Gorilla and Primate Trekking Around the World: 9 to Book

1.7 Hours Monkey Island and Nature Walk at Soberania National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $120Our pick

Start at 7:30 a.m. with boat time on the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake, where guides such as Juan, Hector, and Nicolas look for monkeys, sloths, birds, and crocodiles. Then walk Soberania National Park before lunch near the Amador Causeway. The small group holds no more than 12 people, and lunch costs extra.

“Wonderful experience. Guide Hector & driver Diego were very friendly. Hector is very qualifed regarding the animal, botanic and canal information. We got amazing pictures of wild animals and well understood the canal history In total much more than expected.”

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2.3 Day Gorilla Trek at Bwindi National Park via Kigali

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $1,940

Start in Kigali and cross into Uganda for a mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bamboo Ecotours handles permits, transport, lodging, meals, and guiding for groups of up to five. Guides such as Herbert, Fred, Jackson, John, and Godfrey have led past departures, though your guide is assigned later. Golden monkey trekking is an optional add-on.

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3.1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $360

You leave Kigali at 4:30 am with a private driver-guide and reach Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trek lasting about two to five hours. The permit is not included, but transport, lunch, and Kigali pickup and drop-off are provided. John is named as one possible guide.

“I had the privilege of going on a Gorilla Trek today with John as my guide, and it was an absolutely flawless experience from start to finish!”

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4.Rwanda Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 1 day · from $260

Leave Kigali at 4:30am for Volcanoes National Park, where a guide and trackers lead you through mountain forest to a gorilla family. You get one hour with the animals, plus coffee, lunch, volcano views, and a cultural visit with dance and traditional customs. Drivers including Mico, Joel, and Joël are praised for their care and local knowledge.

“Our Gorilla Trekking day was an incredible experience. Our guide/driver Joël picked us up in Kigali at 4:30am. He was so friendly, informative, accommodating, and we highly recommend him for a most pleasant day. Our trekking guide, Felicien was excellent and extremely knowledgeable as well. Our gorilla family, Kwisanga, were beautiful, from the silverback to the babies! Such magnificent mountain gorillas! The trackers found them quickly and after a short 30 minute hike, we were able to stay with them for over an hour. Afterwards we had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and the views on the drive back to Kigali were amazing. I hope to go back…”

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5.3 Days Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Tracking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $1,169

Travel from Kampala to Fort Portal with Trek Rwenzori Tours for crater-lake walks, monkey watching, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, a wetland walk, and the Amabere Caves. Your package includes transport, chimpanzee permit, lodging, meals, and bottled water. Emmanuel is a familiar guide name with this operator, though your assigned guide may differ.

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6.Lowland Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $2,200

Spend three days traveling from Kigali to Bukavu and Kahuzi-Biega National Park to see endangered Grauer’s gorillas in the wild. Ubuntu Voyages arranges the gorilla permit, transport, lodging, border assistance, and a professional guide. The small group size, capped at five, leaves room for a slower pace and optional Bukavu sightseeing.

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7.Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · from $299

Leave Kigali at 4:30 a.m. for Volcanoes National Park, where park rangers assign your gorilla family and lead a 2 to 8 hour trek. Your Kigali transport, driver-guide, water, and lunch stop are included, while the $1,500 international permit is extra unless you choose the permit option. John is the regular driver-guide.

“Note that the Gorilla trekking itself is done by staff of the national park; this is about transport from Kigali to the park and back. My driver was called John, and he did a great job. He was on point on time, brought me safely to the park, organized everything for me there, and took me to the trekking starting point. Afterwards, he took me to a lunch place and back to Kigali. He happily answered all my questions and explained things on the way. He was very flexible to stop on the way for an ATM or to take pictures.”

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8.2 Days Nyungwe National Park Tours -Chimp-Canopy-Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · from $450

Spend two days exploring Nyungwe with guide Arnaud or Enriche, known as Nicha. Ride by 4x4 through Rwanda’s tea country, cross a 200-meter canopy walkway 50 meters above the forest, hike to Ndambarare Waterfall, and sleep at Nyungwe Resort. Chimpanzees and other primates may appear along the drive, but a dedicated chimp trek is not listed.

“I really enjoyed this tour! It’s a great experience in the rainforest and the canopy is unforgettable. I also really enjoyed the museums and was glad I took the two day trip to enjoy the peace of the park and still have time learn more about Rwanda on the way to and from the park! The communication was excellent, guide Arnaud was professional, insightful and very kind. I would highly recommend this tour and thank you to the team!”

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9.Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 1 day · from $2,499

Leave Kigali at 4:30 am with a private English-speaking driver-guide, reach Volcanoes National Park after roughly 2.5 hours, and join a ranger-led gorilla trek. Walking may last 1 to 8 hours before your one-hour gorilla visit. A permit, lunch, transport, emergency evacuation, and taxes are included.

“Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitats. The trackers and guides worked tirelessly to give us the best experience.”

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