The Primates found in Uganda -Ugnda is home to 20 species of Primates
Here are the 20 Primate Species found in Uganda-the Premier Primate Destination in East Africa
The Primates Found in Uganda-The Premier Primate Destination in East Africa: Uganda is a stunning destination for primate enthusiasts in Africa because of its diverse selection of primates.
With 20 species of primates, from the well-known chimpanzees to the elusive mountain gorillas, Uganda is the premier destination for anyone seeking the ultimate primate experience. Uganda has more species of primates than other East African counties, including Rwanda.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwestern Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, making it a must-see destination for those interested in seeing these magnificent gentle giants in their natural habitat.
The forest is a pristine natural environment protected by the government and local communities to preserve the gorillas and their habitat for future generations.
Additionally, Uganda is home to other primates, such as Chimpanzees, the endangered golden Monkey, the red-tailed Monkey, and the black and white colobus monkey.
These primates can be found in various national parks and forests throughout the country, where visitors can enjoy guided tours to observe these incredible creatures up close.
Visitors can be assured that their primate encounters will be safe, fair, and respectful to the animals and their habitat. Uganda’s experienced guides are knowledgeable about primate behavior and conservation efforts, ensuring visitors can have an unforgettable experience while also contributing to protecting these amazing animals.
Those that love Primates choose to come to Uganda – the Premier Primate Destination in East Africa.
The Primates Found in Uganda-the Premier Primate Destination in East Africa
Uganda is home to 20 Species of Primates
1. Mountain Gorillas
The Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) is the number one attraction for primate lovers flocking to Uganda.
Mountain Gorillas are the most endangered primates in the world, with only about 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Over half are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Most gorilla families are habituated, which means they are used to humans.
There are three reasons that Uganda is not only the premier primate destination but the premier Mountain Gorilla destination. The first reason is affordability, and the second is more gorilla trekking permits in Uganda. The third reason is safe gorilla trekking.
2. Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) – The closest living relatives to humans, with 98.8% of our DNA in common. There are about 5,000 of them in Uganda.
One thousand five hundred are in Kibale Forest National Park, a primate-rich national park with 13 primate species.
The park has the distinction of having the highest density of primates in Africa, including 1,500 Chimpanzees.
Seeing the Chimpanzees on a trek in Kibale Forest is almost inevitable. The Chimpanzee trek takes much less effort than a mountain gorilla trek, and you spend one hour with a chimpanzee troop and see five to six other species of primates. Read where to trek Chimpanzees in Uganda.
3. Golden Monkeys
The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) is endangered, rare, and unique.
Like its magnificent ape relatives-the mountain gorillas- the golden 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 and have a golden body, cheeks, and tails with black limbs, crowns on their heads, and tail end. They are a sub-species of the blue Monkey and are found in the Virunga Volcanoes’ bamboo forests.
Golden Monkey tracking costs less than gorilla tracking but is not a lesser experience. Golden Monkeys are beautiful, lively, and a delight to observe.
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. Read more about Golden Monkey Trekking.
4, Olive Baboons
The olive baboon (
Papio Anubis), also called the Anubis baboon, is a member of the family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys). The species is the most wide-ranging of all baboons in 25 African countries, extending from Mali eastward to Ethiopia and Uganda.
They live in savannahs, steppes, and forests. The common name is derived from its coat color, a shade of green-grey at a distance. A variety of communications, vocal and non-vocal, facilitate a complex social structure.
You will see the Olive Baboon on a safari, whether in a car or on foot on a nature walk. It is good to roll up your car windows when approaching the road since the brazen baboons have been known to jump in and steal whatever they find, mostly food items.
They usually live in large troops, their dog-like heads make them look fierce, and they love showing their menacing teeth. They are also quite large.
They can become dangerous when they need or socialize to associate humans with food. Large male baboons will defend the others in their troop, and there have been no reports of visitors being harmed by baboons.
5. Black and White Colobus Monkeys
The Black and White Colobus, colobus guereza, is probably the most widespread forest in Uganda, occurring in the most sizeable forests, even in well-developed riparian woodland.
With its black body, white face, whitetail, and white sides living in small groups, this beautiful Monkey can be found in most rests, including Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Several sub-species are found in Uganda, such as the Rwenzori Black and White Colobus Monkey.
Black and White Colobus will be found in most National Parks in Uganda and outside parks. You will find the Rwenzori species alongside the black and white colobus in the Rwenzori Mountains and the foothills.
6. Blue Monkeys
The Blue Monkey, also called the Cercopithecus mitis, belongs to the Old World monkey ancestry, thrives, and is widespread in East and Central Africa.
They are Dark-with Blue-Grey in color, with a white throat and a white patch on the chest. This Monkey belongs to the Guenon family in Uganda’s parks, except for 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 found in Uganda.
Like other monkeys, there are no Blue Monkey Treks except for Golden Monkey Treks in Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Uganda Mangabey Monkey Treks in Mabira Forest. You come upon them while trekking other wildlife or primates.
7. De Brazza’s Monkeys
De Brazza’s Monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) is an Old World French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza named—swamp monkeys.
De Brazza’s Monkey ranges across Uganda’s swamps, bamboo, and dry mountain forests.
De Brazza’s Monkey has grey agouti fur with a reddish-brown back, black limbs, a tail, and a white rump. A white stripe runs down its thigh, and an orange crescent-shaped marking appears on its forehead. Its white eyelids match its muzzle and beard. Both male and female De Brazza’s Monkeys have cheek pouches that carry food while foraging, and males have a blue scrotum.
This Monkey can be found in Mount Elgon National Park and Semliki National Park. They are lovely and exotic monkeys that even found their way unto the cover of the past Bradt’s Guide to Uganda.
8, Grey-Cheeked Mangabey Monkeys
Grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena) are medium-sized Old World monkeys found in the forests of Central Africa. They are characterized by their long tails, thick fur, and distinctive white cheek patches.
Grey-cheeked mangabeys are social animals and live in groups of up to 30 individuals. A dominant male leads the groups, and the females care for the young.
Grey-cheeked mangabeys are frugivores whose diet consists mainly of fruits, leaves, and insects. They are also known to eat bark, flowers, and seeds.
9. Uganda Mangabey Monkeys:
Uganda mangabeys are rather smaller than the grey-cheeked mangabey (L. albigena). It is less sexually dimorphic and has a smaller skull. Individuals from the east of Uganda have a yellowish-brown color, while those from the west are a slightly darker greyish-brown.
The mane and breast are pale chocolate-brown and contrast more with the body color than the equivalent parts of the Johnston’s mangabey (Lophocebus Johnston).
Uganda mangabeys are found in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and gardens. They are frugivores whose diet consists mainly of fruits, leaves, and insects. You can see them in Mabira Forest.
10. L’Hoest’s Monkeys
L’Hoest’s monkeys are also called mountain monkeys or Cercopithecus lhoesti. They are guenons commonly found in the montane forests in the Albertine Rift regions, including southwestern parts of Uganda.
They prefer residing in the montane tropical rainforests, primary and secondary forests. They usually occupy that thick underbrush in the secondary forests, which grow in places where the trees have fallen. L’Hoest’s monkeys mainly live in groups and areas with altitudes ranging from 900- to 2,500 meters.
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.
In Uganda, you can find the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Kibale Forest, Maragambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountains Foothills. In some nearby countries, they and chimpanzees meat, and chimpanzees will also hunt and eat them.
11. Patas Monkeys
The patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas), the wadi monkey or hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey found in semi-arid areas of West Africa and East Africa.
It is a terrestrial monkey found in northern Uganda’s savannah parks, such as Murchison Falls Park, Kidepo Valley Park, and the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
Patas monkeys can sprint from zero to 53 kilometers an hour (33 miles) in just three seconds. They have been known to reach 55 kilometers (34 miles) an hour, making them the fastest primates.
Patas monkeys are omnivorous. The diet consists mainly of insects, including leaves, roots, and bird eggs.
Some people may confuse them with Vervet Monkeys. However, Patas are more extensive, have a light reddish coat, a black stripe above the eyes, and are often found on the Savannas.
12. Red Colobus Monkeys
The red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) – A giant, red-and-black Monkey with a long tail. Found in Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, and Semuliki National Park.
There is more variation amongst the coat colors of the Ugandan red colobus, with back colors ranging from dark grey to reddish-brown.
The sides of the body and the arms and legs are grey. They have long dark to light brown tails, which they rely on for balance when climbing and leaping through the canopy. The Ugandan red colobus has dark grey to black hands and feet, and their feet are very long, which helps them leap vast distances[
In Uganda, you can find the Red Colobus Monkey in Kibale Forest and smaller numbers in Semliki National Park. Those who visit our parks with eyes wide open will find all kinds of primates, including the Red Colobus Monkey.
13. Red-Tailed Monkey
The red-tailed Monkey, also known as the black-cheeked, white-nosed Monkey, red-tailed guenon, redtail monkey, or Schmidt’s guenon, is a species of Primate in the family Cercopithecidae.
The red-tailed Monkey is named as it sounds for its red coloration of the tail. The tail’s underside and bi-coloration as the reddish color increases from the base to the tip. Other features are characteristic of this mammal, such as the white noise and cheeks amid black or dark grey body fur. Red-tailed monkeys also have enormous, elastic cheeks used to gather food and store it in their mouths for safety.
It is a ubiquitous monkey, and in Uganda, the red-tailed Monkey and Blue Monkeys often interbreed in Kibale Forest.
In Uganda, you can find red-tailed monkeys in Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Semiliki, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
14. Owl-Faced Monkeys
Owl-faced Monkey (Cercopithecus Hamlyn), also called Hamlyn’s Monkey, is an arboreal guenon found is-Facedl forests.
Owl-Faced Monkey is unique in that it has a beak-like nose, and the face resembles an owl. This shy Monkey is rarely seen, but you might be the lucky one as you hike along the many trails In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The Owl-Faced Mo is closely related to L’Hoest’s Monkey, and like it, Owl-Faced Monkey lives in small groups of one male and various females. Because Owl-Faced Monkeys are so elusive, they have been hard to study.
The Owl-Faced Monkey is gray and has a white stripe that goes from the top of the lip to giving top of the nose delivering the owl monkey that owl face.
You might see them in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
15. Dent’s Mona Monkey:
The Dent’s Mona Monkey is found in Western Uganda. You might see the Dent’s Mona Monkey with other monkeys, such as Blue Monkeys or Gray-Cheeked Mangabeys, and groups of Colobus Monkeys.
The Dent’s Mona Group is relatively small, with one male surrounded by his harem. However, once again, as females, females rule the group.
Dent’s Mona Monkeys have a long black tail, a white rump, and a brown back. Their faces are pretty furry, and when they find food, they carry it off with their large cheek pouches. They prefer fruit but, at times, will resort to leaves and even insects.
Dent’s Mona Monkeys might be found in Semliki Park, Bwindi Forest, and Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
You need to know that there is no guarantee that you will see them in those parks, but there is a chance you will.
16. Vervet Monkeys
Vervet monkeys can be found all over Uganda. You might even see it while having lunch at a restaurant in a garden in Kampala. They traveled in big, and they called troops. They spend their days foraging for food and finding comfortable and safe resting spots. High up in the trees, they’re interesting to look at.
They tend to have a green tint to their fur, white eyebrows, and black faces! Due to their attractive color, they are sometimes called “green monkeys.”
Vervet monkeys can be identified by their yellow to greenish-brown coats of hair. Their bellies are white and have white fur on their brows and cheeks. Vervet monkeys are also easily recognized by their black-skinned faces, hands, and feet.
Vervet monkeys are relatively small and are on the menu for many more extensive, carnivorous (meat-eating) animals. Large cats like leopards and hyenas, eagles, and snakes are just some animals that prey on primates. In the West Indies, domestic dogs severely threaten vervets, as humans hunt the monkeys for meat or persecution. To stay safe, vervet monkeys travel in groups and head for the trees if there are signs of danger.
17. Uganda Red Colobus Monkeys:
The Uganda red colobus monkey is endemic to Uganda. It is one of Africa’s rarest and most endangered primates, with only 5,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
The Uganda red colobus monkey is characterized by its reddish-brown fur and long, white-tipped tail. They are arboreal and spend most of their time in the trees, feeding on leaves, fruits, and flowers. They are social animals and live in groups of up to 80 individuals, led by a dominant male.
The main threat to the Uganda red colobus monkey is habitat loss due to deforestation, as their forest habitat is cleared for agriculture, logging, and other human activities. They are also hunted for their meat and body parts used in traditional medicine.
Efforts are being made to conserve the Uganda red colobus monkey, including habitat protection, anti-poaching patrols, and community education programs. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, in collaboration with other organizations, also conducts research and monitoring to understand the species and its conservation needs better.
Visitors to Uganda can observe the Uganda red colobus monkey in a few protected areas, including Kibale Forest National Park, where they are one of the park’s main primate attractions.
18. Bushbabies
Galagos –ɡəˈleɪɡoʊz, also known as bushbabies, bush babies, or nagapies (meaning “little night monkeys” in Afrikaans), are small nocturnal primates native to continental Africa and make up the family Galagidae (also sometimes called Galagonidae). They are sometimes included as a subfamily within the Lorisidae or Loridae.
According to some accounts, “bushbaby” comes from either Chimal’s cries or appearance. The Afrikaans nagapie is almost exclusively seen at night, while the Ghanaian name aposor is given to them because of their firm grip on branches.
The bushbaby’s night cry is one of the distinct African sounds. As you shine your flashlight or torch into the tree where the scream is coming from, you will see the big eyes of the bushbaby.
They are found in most Ugandan parks, and you can find them on night drives and nocturnal parks in various parks such as Kibale Forest. Dwarf Galagos are also found in Kibale Forest and might be spotted on a Nocturnal Forest Walk.
119. Pottos:
Potto (Perodicticus potto) is a bush bear, tree bear, or softly-softly, slow-moving tropical African Primate. The potto is a nocturnal tree dweller found in rainforests from Sierra Leone eastward to Uganda. It has a firm grip and clings tightly to branches, but when necessary, it can also move quickly through the units with a smooth gliding gait that makes it relatively inconspicuous. It feeds on fruit, small animals, and insects (especially larvae) and curls to sleep daily in tree hollows. Its length is about 35 cm (14 inches), excluding its furry 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) tail.
It has large eyes, sturdy limbs, stub-like second fingers and toes, annual fur, and grizzled reddish. A ridge of short, blunt spines formed by the neck vertebrae runs down the nape. The spines are covered by thin, highly innervated skin and are thought to be sensitive to potential predators’ movements when the potto tucks its head between its arms in a defensive posture. Gestation is six months; single young are typical. The medium-sized sloth-like creature can be found on nocturnal walks in Kibale Forest. It can also be found at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth Park.
20. Dwarf Galago
The dwarf galago (Galagoides Thomas) is a small, nocturnal primate found in the forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the smallest of the Galagos, measuring only about 12 inches long, not including the tail. Dwarf galagos are grayish brown, with large, dark eyes and a long, bushy tail. They are arboreal creatures and spend most of their time in the trees, sleeping, feeding, and raising their young.
Dwarf galagos are social creatures and live in groups of up to 12 individuals. A dominant male leads the groups, and the females care for the young. Dwarf galagos are monogamous, and they mate for life. The gestation period is about six months, and the females give birth to litters of 1-2 young.
Dwarf galagos are listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, and their population is declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. They are also hunted for bushmeat. However, several conservation efforts are underway to protect the dwarf galago, and their numbers are slowly increasing.
The 20 species of Primates found in Uganda-the Premier Primate Destination in East Africa
Uganda is without a doubt the Best and Premier Prijmate Destination in Africa!
The Primate Found in Uganda-the Premier Primate Destination in East Africa: U
ganda is often called the “Premier Primate Destination in Africa” due to its incredible primate population and the opportunities it offers for primate watching and conservation.
The country is renowned for its diverse and rich wildlife, including many primate species.
Uganda’s commitment to primate conservation is evident through its various national parks, protected areas, and conservation initiatives. The country has made significant efforts to preserve primate habitats, combat poaching, and promote sustainable tourism practices to ensure the long-term survival of these primate species.
In addition to primate watching, Uganda offers a wide range of other attractions, such as diverse landscapes, including the stunning Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile River, and numerous national parks and reserves home to various—wildlife species.
