The Best place to see Colobus Monkeys? - Zanzibar!

Rwanda and Uganda are exquisite destinations for observing primates: gorillas, chimpanzees and other monkeys. One of the favourite monkeys are the black-and-white Colobus monkeys! The Colobus monkey has no thumb! The Greek word kolobos, meaning "cut short" and describes the missing thumbs, which allow faster branchiation because thumbs do not get caught in the branches. Print featureSafaris featuring this feature Another caracteristic is that Colobus monkeys are leaf-eaters and ruminants, with four chambered stomachs just like cows. Bacterial fermentation in the monkeys` stomachs breaks-down the cellulose. Colobus Monkeys forage over a much wider area than other monkeys. Their range is 24 times that of red-tailed and blue Monkeys. The Eastern Black and White Colobus (colobus guereza monkeys) have a U-shaped cape of long white hair extending from the shoulders and meets across the lower back. The beautiful black fur of a Colubus strongly contrasts with the long white mantle and beard around the face. This type is the one that is found in Kibale Forest NP in Uganda but also in Kenya and Tanzania. The Angolan Black and White Colobus (colobus angolensis) has long white whiskers beginning at the temples and surrounding the face; the forehead is black. The coat is glossy and black, with long white epaulets. The tail is usually black and short-haired for half to two-thirds of its length and white towards the end. This is the type that you will find in Nyungwe Forest NP in Rwanda. It's the only place where you can find large troups of two hunderd Colobus Monkeys. More difficult to see are the Red Colobus monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus) present in most areas where chimpanzees occur. The Red Colobus seems to be the prefered prey in the chimps' diet. Populations of black-and-white colobus monkeys appear to be stable in the Ugandan forest remnants, while their cousins, the Red Colobus monkeys are in decline. Some scientist predict even their extinction! The best place to see one of the species of Red Colobus monkeys is Zanzibar! The Zanzibar Red Colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii) is a species of Red Colobus monkey endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. If you like observing primates, take a beach holiday after your safari and go to Zanzibar, take a half-day excursion during your stay and visit Jozani Forest! It's truly the best place to observe one of the species of Colobus monkeys at a very close range! Jozani Forest is part of the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. There are several nature trails, so you can stay an hour or a half-day. An official guide is obligatory if you want to see the monkeys inside the Forest. The best time to visit Jozani is early in the morning or late afternoon when the wildlife is at its most active. The light is superb for photographing the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkeys. The Zanzibar Red Colobus is endangered and there are only about 1.500 monkeys left.