PRIMATES IN UGANDA

While on safari in Uganda, primates are among a few most fascinating creatures that you shouldn’t miss to explore. They are a few most beautiful creatures that this magical country boasts of. Incredibly, there is a belief that these primates originated from Africa and a reason they are regarded as our closest relatives in the wild. They have a lot in common with human beings right from arms, legs, brains, fingers, toes and others. Today, Uganda is undoubtedly a very famous primate destination and their survival is favored by cool climatic conditions and thick rainforests which attract most of them. These creatures are at a higher risk as most of the forests are heavily destroyed which their main habitat is. The major primates for you to see while on safari in Uganda include;

Mountain gorillas

Mountain gorillas feature among Uganda’s top tourist attractions. Most visitors on safari in Uganda mainly come to see mountain gorillas making them the country’s star attractions. Over half of those that still live on earth today call the pearl of Africa their home and they are distributed within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks are situated suitably in southwestern side of the country along the Albertine rift valley just at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To track these creatures, there are about 17 groups that have been habituated and readily set for visitor experiences in Uganda and in order for you to be part of this exciting and life changing experience; you need a permit which costs $600. A permit is what gives you a chance to track only one habituated family in a group of eight visitors and you have magical encounters.

Chimpanzees

These are regarded as our closest relatives just like gorillas. In Uganda, there are over 5000 of them that are widely distributed in different parts of the country. The best places to see these fascinating creatures while you are on safari in Uganda include Kibale Forest National Park which is situated in western side. This park comprises of over 1500 chimpanzees while the rest are shared by other sites. The other sites where you can catch a glimpse at these incredible primates include Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge at Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki valley national park, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary among others.

Golden monkeys

Scientifically called cercopithecus mitis kandti, the golden monkeys are a few unique creatures of their own and only thrive within the Virunga Region that covers Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo, Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. This primate group weighs about 10-25 pounds and they come with golden body, cheeks, tails with black limbs, crown on their heads and tail end. They are a sub species of blue monkey and can be tracked around the bamboo forest. Their number isn’t yet known but they are estimated to be about 5000. Unlike mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, golden monkeys are not easy for one to capture their pictures as they are very jumpy and if you are to take their photos you have to be really sharp.

Olive baboons

They are scientifically known as papio Anubis which also belongs to a family cercopithecidae. These creatures are easily spotted around the park. In Africa, they are found in about 25 countries and mainly thrive within savannas, steppes and forests. Their common name is derived from its coat color that is a shade of green grey at a distance and they have several ways of communicating, both vocal and non-vocal. You can spot these incredible and playful creatures in most of parks in Uganda.

Black and white colobus monkeys

These are commonly spotted while you are on safari in Uganda. They come in black and white color and thrive in small groups. You can find them in Entebbe Botanical Gardens and most parks in Uganda as well as a rare colobus monkey that is unique to Rwenzori Mountains.

L’Hoest monkeys

These are mainly popular as mountain monkeys or cercopithecus lhoesti and mostly spotted within the montane forests in Albertine rift areas that cover the southwestern parts of Uganda. They thrive within the montane tropical rainforest both primary and secondary forest. While on primate safari in Uganda, you can get these creatures with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Rwenzori Mountains Foothills and others.

Blue monkeys

These are also best known as the cercopithecus mitis which belongs to the old world monkey ancestry and lives in most parts of east and central Africa. They come in dark blue grey color, white throat and white patch on their chests. They are found mostly in many parks of Uganda except Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. These creatures thrive in troops of 4 to 12 and about 20 different types of guenon monkeys exist and 3 of them thrive in Uganda.

The others include De Brazza’s monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, patas monkeys, colobus monkeys and red tailed monkeys while the nocturnal primates include bush babies, pottos among others.

In conclusion, Uganda features variety of primate species for you to catch a glimpse while on safari in Africa. Most of them can be spotted in most national parks or forested areas in Uganda.