Ten species of primates enjoy the diverse habitats of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most popular of which is undoubtedly the chimpanzee. Differing genetically just 1.6% from human beings, chimps can be unnerving to watch as their behavior so closely mirrors our own, particularly in their social interactions and use of tools.
Black and white colobus monkeys are easily spotted in the trees with their long, tufted tails dangling from the branches. Vervet monkeys are lively and playful, but the boldest of all are the baboons – be sure to keep car windows closed to avoid food thefts!
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes):
Chimpanzees are the main primate species to watch in Queen Elizabeth national park. They are found in Kyambura gorge and are seen during chimpanzee trekking experience after a purchase of a trekking permit from Uganda wildlife Authority. The trekking permit is at USD 100 per person per trek and this includes; park entrance, ranger guides and trekking permit.
Olive Baboons (Papio anubis):
Olive baboons are other primate species that can be spotted in Queen Elizabeth national park during different experiences like nature walks and game drives. Also, the species can be seen along the park’s roads and savannah areas. They are highly social and live in large troops.
Other primate species in the park include; vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, mona monkeys, bush babies and the grey checked mangabeys.
Best time to see primates of Queen Elizabeth national park
Travelers can see primates of Queen Elizabeth national park any time of the year they visit the park however the dry season is the best time to visit the park and encounter these primates most especially in Kyambura gorge. There is little or no rainfall leaving the trekking trails dry, vegetation is short with good views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Travelers can still go chimpanzee trekking and see other primates on Kyambura gorge in the rainy season and this favours budget travelers because lodges are at a discount. During the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall which makes the trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thin with unclear views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth national park is found in western Uganda and it’s accessed by road transport or air transport. The national park is accessed in 1-hour and 5 minutes using air transport from airline companies such as Aerolink Uganda, and Bar Aviation Uganda which organize flights to the park. Flights start from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya airstrip or Kasese airstrip.
For road transport users, Queen Elizabeth national park can be accessed in 7-8 hours from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi to Kasese or Kampala via Mubende, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, to Kasese. The national park is located near national parks like Kibale, Bwindi, and Rwenzori, and accessing it is always simple.
In conclusion, primates in Queen Elizabeth National Park contribute significantly to the park’s ecotourism, especially through activities like chimpanzee tracking and guided forest walks.