituated to human presence. Currently, only four habituation experience permits are issued per day, and they cost US$1,500, so it's best to book well in advance.
All our clients who've completed this habituation experience have returned with rave reviews.
Suggested Reading: 9 Tips for Seeing Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
Walk on the Wild Side: Visiting Western Lowland Gorillas in Republic of Congo
For discerning and active wildlife travellers who've already encountered the mountain gorillas of Uganda or Rwanda, a light adventure to Republic of Congo presents a refreshing, alternative choice.
While classified by the IUCN as critically endangered, western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) populations are far more numerous than that of its upland relatives. This is being estimated at around 100,000 in the wild. Of these, more than 25,000 are believed to find sanctuary in the magnificent 13,546km² Odzala Kokoau National Park – a stronghold for wildlife of the great central African rainforests and currently under management of the exemplary conservation organisation, African Parks.
Two of the three habituated western lowland families in Odzala can be visited by tourists. During our trips to the country, our clients have the opportunity to track and observe the gorillas three times.
Tracking Chimpanzees in Uganda
We’re closely related to the chimpanzee, sharing around 98.7% of our genetic blueprint with them. While these great apes are distributed quite widely across the Afro-tropics, one of the best places in which to observe wild chimpanzees – in this case the eastern subspecies (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) – is at Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda. Chances of seeing the chimps during the regular morning or afternoon tracking excursions on offer exceed 90%, all during a one-hour tracking experience.
Half-day chimpanzee tracking excursions here are operated in the mornings and in the afternoons. If you're keen on a more in-depth observation, we can help you with arranging a much longer chimpanzee habituation experience. Accompanied by park rangers, you’ll spend much of the day walking through the lush jungle and following a group of chimpanzees as they go about their daily ‘daily activities in their natural habitat.
Experiencing Madagascar’s Indris
Largest of the 110-odd species of lemur, the indri (Indri indri), can weigh up to 20 pounds. While not an ape, this remarkable prosimian is often described as 'ape-like', because of its vestigial tail and black, 'gloved' hands.
Responsibly managed tourism is an impactful element in the continuation of effective conservation. Many of our sample Madagascar itineraries include a visit to the rainforests protected at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. A key reason for this is to experience the thriving population of resident and habituated indris, which our clients enjoy observing during guided rainforest walks.
Hearing the whale-like calls of indri families emanating from the mist-enshrouded montane forests is pure Malagasy magic. As indri – which are critically endangered – don't survive in captivity, they can only be seen in their Malagasy rainforest home, oftentimes leaping up to 10m high from tree to tree.
Spirits of the Forest: Seeking Madagascar’s Nocturnal Lemurs
Madagascar’s diverse nocturnal lemurs range from the bizarre, cat-sized aye aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis, pictured, above) to our smallest relative, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) – which weighs just 30 grams.
Broadly speaking, the nocturnal lemur families include woolly lemurs (Avahi), sportive lemurs (Lepilemur), fork-marked lemurs (Phaner), giant mouse lemurs (Mirza), dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus) and mouse lemurs (Microcebus). Night walks in protected areas such as Montagne d'Ambre and Kirindy Forest are a popular pursuit during which nocturnal lemurs are usually high on visitors’ wish lists.
While sites such as Masoala National Park, Fontenay Private Park near Montagne d’Ambre, Andasibe-Mantadia and Ranomafana National Parks are generally rewarding for nocturnal lemur sightings, to me, the tinderbox-dry Kirindy Forest trumps the lot when it comes to nocturnal primate diversity
Here, during an hour’s night walk, you can easily see the likes of googly-eyed red-tailed sportive lemurs, vocal, resin-munching pale fork-marked lemurs (pictured above) and plenty of grey mouse lemurs. Not only that, but fat-tailed dwarf lemurs are in fashion during the spring and summer months, but go awol in winter when, uniquely among primates, the dwarf lemurs aestivate.
In Pursuit of Our Smallest Relative: Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Pictured: Critically Endangered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, image taken by Rainbow Tours client PK Wong in 2023
To see Kirindy’s other two species of nocturnal lemurs requires a good dose of luck and the services of an expert guide. Coquerel’s giant mouse lemur is missed by most as it's skittish, fast and remains high up in the trees. The most enigmatic of Kirindy’s primates is Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, our tiniest relative who weigh just 1.058 ounces and forage alone at night, but often sleep with other individuals by day.
Given the severity of threats facing its only forest home, Menabe Antimena Protected Area, this pint-sized wonder is classified as critically endangered and, around 2018, was even feared extinct. However, I'm delighted to share that during 2022 and 2023, a number of our clients were not only fortunate enough to see them but also document their sightings with excellent images such as the above.
Suggested Reading: Kirindy Forest - Endangered Wildlife among the Baobabs
The Miner’s Canaries of the Primate World: Red Colobus Monkeys
The biodiverse Upper Guinea forests of West Africa are a veritable treasure trove for keen naturalists. A large variety of often localised primates inhabit these fascinating but fragmented forests, including several species of colobus monkey.
It's long been recognised that when pressure on wildlife due to unsustainable gun hunting and habitat destruction for agricultural expansion, mining and logging set in, the first to disappear from resident primate communities living in Africa are the red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus).
These understudied, large-bodied, photogenic flagship primates can therefore be considered emblematic of Africa’s tropical forest biodiversity crisis. Complex vegetarian diets mean that, for the most part, red colobus monkeys do not survive in captivity. So, just as is the case with Madagascar’s indri, the only place in which to see them is their natural rainforest homes from Senegal to Ivory Coast.
Our trips to Sierra Leone include two sites: Tiwai Wildlife Sanctuary and Gola Rainforest, where most of our guests have managed to see Upper Guinea (also known as western or bay) red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius). Other monkeys with which they tend to associate can be seen, like the strikingly coloured Diana guenon (Cercopithecus diana); king colobus (Colobus polykomos) and olive colobus (Procolobus verus).
The best months to visit the Upper Guinea rainforests are from December through to late March.
Observe Great Apes, Endangered Monkey Species and Adorable Prosimians with Rainbow
For more information on our Africa primate safaris, speak with our Travel Specialists by clicking on the enquiry button or calling 0208 131 8527. We can help tailor-make your entire trip, so you can enjoy seeking and observing the primates you’re most interested in!
