The Great Apes
Information about African Great Apes
Four out of the five great ape species live on the African continent, in the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin - the area where Volcanoes Safaris works. These include Mountain Gorillas, Lowland Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Bonobos. Man poses a serious threat to all the precarious populations of Great Apes through poaching, disease and population pressure. Visiting gorillas and chimpanzees helps fund conservation and community projects - schools, roads, clinics, community centres - and helps the local people to understand the value of the Great Apes continued survival.
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Gorillas
Gorillas are one of our closest relatives and share about 97.7% of our DNA... -
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are now becoming extinct in some countries due to deforestation and poaching... -
Bonobos
Bonobos are the least understood of the Great Apes...
Volcanoes Partnership Projects
Volcanoes believes that long-term partnerships between ecotourism companies, local communities, conservation organisations, governments and donors are essential for the survival of primates. In post-conflict Rwanda the Volcanoes Safaris BLCF Project, backed by the British government, has helped improve hotel infrastructure, train local people in hospitality and guiding, increase income and develop new skills.
The project brought over 1.5 million US dollars to the Rwandese economy. In Ugandawe are setting up a partnership project near the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which will link the eco-lodge we are building there to the community, promote the conservation of the chimpanzees and create a buffer zone to help protect the Gorge.
