Best places to see primates in Kenya

Kenya is the heart of safaris and is considered to be one of the top safari destinations on the African continent. It is home to the big five that are found in the different safari destinations; however, when it comes to primates, Kenya is not considered to be the perfect destination for this, although it is home to a few primate species.

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Note that chimpanzees were not native to Kenya, but when there was a rescue of chimpanzees from Burundi in 1993, Ol Pejeta opened its doors to the first chimpanzees in Kenya. There are few places in Kenya where primates can be seen and these include:

Kakamega Forest National Reserve

Kakamega National Reserve is one of the best destinations for spotting primates in Kenya. Located in Kakamega County, which is about 350km from Nairobi, the Reserve covers a protected area of about 44.7 square kilometres and is the only remaining remnant of a rainforest which stretches from Central Africa. Kakamega Forest National Reserve is home to various mammals, including De Brazza monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Pottos monkeys, forest hedgehogs and many more.

The word Kakamega translates to Pinch from a local dialect; it is larger than Nairobi National Park and accessible all year round; however, the best time is during the rainy season from April to July. The reserve is divided into two parts: the northern part, which is under the management of Kenya Wildlife Services, and the southern part of the forest, which is under the management of the Forestry Department. The entry point of the northern part is from Buyangu Area, a walkable distance from the Kenya Wildlife Services almost 2 kilometres off the main road, and the southern point entry is in Isecheno Area.

Kakamega Forest National Reserve is home to many soft and hardwoods, including Elgon teak, white stink woods and red stink woods, among others. It is also home to the stranglers that grow from other trees and later on strangling the host to death.  There are several wildlife species that are found in the Forest Reserve, and these also include the 7 primate species that are found in the reserve, including the endangered DeBrazza monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys, among others.

Other animal species that are found in Kakamega Forest National Reserve include the giant water shrew, flying squirrels, leopards, forest hogs, mongoose, clawless otters, Aardvarks and porcupines, among others. It is also home to over 360 bird species, and some of these include goliath beetles, charpins flycatchers, African grey parrots, and Turner’s eremomela, among others.

Accommodation in Kakamega: Kakamega has several accommodation facilities that can be used, and the choices range from lodges to rustic camps and self-catering camps, and the choice depends on what the tourist prefers. Get in touch with your tour operator to help you make the right choice out of the many options provided.  Some of the accommodation facilities that you should look into include Isecheno Keep Bandas, Golf Hotel Kakamega, Isukuti Guest House, Senel Guest House, and Rondo Retreat Centre, among others.

Getting to Kakamega Forest National Reserve is easy as tourists can either drive or fly to the destination. The Reserve is about six hours drive from Nairobi and to avoid any inconveniences, it is better to plan transportation with a trusted tour operator because it can become hectic to use public means.  You can fly from Kisumu International Airport using domestic flights, and from Kisumu, the forest reserve is just an hour’s drive.

Kakamega Forest National Reserve is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, and the best time to visit is during the months when the rains are less, which are from June to July and December to February.  August and September are the best months for butterfly watching, and bird watching is best carried out from November to April.

Tana River Primate National Reserve

Tana River Primate National Reserve is the best place to go see primates in Kenya, located in southeastern Kenya, covering over 170 square kilometres. The primate reserve was set up from 1976 to 2007 to protect the two endangered species the Red colobus monkeys and the crested Mangabeys. The reserve is found in Bohoni state, crossed by the largest River in Kenya, the Tana River, surrounded by riverine forests and a dramatic waterfall as it flows into the Indian Ocean. It is characterized by riparian forests, woodlands and savannah grasslands.

Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the only place in Kenya where tourists can be able to see chimpanzees in Kenya. Sweetwaters Sanctuary is found in Ol Pejeta, located in Laikipia County in northern Kenya. This is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzee safaris are organized as it is home to physically and emotionally/psychologically damaged chimpanzees that were orphaned during a civil war in Burundi. Abused chimpanzees are also found in the sanctuary and it has assisted the chimpanzees to re-adjust to a normal and stress-free environment.

The main reason why the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary was founded was to offer long-term refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from Central and West Africa and the goal was reached with an agreement between the Kenya Wildlife Services, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Jane Goodall Institute which is known to spearhead chimpanzee conservation and protection in East Africa and other countries across the world.

The chimpanzees that are found in Sweetwater Sanctuary receive additional stimulation and care during quarantine, and once they get to the refuge, they are nursed back to health before being re-introduced to the sanctuary. Over the years, Sweetwater has received many orphaned, abused and injured chimpanzees as they are taken from dire conditions with come severely injured, constrained, living in abnormal circumstances getting a fresh start here.

Accommodation at Seawater: Seawater in Ol Pejeta has a variety of comfortable lodging that is available to all types of tourists, and this comes in three different categories, including budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. Some of the accommodation facilities tourists can use on your chimpanzee safari to Seawater include Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, The Stables, Kicheche Laikipia Camp, Jambo Mutara Tented Camp, Ol Pejeta House and Porini Rhino Camp among others.

Primates found in Kenya

The following are the primate species that are found in Kenya. Note that there are not a lot of primates in Kenya but it is still a good place to visit and watch the primates that are found in the different safari destinations in Kenya.

Chimpanzees: Chimpanzees are closely related to humans when it comes to their DNA and are believed to contribute to the environment by preserving the seeds that they eat and finally scatter. The environment and their natural habitat that they live in are undisturbed and unharmed protecting other wildlife species that live in the area.  Humans and chimpanzees share 98.6% DNA, and there are numerous similarities between the two, starting with how they groom their young ones, their behaviours, and use tools like sticks for fish and their interactions with each other. Chimps live in communities of about 15 to 100 individuals headed by an alpha male who creates a hierarchy in the community according to age, IQ and physical fitness. Chimpanzees living in the wilderness can live up to 40 to 50 years, whereas if they are in captivity, they can live up to 60 years.

Olive Baboons: Also known as Papio Anubis, the olive baboon is a common primate found in many of the Kenyan National parks and Reserves. It can mainly be found in Savannah woodlands, forests and savannah grasslands. Olive baboons are known to be highly adaptable to their surroundings and can also be found outside protected areas. It is, however, important to note that feeding the baboons is illegal, and you have to watch them from a distance.

Colobus monkeys: Colobus monkeys are a common occurrence in Kenya and can be found in many forests across the country. Kenya is home to two colobus species and these include the black and white colobus monkeys and the Angolan colobus monkeys. The black and white colobus monkeys can easily be identified by the black and white coat having a bushy tail, and the Angolan colobus has a white striped tail and shaggier and long black and white fur. They are herbivores feeding on fruits, flowers and leaves and are threatened by the destruction of their natural habitat and poaching for their meat which has led to the reduced number of colobus monkeys.

Patas Monkeys: Also known as Hussar monkeys, the Patas monkey is one of the oldest monkey species that is native to Africa. Patas monkeys have a distinct reddish-brown coat and are used to running up to 55 kilometres per hour with their long and slender limbs. They are omnivores feeding on insects, fruits and smaller mammals. Patas live in communities of 60 individuals with one dominant male, can easily be identified by the loud calls used to communicate with each other, and are normally preyed on by predators like lions, leopards and hyenas, among others. They are of least concern as stated by the IUCN; however, some of the threats include hunting and habitat loss.

Some of the areas where you can find olive baboons in Kenya include Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Aberdare National Park, Mount Kenya National Park and Tsavo East and West National Park.

Blue monkeys: Blue monkeys are best seen in highlands, woodlands and forests, and the best places to watch blue monkeys include Shimba Hills National Reserve, Aberdare Ranges and Mount Kenya. They live in groups of 40 and are known for their blue-grey fur, lighter on the underside and darker on the back. Their natural habitat has been threatened by encroachers; they are poached and feed on animal species that have small vertebrae, leaves, insects and fruits.

Grey-cheeked Mangabeys: Grey-cheeked Mangabeys are also known as the Prince Ruspoli’s mangabeys and are mainly found in Central Africa. Grey-cheeked Mangabeys live in groups of 30 individuals, identified by the grey cheeks contrast to their darker fur. They feed on leaves, seeds, insects and fruits, have a variety of ways in which they communicate with each other and spend most of their time in trees.

Yellow baboons: yellow baboons are found in various countries in Africa, including Kenya, and are identified by their yellowish-brown fur, which varies in shade depending on the individual baboon. Yellow baboons are found in various habitats which are characterized by rocky areas, savannah grasslands and woodlands. They live in large groups of almost 100 individuals, and each of these groups is headed by a dominant male; they are omnivores and feed on small mammals, insects, fruits and sometimes larger mammals like antelopes. They are known to raid farms, which brings conflict. 

De Brazza’s monkey: These monkeys are named after an explorer of Italian and French descent, Pierre Savorgan de Brazza who des, who described them late 19th century. These monkeys live in groups of 10 to 15 led by a dominant male and are unique and usually described by their reddish reddish-brown back and white or grey fur on their stomachs. They communicate using their body language and vocals, and at the moment, they are stable in number, some of the threats affecting the monkeys include diseases like Ebola, poaching and deforestation.

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When to go primate watching in Kenya

Kenya is a destination that can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the dry season from June to October, this is because primate tracking is best done on foot, and it becomes difficult to trek them during the rainy season when the trails are wet, slippery and muddy. The bushy vegetation is also thin during the dry season making it easy to see the primates on your primate safari to Kenya. You can also combine your primate safari with a wildlife safari in other national parks around the country.

Contact us for more information about primate trekking in Kenya and with our experience of planning primate trekking safaris across East Africa, we will be able to help you plan an exciting safari to Kenya.