Even though the juveniles are always white in color, black and white colobus monkeys are endowed with a long white tail and black color patched all over their bodies. The young colobus monkeys are born completely white in color and nurturing them is quiet tiring and challenging making it a full team support.
Sometimes, the colobus monkeys feed on soil and nothing else but the clay soil. This is to ensure ease in digestion of toxins found in the leaves they feed on.
Nyungwe forest national park is situated in the south western corner of Rwanda and apart from the chimpanzee tracking, colobus monkey tracking is yet another popular primate activity in the park. While there are over 12 primate species in Nyungwe forest national park, the most common species are the colobus monkeys (white and black colobus monkeys).
There are also other monkey species that can be sighted in the park including red tailed monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and baboons.
There are over 550 and more colobus monkeys in Nyungwe forest national park and about two groups of habituated colobus monkeys for tracking.
The first group is located near the park’s headquarters, Uwinka and comprises of about 500 colobus monkeys making it a super group while the other group consists of about 60 individuals and is situated in Gisakura region.
There are four trekking sessions in Nyungwe forest especially for Gisakura group including the first session that kicks off in the morning hours about 8:00am, mid-morning session around 10:00am, afternoon session at around 1:00pm and the last evening session at 3:00pm.
Each trekking sessions takes about two to three hours but for Uwinka colobus monkeys, visitors require about one full day of trekking and the session starts off at 9:00am. This is also because colobus monkeys at Uwinka tend to move to bigger regions and dense forests while running away from chimpanzees that look at them like some piece of meat.
The thrilling colobus monkey trekking can be best done as a supplement after chimpanzee tracking in the same destination alongside long nature walking and hiking tours. Nyungwe forest national park offers the most stunning views of colobus monkeys in the whole world.
The place is dominated by rich fauna and flora, wetlands, mountains, rain forests and savanna plains providing the most comfortable habitat for primate species. It’s location in the center of two expendable drainage systems including the Nile source also makes the place an outstanding destination for primate sightings.
The colobus monkeys are absolutely active, playful and social with human nature ways and watching them swarm in the Nyungwe is a life time adventure and absolutely remarkable.
For passionate photographers, black and white colobus monkeys offer the most stunning photos with their white and black color blend and this is why photographers can go and spend a full day with the colobus monkeys. Visitors are limited to only one hour after the colobus monkeys have been located. The young colobus monkeys fulfill any photographers dream with their exceptional beauty.
Best time to trek Colobus Monkeys in Rwanda.
Colobus monkeys can be tracked throughout the whole year but the best time remains the dry season of the month, this is the best time for trekking these primate species. The trekking journey becomes more challenging during the wet season since the roads are slippery with lush vegetation and dense forests that suppresses the clear views and easy access of the colobus monkeys.
While during the dry period of December to February and June to September, the trekking routes are easy to maneuver since they are dry, not muddy with short and reduced vegetation offering clear views of black and white colobus monkeys
