Great apes and golden monkeys

Trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in search of Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey, see big game in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth NP and Kenya’s Masai Mara, visit a Chimpanzee Sanctuary and take part in a flagship community project at Jinja during Dragoman Overland’s full-on 15-night Great Apes & Gameparks expedition.

From Uganda's capital, Kampala, travellers head to Lake Bunyonyi, take a dugout canoe (pirogues) across the serene waters to Muko Forest and visit the Batwa Tribe. Next up, for many the journey’s high point, Mountain Gorilla trekking in the stunning highlands of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The area currently has four habituated groups, the largest is the Susa Group, comprising 35 members including 3 silverbacks and is the original group studied by Diana Fossie.

The Trebize, Sabinyo and Amahoro are smaller, with 13 members in each group, each involving varying levels of trekking to encounter. Also endemic to the same bamboo habitat as the gorillas, is Africa’s rarest primate, the Golden Monkey, and treks can be organised to view the two troupes that have become habituated in the NP since 2003. Return to Uganda, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, which while not displaying the proliferation of wildlife found in the Serengeti, does possess quality - elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion (four of the big five) and stunning bird-life. Here, wild camping surrounded by hippos, elephants and lions is the ultimate reality safari experience.

Next, a boat trip to Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria to visit a Chimpanzee Sanctuary. On to Jinja, where in line with Dragoman’s ethos of responsible tourism, travellers spend time helping maintain a school at their flagship community project. Here, travellers camp high above Bujagali Falls with magnificent views of the Nile River - adrenaline junkies will have a chance to challenge some of the world’s most exciting white-water rafting. Head off to the Masai Mara in search of big game, then drop in at Langatta Giraffe Sanctuary before the journey concludes in cosmopolitan Nairobi - maasai word for 'Place of Cool Waters'.

The tour costs £595 p/p plus kitty US$380 (£195) including transport aboard Dragoman Overland’s rugged but comfortable customised Mercedes Benz truck, camping and hotel accommodation (90%/10%) all camp meals, the expertise of Dragoman Overland’s two person crew and accompanying African camp master. Gorilla Permits are additional and cost £295 p/p and need to be purchased at time of booking trip.

For more information, visit Dragoman.com.