Bwindi Impenetrable National Park spans in southwestern Uganda and it is remarkably a home to about 11 primate species. The primates in Bwindi National Park for you to explore on Uganda safari include among others the rare mountain gorillas, eastern chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. It also prides itself as a home to several nocturnal ape species including pottos, Demidoff’s Galagho, Galago among others.
Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Mountain gorillas are of no doubt unique primate species a good reason why majority of travelers visit Bwindi National Park. They are one of the two sub-species of the eastern gorillas and they are listed as the endangered species on the IUCN Red List. A glimpse at these exceptional apes in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is unforgettable experience. About half of all 1004 mountain gorillas that today still thrive on earth call this park their home a reason it is one of the most sought-after gorilla destinations in Africa. Visitors on Uganda gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi National Park can start their day with an early morning briefing in Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga sector. About 20 habituated gorilla families are available for gorilla trekking in Bwindi and each gorilla sector has gorilla group.
To catch a glimpse at these impressive creatures in Bwindi National Park, you need $600 to help you secure a gorilla permit although this rate is set to change to $700 from 1st July, 2020. You can secure your gorilla permit through our reservation team or through reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Mountain gorillas live only in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodyte’s schweinfurthii)
What sets Bwindi National Park a side from other gorilla destinations is the fact that it is only place where mountain gorillas share the same habitat with chimpanzees. About 400 chimpanzees do thrive within the jungles of Bwindi National Park and mostly in Buhoma and Nkuringo area. However, they are not habituated like it is a case with other destinations.
Red tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus Ascanius)
Also popular as the black-cheeked white nosed monkeys, the red tailed monkeys are a few primates in Bwindi National Park. They belong to Cercopithecidae family and they come in black, red or orange color. Red tailed monkeys are unique primate species and gradually, they becoming endangered. They thrive in a group of about 7 to 30 members comprising of one dominant male and several females and young ones.
L’Hoest monkeys (Cercopithecus lhoesti)
L’Hoest monkey is also popular as the mountain monkey and they thrive in mountainous forest places but in small female dominated groups. They feature a dark coat and can be differentiated by a characteristic white beard. L’Hoest monkeys also thrive in the northeastern DR Congo, Burundi, most parts of western Uganda and Rwanda. They range mostly in forested areas including mature lowland rain forests, wooded savannas especially on mountain slopes, gallery forest, forest borders.
Blue monkeys (Cercopithecus Mitis)
These are also popularly known as the diademed monkeys, the old monkey species which is native to East and Central Africa. They live mostly in female philopatric social structures; largely found in forested areas, montane baboon forests and at times get to the ground. They depend on fruits, leaves among others.
Black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza)
The black and white colobus monkeys are old world monkeys of the genus colobus. They play a significant role in ecosystem the fact that they consume plant matter and serve as prey for several mammal creatures like leopards, chimpanzees. They are arboreal and can jump long distances between branches. Black and white colobus monkeys have gestation period of about 6 months and a newborn are in white color.
Baboons (Papio Anubis)
Baboons are a few amazing creatures on their own. They consist of the genus Papio and feature as one of the 23 genera of old-world monkeys. They can be potted in different sizes in Bwindi National Park. They range in a group of about 5 to 250 depending on the circumstances.
Other primates in Bwindi National Park for you to catch a glimpse while on Uganda safari include the Demidoff’s Galago (Galagoides demidoff), Potto (Perodicticus potto) and Galago (Galago Matschiei).