Primates watching Uganda/Gorilla, Chimps & Golden Monkey

Primates watching Uganda/Gorilla, Chimps & Golden Monkey

Primates watching Uganda/Gorilla, Chimps & Golden Monkey : Uganda is a primitive capital consists of 13 diurnals and six nocturnal species ranking the final destination with the great population of primates on the continent. The highlight list of primates includes the endangered mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees that takes the most attention of visitors on Uganda primates safari.

Other primate’s species include a golden monkey, de brazza’s monkey, black and white colobus monkey, red colobus monkeys, bush baby, grey checked mangabey, pottos, L’Hoest monkey, patas monkeys, baboon, red-tailed monkey, vervet monkeys and blue monkey all these species make Uganda to be the capital of primates in East Africa.

The six diurnal primates that are found in Uganda are guenon monkeys and are members of the taxonomically controversial genus Cercopithecus.

The velvet and blue guenon monkeys both are African species widely spread known by at least five different common names and both have over 20 recognized races, of which some are considered by some authorities to be separate species.

Uganda is renown of offering more profound primates watching experience than any other destination in Africa. Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees tracking safari are the most favorites for memorable wildlife photography as well as naturalists’ expedition.

While on a habituation experience traveler can take more time of experience with primates. Habituation experiences are conducted with primatologists and rangers to a semi habituated gorilla or chimpanzee family and allow you to have a thrilled full day experience with the primates.

The most renowned and visited primate’s destinations in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for gorilla trekking and Kibale Forest National Park for the Chimpanzee experience. Other places to watch primates in Uganda include; Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls NP, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park and Semuliki national park.

Uganda primates Lists

Apes

The great apes of the family pongidae are so closely related to humans, that a less partial observer in the same family as us. Scientists noted that, chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than to any other ape. There are four species of ape in the world that is Chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan, gorilla. of which gorilla and chimpanzees are the only two species that live in Uganda.

The mountain gorilla ‘’Gorilla berengei beringei’’

These species are the largest member of the primate’s family, an adult gorilla may grow up to 1.8meter high ‘’although they seldom stand fully upright’ ’and weigh up to 210kigrammes.

According to Live Science; there are two of gorilla species ‘’Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei’’ and four subspecies, Mountain Gorillas and Western Lowland Gorillas and Eastern Lowland Gorillas and Cross River Gorilla. The two substances of gorillas the western lowland and the eastern lowland gorilla were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively. Then mountain gorillas were later identified.

There are two activities to do with Mountain gorillas on Uganda primates safari that is Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience.

Gorilla trekking ;This is quite interesting activity that starts in the morning after briefing at the park quarters about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking ,Then meet the park ranger in a group of 8 people to allocate you to the group you’re to trek accompanied by him, the activity can take 30 to 7 hours depending on their movements .The park guide will lead you through the forest trails to search for them with a chance of seeing other species of birds ,vegetation ,small primates among others .Once you locate them one hour will be given to you to spend watching how they feed ,play ,swing on the tree branches and photography taking. Gorilla permits Cost USD700 per person per day.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

This is a fabulous experience that starts early in the morning after aroma breakfast go for briefing with your packed lunch boxes at the park headquarter. Habituation gorillas is the process of training them to get accustomed to human presence that takes at least two years. When noted that the group is fully completed in training then it is officially open to the tourists. It’s a full day experience accompanied by the researchers, journalist, park rangers, you trek while collecting their samples for study purposes. You’re grouped in a group of 4 persons. Once you meet the group, four hours are given to you take photos, learn from them. Gorilla permit goes for USD1,500 per person per day.

Common Chimpanzee

These species are more closely related to man than to any other living creature, lives in large communities based around a core of related males with an internal hierarchy topped by an alpha male. They are the most intelligent of our planet’s primates including apes and monkeys too’’ and they have remarkable ways of communicating. Chimpanzee viewing is best done in Kibale forest, Nkuringo safari and Queen Elizabeth. There are two opt activities Chimpanzee tracking and habituation experience.

Ugandan Monkeys species

They include; pottos, bush baby, black and white colobus, Red colobus, grey-cheeked Mangabey, L’hoest’s monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Blue monkey, Vervet monkey, Patas monkey, Baboons.

Golden monkeys

They are bright, vibrant, golden orange as its cheeks and patches of its back and torso. Golden monkeys are the most active primate’s species that are currently estimated between 2000 and 4000 individuals and are listed on the IUCN as endangered. They are grouped of 30 to 80 individuals lead by an alpha male.

Golden Monkey tracking permits costs USD 60 per person per trek and Golden Monkey Habituation Experience a full day costs USD100 per person for foreigners and UGX100,000

De Brazza’s Monkey

De Brazza’s Monkey are relatively having short tails, a hairy face with a reddish-brown patch around its eyes, a white band across its brow and a distinctive mustache plus beard. Commonly seen in Mount Elgon and Semliki national park.

Black and White colobus monkey

These are the most beautiful species of primates marked with a black body, white facial markings, long white tail and a white side stripe. They live in small groups and are commonly seen in forested parts of the Rwenzori national park Uganda.

Red Colobus Monkey

Red colobus monkey is relatively large red grey monkey offering few distinguishing features other than its slightly tufted crown. They live in scattered troop of 50 individuals. Commonly viewed in Kibale national park and few in Semliki national park.

Pottos

Pottos are at some time called bush bear, slow moving tropical African primates. They are nocturnal creatures spotted in Kibale national park, Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth. Most seen on guided night walks in Kibale forest, feed on fruits, small animals and insects.

Grey –Cheeked Mangabey

They have light grey cheeks and a slight mane and live in lowland and mid-altitude forests. In Uganda can be viewed in the Kibale forest, and Semliki national park. They are grouped in a troop of 40 individuals.

Blue Monkey

Blue monkey has a uniform dark blue-grey color except its white throat and chest patch with thick fur and backward hair on its forehead. They are most seen in Uganda Murchison falls and Lake Mburo national park.

L’hoest’s Monkey

L’hoest’s Monkeys are semi-terrestrial and restricted to the lowland, sub montane and montane forests of the Albertine Rift in Eastern Congo, Western Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. In Uganda are seen in Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth in Maramangambo forest and Bwindi Forest.

Vervet Monkey

Vervet monkey is relatively identified by its black face and the male distinctive blue genitals. Commonly seen in Ugandan national parks.

Red tailed monkeys

These species are widespread forest guenon, offering brownish color with white cheek whiskers, a coppery tail and a distinctive white and heart shaped patch on its nose. They are species of the moist lowland, sub montane, swamp, montane forest, riverine, forest mosaic and galley forest.

Baboon

Baboon are widespread and common see in Uganda, they live in large troops with a complex and rigid social structure all together by matriarchal lineages.

Patas

Patas monkey can be seen in Kidepo and Murchison Falls national park and the pain Upe wildlife Reserve.

Nocturnal primates

Bush babies are also called galagoes, small in size and widespread in wooded habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. They are the one of the distinctive sounds of the African night.

Potto

They are medium sized sloth that can be located at night by shinning a spotlight into the canopy.

Book now your trip to Uganda the best primate viewing destination worldwide and above all boosts with the highest concentration of primate’s species on the earth and several troops have been habituated for primate tourism with in their preserved natural environment.