Rare Primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Explore Nyungwe Forest National Park’s Rare Primates.
Rare Primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park: Nyungwe Forest National Park is famous for being home to over 13 primate species in Rwanda, making it a top destination for travellers interested in primate safaris in Rwanda. The park is world-renowned as the primary destination for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda and home to East Africa’s largest and only canopy walkway.
Many travellers who make their way to the park are interested in chimpanzee trekking, which will give you the chance to spend an hour with a habituated chimpanzee troop, understanding their behaviour in the wild. Making your way to the park will give you the chance of watching more primate species, including the rare species, and in this article, you’ll discover the different primate species that will make your Rwanda safari an unforgettable experience.
L’Hoest’s monkey
The monkey, often known as the mountain monkey, has a striking short, dark brown coat with a light grey and pale mane and a body length of 12.5-27 inches. The male has a body weight of 6 kilograms and the female 3.5 kilograms. The species breed seasonally, and this depends on the area. The females have a five-month gestation period and only one infant. It’s interesting about the female; when she gives birth to the young one, it will eat its placenta to gain back the nutrients it lost during birth.
Owl-faced monkey
The owl-faced monkey, also known as the Hamlyn’s monkey, is among the rare primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park that you will get to watch while on your Rwanda safari experience. The monkeys are primarily in the Congo rainforest; however, the park has some numbers that you will get to access.
The adults have an average weight of 7 to 10 kilograms, and the females 4.5 to 6 kilograms. They live in groups of 10 members or fewer, with the males having multiple females that they can mate with. The young ones have a yellow-brown coat and pink face, and the adults are grey in colour with white stripes.
Golden monkeys
The golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift, and this can be seen in parks like Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park, but some numbers can be seen in Nyungwe Forest National Park. These have striking black and golden fur with long tails. Some herbivores feed mainly on bamboo shoots, leaves and fruits, but on rare occasions, when food is scarce, they can consume invertebrates. These live in groups of between 30 and 60 individuals, which is quite big
Grey-cheeked mangabeys
The grey-cheeked mangabeys are also known as the white-cheeked mangabeys, whose facial structure can be compared to that of a baboon with thick brown fur that can be mistaken for black because of its deep colour. These live in groups between 5 and 30 individuals, with either a single male or several males without a dominant male.
Among the primate species that can be seen in the park, the mangabeys are some of the calmest species, and confrontations are rare. In cases where the groups become too big, they may split to make the groups more manageable.
Silver monkey
The silver monkey is a subspecies of the blue monkey; it is a diurnal species that is very active during the day and rests/sleeps during the night. The species are primarily frugivorous, using fruits as their main source of food; however, occasionally, when food is scarce, they can nibble on small invertebrates. These live in groups with a dominant female as the supreme head that oversees the behaviour of others and also ensures that the group is well protected. He has primary mating rights with any of the females in the group, but other males can mate with the females. These can be differentiated from other primates by their distinct silver-grey fur, which should not be confused with that of the red-tailed monkeys.
For travellers interested in watching the rare species in Nyungwe National Park, you can opt for primate-centred activities like chimpanzee trekking, which can give you the chance to come across these rare species as you hike to your chimpanzee troop. You can also watch the species when you participate in the nature walk in Nyungwe National Park that involves hiking the trails.
The full-day primate tracking, which will give you an all-day Rwanda safari experience searching for the species in their natural habitat, will lead you to several trails to access the rare primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Some of the trails that you should not miss out on include the Umugote trail, which will give you access to the black and white colobus monkey, the mangabeys and the owl-faced monkeys; and the Igishigishigi trail, which will give you access to the silver monkeys, the L’Hoest’s monkeys and many other rewarding primate species.
“With sustainable tourism that focuses on protecting the rare species of Nyungwe Forest National Park, let us organise for you a trip that will not only focus on your understanding of the endangered species but also get you to watch the conservation efforts that have made it possible for the increase in the numbers in Nyungwe National Park.”
