WHERE TO GO FOR MANGABEY MONKEY TRACKING IN UGANDA

While majority of travelers on Africa safaris mainly flock for mountain gorilla trekking and the big game encounters, Mangabey Monkey trekking still remains unknown and yet it equally offers the most outstanding primate adventures of lifetime. For visitors who are interested in tracking these rare primates, consider visiting Mabira Forest Reserve a must in your bucket list. Mabira forest reserve stands out in two parts and features as one of the very few tropical rainforests that still thrive in Africa today. Not only is it credited for its floral species but also for its unique fauna species one of which being the rare Mangabey Monkeys. The forest was gazetted in 1932 and covers an area of about 306 square kilometers. It is situated a few kilometers off Kampala city center and depending on visitors speed and traffic jam, the forest is accessible within 45 hours’ drive. This forest boasts of over 312 species of trees, 287 birdlife, 218 butterflies, 97 moths, 23 small mammals.

The Mangabey Monkeys are scientifically called Lophocebus Ugandae the renowned descendant of the old world monkey which is endemic to Uganda. These incredible primates are believed to belong to the grey cheeked mangabey group, a popular taxonomist Colin Gloves conducted research and called them L. Ugandae. They belong to the grey cheeked mangabey and they feature shorter skull and smaller face. They add up the 19 distinct primate species that are renowned to thrive within Uganda and the most looked for primates by most visitors on Uganda primate adventures. They are mainly tracked within Mabira forest which is situated 60 kilometers off Kampala city center.

Given its current status, the Uganda Mangabey Monkeys like the rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, also need to be included in the IUCN Red book list as the endangered species. The grey cheeked mangabey species thrive in different areas on earth and among many include the Congo forest extension to the northern side of Angola. In Uganda, apart from Mabira forest the other tourist sites for you to catch a glimpse at these dramatic primates in the wild include the Semuliki forest, Mpanga, Bugoma, Bujuko, Lwamunda, Sango bay, Kibale and many others.

These unique creatures depend on fruits, specifically figs and shoots, insects and others. They live in communities ranging from five to thirty individuals and in Mabira forest; there are 2 communities that have been habituated for visitor encounters. Other activities for you to enjoy while on safari to Mabira forest include forest walks, birding, cultures especially with the local drama group, zip line adventures and butterfly identification and others. For visitor stay in Mabira Forest, there is Mabira rain forest Lodge, a luxury lodging facility and for budget visitors, the best option is Griffin Falls Camp.

In conclusion, Mabira forest lies within the proximity of Kampala city center and one of the best spots for you to catch a glimpse at the rare Uganda Mangabey monkeys while they are in their natural habitat. The Uganda Mangabey Monkeys are few primates that still remain unexploited and a trek to see them rewards visitors with authentic experiences. For primate enthusiasts, this is the best site that you should consider including in your bucket list and you won’t regret in life.