GUIDE FOR PRIMATE SAFARIS IN KENYA WITH AFRICANMECCA

The playful antics and heartwarming social behaviors of primates capture the minds of people around the world. AfricanMecca Safaris is proud to offer our guests an insightful and enchanting trip into Kenya’s primate habitats. When our guests imagine a Primate Safari in Africa, they think of two species — chimpanzees and silverback mountain gorillas.

While these adored creatures are not endemic to Kenya, we are able to give you an up-close-and-personal experience with rescued chimpanzees. Ol Pejeta Conservancy in southern Laikipia works closely with The Jane Goodall Institute and Kenya Wildlife Service to provide abused and orphaned chimpanzees with a safe haven. Since 1993, the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary has restored the health and quality of life to these creatures.



The Ewaso Nyiro River divides the two large groups of chimpanzees that currently live in the sanctuary. For an authentic safari to see wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat, we recommend Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park by Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. Two other endangered primate species that have found safety in Kenya are the mangabeys and red colobus monkey. Its mangabeys have distinctive features including white eyelids on a contrasting darker gray-black face with lesser shades of yellow-brown and whitish-gray at the back including the frontal chest.

The red colobus monkeys in Kenya have a colorful shaded coat of rusty-orange, black and white. During your primate tour in Kenya, you may observe the monkeys foraging, grooming, mating and other social behaviors. The only location to see these two incredible primate species is the Tana River Primate Reserve.

To observe a larger variety of primates, we recommend that you set aside ample travel time during your bush vacation in East Africa to visit Kakamega Forest. The forest is a lush diversity of trees, wild orchids, flowers and other vegetation that sets the stage for watching primates interact and engage. The seven species in the forest include white-nosed monkeys, olive baboons, de brazza’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and potto. You may also come across researchers from Columbia University. Since 1979, the university has studied the forest dwellers to better understand social and reproductive behaviors.



Olive baboons and some of their close relatives are found in other locations in Kenya, such as Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli in southern Kenya. Vervet monkeys are found in most parts of the country. Visit Aberdare and Mount Kenya with AfricanMecca to see sykes’, vervet and black and white colobus monkeys (guerezas). Sykes monkeys are also found in the Nairobi Park and South Coast Mombasa coastal forests.

Other habitats for the black and white colobus are Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, Shimba Hills and Jadini Forest in Diani. Believe it or not, there are even more primates to be found in Kenya during your safari holiday, such as many types of galagos, pousargues’s monkeys, tantalus monkeys, several types of guerezas, just to name a few!

Select Your Preferred Kenya Trip Idea Experiences

1. Safari Trip Ideas

2. Beach Trip Ideas

3. Mountain Trip Ideas

4. Itinerary Trip Ideas