Ker & Downey’s primate safari begins in Rwanda’s lovely capital city of Kigali with an evening of leisure and rest after your international flight.

Continue into Nyungwe Forest National Park and Nyungwe House, perched on a tea plantation at the edge of the rainforest Each of the 24 rooms at Nyungwe House faces the verdant forest, a view that can best be enjoyed from the privacy of individual balconies. Spend the next two days exploring the diverse climates and terrains of the park and embarking upon thrilling primate safaris.

Lush forests at varying altitudes offer refuge for a quarter of Africa’s primate species, and though sightings are not always guaranteed, a trek through the lush forest only enhances the thrill of stumbling upon a troop of monkeys. Species found here include L’Hoest’s monkey, owl-faced monkey, blue and golden monkeys, black and white colobus, and the ever-popular chimpanzee. Guided walks with experienced trackers at your side increase your odds of seeing them.

Enjoy another full day of exploring. At the lodge, sample teas plucked fresh from the plantation at the cozy tea lounge and delight in the gourmet dishes served in the dining room. From the fresh cheese plates and fruit skewers to the sumptuous dinners, the presentations and tastes are impeccable and a delightful surprise within the Rwandan wild.

Your exclusive primate safari in Rwanda continues in Volcanoes National Park, the area that played host to acclaimed researcher Dian Fossey for over 20 years. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is located just minutes from the main entrance to Volcanoes National Park and is the perfect location from which to enjoy gorilla trekking in the forests surrounding the Virunga Mountains. The lodge is Rwanda’s first ever community-owned lodge and uses income from its operation to finance socio-economic development and Mountain Gorilla conservation projects in the area.

Set off in search of Silverback Gorillas on your first guided trek. There are 10 habituated families of Mountain Gorillas located in the Rwandan sector of the Virunga Volcanoes specifically tracked for visitor interaction. Just like a typical human family unit, each gorilla family offers something unique and completely different, making no two gorilla treks the same.

Head back into the park today for more guided gorilla treks. Guests can also visit the nearby Ruhengeri and its bustling market, powerful genocide memorials, the beautiful local lakes, community projects, or the Dian Fossey research center. In addition, avid bird watchers may want to take the opportunity to explore the area and discover for themselves some of the 670 recorded Rwandan bird species while they are here.

Travel back to Kigali today, spending a leisurely day of rest before continuing on to Tanzania.

Journey next into Tanzania to the jungle clad Rubondo Island Camp on Lake Victoria, a luxurious lakefront escape with the perfect balance of opulence and adventure. Each of the eight suites are a fusion of permanent structures and tented accommodations, with one wall open to the lake and closed off by mesh and canvas. En suite baths include gas-heated running water, double basins, and refreshing amenities to ensure comfort even in the wild.

A number of indigenous mammal species – such as hippo, vervet monkey, genet, and mongoose – share their protected habitat with introduced species such as black-and-white colobus, Suni antelope, elephant, giraffe, and the island’s famed chimpanzees, all of which thrive amid Rubondo’s inaccessibility. North of camp, hike through the jungle habitat of around 40 unhabituated chimpanzees whose ancestors were rescued from zoos and circuses and released on the island in the 1960s.

Take a quick pause from your primate safari adventures to visit the land where the Great Migration takes center stage, the Serengeti. Game viewing and remote safari luxury are the staples of any stay at Sayari Camp. Among just a few permanent camps in the northwestern Serengeti, this area largely untouched by heavy tourist traffic. Year-round the concentration of wildlife is astounding, but because of its position near the Mara River, it becomes even more heavily populated during the Great Migration.

Enjoy safari activities at your leisure including game drives and walks, bird watching, and spying on the resident hippos and crocodiles in the river. During your midday game viewing break, you can enjoy the marvelous vistas from your private veranda or take a dip in the stunning infinity pool.

Round out your primate safari at the beautiful Greystoke Mahale on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Mahale Mountains National Park, which hosts some of the last wild chimpanzees in the world. Accessible only by boat, Greystoke Mahale comprises six wildly exotic wooden bandas looking out across the soft sand beach and the lake.

The forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains rise behind the camp, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1,000 individuals inhabiting the national park. Embark with guides into the forest to catch a glimpse of this unique community of primates.

In addition to game viewing and chimp tracking activities, experience dhow trips, snorkeling, and fishing in the world’s second largest freshwater lake. Relax between activities at the main lodge. The upstairs area, with its cushions, rare books, and specialist primate library, has four decks that look out to every point of the compass, the perfect vantage points to sit and appreciate this incredible place.

Today you depart for your return journey, with VIP services at the airport with your Ker & Downey guide.