Uganda has a diversity of Primates unlike any other East African Country – Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys and more – all found in the Pearl of Africa.
The Mountain Gorillas of Uganda:
The number one attraction in Uganda are Mountain Gorillas – located at both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and at Mgahinga Gorilla Park – th
ere are now 10 Gorilla Family Groups open for visitation – meaning that they are habituated and used to human beings. 80 permits are now available on daily basis in Uganda- which makes it a bit easier for you to find one. Even if there are no permits available at Uganda Wildlife Authority – tour operators belonging to AUTO have a network with which they inform other members of AUTO and most often permits can be found.
Certainly the Gorillas of Uganda are not to be missed – their locations makes it easy to add on other activities such as a visit to Lake Bunyonyi, the Batwa Forest Trail with the original people of the forest – the pygmies, Volcano Climbing, Golden Monkey Tracking, Wildlife viewing such as the Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions and Chimpanzee Tracking at Kyambura Gorge or Kibale Forest.
One of the most favorite safaris is a 5 day Gorilla – Chimpanzee – Wildlife Safari that combines Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth Park with the Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha – the Chimpanzees of the Kyambura Gorge – and other wildlife such as Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, Hippos, Birds, Crocodiles – a fabulous combination of some of Uganda’s finest offerings.
Below are links of information regarding the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda:
Visiting the Gorillas of Uganda
Gorilla Tracking Guidelines for Uganda
Gorilla Permits in Uganda: Best gotten with a Ugandan Safari Tour Company – we send you a scan of the permits upon our purchase of them for you.
Is there any such thing as Cheap Gorilla Safaris? The
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Accommodations for Gorilla Tracking
The Chimpanzees of Uganda
Our closest relatives – the Chimpanzees – there are about 4950 of them in Uganda – the park best known for Chimpanzees is Kibale Forest – a rainforest jungle in Uganda, its sheer beauty is a reason to visit the park. 13 kinds of primates are found there – 1500 chimpanzees call Kibale Forest their home – you can track them, go on an all day habituation experience, do a nocturnal walk in the jungle with spotlights and guides, simply amazing what you can experience in Kibale Rainforest Jungle.
Not only can you track Chimpanzees in the Kibale Rainforest Jungle, but you can do so at Semliki which is also a rainforest Jungle down the fabulous Albertine Rift Escarpment, Budongo Mahogany Forest at Murchison Falls, Kyambura Gorge at Queen Elizabeth Park.
There are various opportunities to see the chimpanzees of Uganda and combine them with the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda – Uganda offers you more primate and wildlife diversity than any other African country, and yet it is off the beaten path of the African Tourist Trek.
Spending an hour with both the chimpanzees of Uganda and the mountain gorillas alone, are worth the trip to this country. You can also spend the whole day with chimpanzees by going on a Chimpanzee Habituation Experience.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Uganda: All day with the Chimpanzees
Best Places for Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda
The Golden Monkeys of Uganda
The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) are rare and unique and like its great ape relatives-the mountain gorillas- the gol
den monkeys can only be found in three countries -Rwanda-Congo- and Uganda in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. They weigh 10 to 25 pounds, have a golden body, cheeks and tails with black limbs, crown on their heads and tail end. They are a sub-species of the blue monkey and are found in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Volcanoes.
The number of Golden Monkeys has never been established, yet researchers feel that they are in decline and in the protected areas are not on the increase like the Mountain Gorillas. They face the same difficulties as mountain gorillas through encroachment by people, snares set for small antelopes, people entering their habitat for firewood and other things.
Most people come to Uganda to seek out the region's famous gorillas. But the little cousin – the Golden Monkey offers a Golden Opportunity since they are nearby.
Golden Monkey tracking costs a fraction of the price of Gorilla tracking but offers a most enjoyable time to with these delightful creature. Like Chimpanzees and mountain gorillas – the golden monkeys have been habituated – meaning that they are used to humans and will go about with their daily lives while you are there.
At Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you are escorted by guides in small groups and hike to the bamboo forest in the foothills of the majestic volcanoes where the golden monkeys are found.
Golden Monkeys are a bit harder to catch on camera – but use fast shutter speed and low light since you are in a dense forest and it should work out alright.
Monkeys in Uganda:
Baboons: The Olive Baboon is the only one found in Uganda. You can find them in all Parks with the exception of the three Montane region parks such as Mgahinga, Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Elgon. They 
usually live in large groups and their dog-like heads make them look fierce and they love to show their menacing teeth. They are also quite large in size. Most safari visitors will see them along their journeys.
Black and White Colobus: This beautiful monkey with its black body, white face, white tail and white sides living in small groups can be found in most forest including in Entebbe Botanical Gardens and most National Park. There is a Colobus Monkey unique to the Rwenzori Mountains.
Blue Monkeys: Are very wide spread across East Africa. Dark-Blue-Grey in color, white throat and a white patch on chest. You can find this monkey belonging the guenon family in all of Uganda's parks with the exception of Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Blue Monkeys live in troops of four to twelve animals. There are 20 kinds of guenon monkeys, three of them found in Uganda.
De Brazza's Monkeys: This monkey is a guenon, very thickset, short tail, hairy face, red brown patch around the eyes, a white mustache and beard. This monkey can most likely be found in the are of Mount Elgon National Park and Semliki National Park.
Grey Cheeked Mangabees: These monkeys are greyish and black. They live in low and moderate altitude rainforests. They act in a baboon like manner. Have a shaggy appearance and are found in Semliki and Kibale Forest National Parks.
L'Hoest's Monkeys: This is a very attractive guenon and not too often seen since it loves to hide in the dense forest and is terrestrial. Its tail is always in an upright position. There are not many found in East Africa and in Uganda you can find them Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Kibale Forest, Maragambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park and elsewhere in the park.
Patas Monkey: This is a terrestrial monkey found in the savannah parks of northern Uganda such as Murchison Falls Park, Kidepo Valley Park and the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Some people may confuse them with the Vervet Monkeys, however Patas are larger, have a light reddish coat and a black stripe above the eyes.
Red Colobus Monkeys: This is a large red-grey monkey with a small tufted crown, very sociable living in troops up to 50. In Uganda you can find the Red Colobus Monkey in Kibale Forest and smaller numbers in Semliki National Park.
Red Tailed Monkey: Very common monkey and in Uganda the red tailed monkey and Blue Monkeys often interbreed in Kibale Forest. You can find red tailed monkeys in Uganda in Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Semiliki and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Nocturnal Primates: Guided nightwalks at Kibale Forest Park allow you to see the nocturnal primates as spotlights are used to point them out by the UWA Ranger Guide. Otherwise they are seldom seen by most because of their nocturnal ways.
Bushbabies: They are also called galagoes. The bushbaby's night cry is one of the distinct African sounds. As you shine your flashlight or torch into the tree where the cry is coming from, you will see the big eyes of the bushbaby. They are found in most Ugandan parks, including the dwarf one.
Potto: Medium sized sloth like creature can be found on night walks at Kibale Forest, it can also be found at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth Park.
If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa." John Hemingway?, African Journeys
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