The Great Apes Of Africa: A Full Beginner’s Guide By Experts

Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Where to Find Mountain Gorillas

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.
2. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda: Located in the Virunga Mountains, this park offers accessible trekking routes and incredible views of iconic volcanoes.
3. Virunga National Park, DRC: Africa’s oldest park, this remote region is a hidden gem for travelers seeking intimate encounters with gorilla families.

Characteristics of the Mountain Gorillas

1. Size and Strength: Mountain gorillas are the largest Great Apes Of Africa (primates) on Earth, and grow up to 5.5 feet tall and weigh up to 440 pounds.
2. Physical Adaptations: With long, thick fur, mountain gorillas are perfectly adapted to survive in cool high altitudes.
3. Gentle Nature: Despite their formidable size, mountain gorillas are remarkably gentle giants, herbivorous creatures. They spend their days foraging for leaves, fruits, and bamboo, exhibiting patience and care when interacting with their family members.

Fascinating Behavior About Mountain Gorillas

1. Social Structure: Mountain gorillas live in tight-knit family groups led by a dominant silverback. These groups can include up to 30 members and are built on strong family bonds.
2. Communication: Mountain gorillas communicate through a range of vocalizations, from grunts and roars to more subtle vocal signals.
3. Nest Building: Every night, gorillas construct new nests on the forest floor or in trees, showcasing their ingenuity and adaptability. Their nests are carefully crafted and offer warmth and protection.

Surprising Facts About Mountain Gorillas

1. DNA Similarity: Mountain gorillas share around 98% of their DNA with humans, making them one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. This shared DNA is reflected in their emotional intelligence, family structures, and behavior.
2. Lifespan: In the wild, mountain gorillas can live up to 35–40 years. Silverbacks, in particular, develop incredible strength and wisdom over the years, often reaching their prime at around 13 years old.
3. Conservation Success: Due to dedicated conservation efforts, the population of mountain gorillas has grown from about 620 individuals in 1989 to over 1,000 today. They remain critically endangered, but gorilla trekking tourism has become a lifeline for their survival and the protection of their habitats.

Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Where to Find Western Lowland Gorillas

1. Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo: This stunning park is one of the most accessible places to observe Western Lowland Gorillas.
2. Lopé National Park, Gabon: Known for its rich biodiversity, Lopé National Park is a sanctuary for Western Lowland Gorillas and offers guided trekking tours in a breathtaking forest-savanna landscape.
3. Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, Central African Republic: This lesser-known reserve offers an intimate gorilla trekking experience. Dzanga-Sangha is home to habituated Western Lowland Gorillas, providing unique, close-up viewing opportunities.

Characteristics of the Western Lowland Gorilla

1. Smaller Yet Strong: Western Lowland Gorillas are the smallest of the gorilla subspecies, with males standing about 5 feet tall and weighing up to 400 pounds, while females are smaller, reaching around 200 pounds. Their size and agility make them adept at navigating the dense rainforests of their home.
2. Distinctive Appearance: They possess shorter, reddish-brown fur compared to other gorillas, with a characteristic crown of hair on their heads. Males develop a striking silverback marking as they mature, symbolizing their role as group leaders and protectors.
3. Expressive Faces: Western Lowland Gorillas are known for their expressive facial features, which help communicate emotions and social signals within their groups.

Behavior of the Western Lowland Gorilla

1. Social Structure: These gorillas live in family groups led by a dominant silverback, who maintains order and provides protection. While groups are generally smaller than those of mountain gorillas, social bonds are strong, with grooming, play, and cooperative feeding strengthening these connections.
2. Fruit-Lovers and Foragers: Western Lowland Gorillas are primarily frugivores, enjoying a diverse diet of fruits, leaves, stems, and seeds. They’re also known for their impressive memory, recalling seasonal fruiting patterns and revisiting favorite feeding spots throughout the year.
3. Tree Climbing Skills: Unlike other gorilla subspecies, Western Lowland Gorillas are skilled climbers. Their smaller size and lighter build allow them to climb trees in search of fruit, a unique behavior among gorillas.

Fascinating Facts About Western Lowland Gorillas

1. Most Widespread Gorilla: Western Lowland Gorillas are the most numerous gorilla subspecies among the Great Apes Of Africa, with a population estimated in the tens of thousands. However, they are still critically endangered due to habitat loss, disease, and poaching.
2. Tool Users: Observations have revealed these gorillas using simple tools, like sticks to test water depth and vegetation to create makeshift bridges—an indication of their intelligence and adaptability.
3. Strong Family Bonds: Silverbacks play an active role in protecting and nurturing young gorillas, and it’s common to see males engaging in playful interactions with juveniles, displaying both strength and tenderness.

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Where to Find Chimpanzees

1. Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda: Known as the “Primate Capital of the World,” Kibale offers some of the best chimpanzee tracking in Africa. Visitors can experience an up-close encounter with these Great Apes Of Africa (primates).
2. Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania: Located along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains is one of Africa’s most stunning chimpanzee habitats, where visitors can observe these apes in the breathtaking rainforest and mountainous terrain.
3. Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania: Famous as the site of Jane Goodall’s pioneering chimpanzee studies, Gombe offers guided treks that reveal the daily lives of chimpanzees, alongside stunning views of Lake Tanganyika.
4. Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taï is home to a well-studied population of chimpanzees, making it an excellent destination for travelers interested in observing unique chimpanzee behaviors.

Characteristics of the Chimpanzee

1. Built for Climbing and Grasping: Chimpanzees are muscular and agile Great Apes Of Africa, with strong arms and long fingers adapted for climbing, grasping, and tool use. Adult males weigh between 88-130 pounds, while females are slightly smaller, around 70-100 pounds.
2. Expressive Faces and Communication: Known for their expressive facial features and gestures, chimpanzees communicate through an intricate mix of vocalizations, facial expressions, and body language. This social intelligence helps them navigate the complex relationships within their groups.
3. Tool Users: Chimpanzees are among the few animals capable of creating and using tools, such as sticks to extract insects from nests or stones to crack nuts—a remarkable display of cognitive ability and problem-solving skills.

Behavior of the Chimpanzee

1. Highly Social: Chimpanzees live in communities of 20 to over 100 individuals, structured by a complex hierarchy led by an alpha male. Social bonds are reinforced through grooming, playing, and cooperative hunting, with community members working together to find food and protect one another.
2. Omnivorous Diet: Their diet is highly varied, consisting of fruits, leaves, nuts, and occasionally meat, such as insects and small animals. Chimpanzees are also known for their coordinated hunting tactics, particularly in capturing monkeys—a practice that requires teamwork and planning.
3. Play and Learning: Young chimpanzees learn survival and social skills through play, imitating older chimpanzees as they explore their environment. This play-based learning strengthens social bonds and prepares them for adult life within the community.

Fascinating Facts About Chimpanzees

1. Closest Living Relative: Sharing nearly 98% of our DNA, chimpanzees are remarkably similar to humans in their behavior, problem-solving abilities, and emotional depth.
2. Tool Use and Culture: Different chimpanzee groups have distinct “cultures,” or learned behaviors, like unique foraging techniques and gestures that are passed down from generation to generation.
3. Endangered Status: Chimpanzees are currently endangered, with populations decreasing due to habitat loss, hunting, and disease. Conservation efforts are critical for ensuring their survival in the wild.

Golden Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti)

Golden monkeys are part of the Great Apes Of Africa, they are an endangered species found exclusively in the high-altitude regions of the Virunga Mountains and Mgahinga National Park, where they thrive among dense bamboo forests. Observing these social and playful creatures in the wild is a remarkable adventure that immerses travelers in the heart of East Africa’s natural beauty.

Where to Find Golden Monkeys

1. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda: Home to a large population of golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park offers guided treks through bamboo forests to observe these vibrant primates.
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda: Known for both gorillas and golden monkey trekking, Mgahinga provides a unique opportunity to see golden monkeys as they play and forage in dense bamboo forests at the foot of the Virunga Mountains.
3. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: This renowned national park is another key location for golden monkeys, set in the breathtaking scenery of the Virunga volcanic range.

Characteristics of the Golden Monkey

1. Golden and Blue Coloration: Golden monkeys are recognized for their striking golden-orange fur, particularly around their backs and sides, contrasting with dark blue-black limbs, tails, and faces. This colorful coat helps them blend in with the bamboo forests they inhabit.
2. Adapted for High-Altitude Life: Slightly smaller than other primates, golden monkeys are agile and light, with a slender build perfect for navigating high-altitude bamboo and montane forests.
3. Expressive Faces and Lively Eyes: With their rounded faces and bright, inquisitive eyes, golden monkeys display an expressive appearance that reflects their curious and energetic nature.

The behavior of the Golden Monkey

1. Highly Social and Playful: Golden monkeys live in large groups of up to 30 individuals, led by a dominant male. These groups are close-knit, spending much of their time grooming, foraging, and playing together, which reinforces social bonds.
2. Leaf, Bamboo, and Fruit Diet: Their diet consists primarily of bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, and occasional insects. During bamboo shoots’ growth seasons, they thrive on this nutrient-rich food, which provides essential energy for their active lifestyles.
3. Quick Movements and Arboreal Life: Golden monkeys are incredibly nimble and are known for their quick, darting movements as they leap from branch to branch in search of food, displaying impressive agility and coordination.

Fascinating Facts About Golden Monkeys

1. Endangered Status: Golden monkeys are endangered, with populations affected by habitat loss, deforestation, and human encroachment. They are found only in specific high-altitude forests in East Africa.
2. Specialized Bamboo Diet: While they eat a variety of foods, bamboo makes up a significant portion of their diet. When bamboo shoots sprout, golden monkeys gorge on these shoots, a seasonal treat rich in nutrients.
3. Unique Communication and Vocalization: These monkeys communicate using an array of sounds and calls, including high-pitched squeaks and twitters, to alert their group of potential threats or express excitement when they find food.

Travel Advice From JimJam Safaris

We cater to all ages, budgets, interests, and fitness levels. Our team can assist with queries about The Great Apes Of Africa Tours, Accommodation, Bookings, and Destinations. We will respond to your Inquiry as soon as possible. Our team of friendly and service-minded Safari Consultants is available to assist you in making a personalized tailor-made travel Itinerary and to answer all questions you might have.

Talk To The Experts