Uganda is popularly known for mountain gorillas, it is home to several other primates situated in the conservation areas, these include chimpanzee, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabey, black and white colobus monkey, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, golden monkeys the country has a diversity of primates compared to any other east African country it is the best primate destination where chances of seeing them are very high, these can be found in Mgahinga national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Maramagambo forest and many other protected areas.
Mountain Gorillas
The mountain gorillas of Uganda are found in Mghainga national park hosting one gorilla family called the Nyakagezi gorilla family, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwestern corner of Uganda, it has half of the remaining world’s population of the world, they have been habituated to contain human presence, the mountain gorillas gorilla beringei live in the high land areas these don’t live in captivity, they are typically herbivorous animals feeding on plants mostly bamboo and mimlopsis, mushrooms and fruits of the forest and sometimes termites, permits to see mountain gorillas are bought prior to the time of tracking each goes for 700 dollars by the Uganda wildlife authority.
Chimpanzees
The chimpanzee is popular in Kibale National Park and the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, they are closet to mankind sharing up to 98% of the human DNA, they are social, intelligent species with the ability to use tools, chimpanzee tracking is done between 2-3hours and in Kibale it starts off at the kanyanchu visitor centre, the chimpanzee is also found in Uganda’s largest of national parks Murchison falls national park in Budongo forest, tracking chimpanzee is overwhelming as you get to listen to them from afar distance, they are loud.
Golden Monkeys
The golden monkeys are a rare and unique beautiful species only found in Mghainga national park they co-exist with the great ape mountain gorilla, they weigh up to 25 pounds with a golden body, cheeks and crown on their heads, this species feeds on bamboo listed under the IUCN endangered list tracking mountain gorillas is as interesting as seeing gorillas or chimpanzee visitors to Uganda can opt to see all the three kinds of primates.
The other types of monkeys can be sighted alongside the mentioned three these include the olive baboon living in the savannah, steppes and forests they are found in all parks except in the montane region parks for example Bwindi impenetrable national park, Rwenzori national park and mount Elgon national park, they live in troops and have a dog-like face most of them love to align alongside the road parenting their young ones, black and white colobus monkey is the most common and widely spread monkey in Uganda found in all forests, blue monkeys are spread in Ugandan national parks except lake Mburo national park and the Murchison falls national park, they live in troops of 12 members the grey checked mangabey and the L’hoest monkeys are found on a hunt of other primates.
Uganda is a popular primate destination and can be visited all year round, its best during the dry seasons of the country which occur in the months of December –February and June to mid-September, the country’s temperatures are relatively convenient and friendly to visit, there is a vast of accommodation up to the national parks with a choice ranging from the best budget to luxury.
Please book with Lionking safaris Uganda.