L’Hoest’s monkey Uganda is a mountain monkey of Uganda’s high-altitude forests, the dark coat, white bib, and terrestrial habits making it one of the most distinctive primates in the country. L’Hoest’s monkey is a dark, shy forest monkey with a bright white beard and bib, a chestnut saddle on the back and a tail that curls into a hook at the tip. It lives only in the forests of the Albertine Rift, in eastern Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and western Uganda, and is listed as Vulnerable. In Uganda you can see it in Bwindi, Kibale and Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth.

L’Hoest’s Monkey Uganda: The Mountain Monkey Facts

Habits

Unlike most forest monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey spends much of its time on or near the ground, walking with its tail held up in a question-mark curve. Groups are usually small, with one adult male, several females and young. They eat fruit, leaves, mushrooms, herbs and insects, and often forage along forest edges, trails and around tea gardens beside parks.

Seeing them

L’Hoest’s monkeys are shy and usually move off quickly, but they are often seen crossing trails and roads at forest edges in the early morning. In Bwindi they are regularly spotted around Buhoma and on the road through the forest towards Ruhija. In Kibale they appear on chimp treks and along the main road through the park.

Where to see it

Bwindi and Kibale give the best chances, especially early on forest trails. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Bwindi, Kibale Forest, Kibale animals and the blue monkey.

Frequently asked questions

Distribution and Habitat in Uganda

L’Hoest’s monkey is an Albertine Rift endemic, restricted to montane and submontane forest in Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi. In Uganda it is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kibale National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountains. It is a forest interior species that prefers high-altitude primary forest and avoids degraded areas, making it more sensitive to habitat loss than lower-altitude primates. In Bwindi it is commonly encountered on gorilla trekking trails and forest walks, particularly in the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors.

Behaviour

L’Hoest’s monkeys live in small groups of typically 5 to 15 animals with a single adult male. Unlike most forest monkeys that are strictly arboreal, L’Hoest’s monkeys are highly terrestrial — groups spend much of their time on the forest floor, moving along paths and through undergrowth. This terrestrial habit makes them unexpectedly easy to observe at close range on forest walks, where a group moving quietly through vegetation may be encountered just a few metres away. The male’s deep blue-grey coat and neat white bib make the species immediately identifiable.

Conservation Status

L’Hoest’s monkey is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with habitat loss and hunting as the main threats. Uganda’s national park populations in Bwindi, Kibale, and Mgahinga represent the core of the species’ range.

Best Viewing Sites

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most reliable site for L’Hoest’s monkey in Uganda. The terrestrial groups are often encountered on gorilla trekking trails in the Buhoma sector. Kibale National Park forest walks also produce regular sightings.

L’Hoest’s Monkey: Uganda’s Mountain Primate

L’Hoest’s monkey is one of the most iconic primates of Uganda’s high-altitude forest zone and is closely associated with the mountain gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi — encounters on the trekking trails are common. The species’ terrestrial behaviour makes it unexpectedly approachable — groups often move along the same paths as gorilla trekking groups, treating them with equanimity rather than fleeing. The male’s distinctive white bib and dark coat make the species immediately identifiable. For visitors combining gorilla trekking with birding at Bwindi, an L’Hoest’s monkey encounter on the trekking trail is a reliable bonus. Ruhija sector gorilla trekking trails have particularly high L’Hoest’s encounter rates.

L’Hoest’s monkey is listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, reflecting population declines across its range in Central Africa due to forest loss and hunting. The Uganda population in Bwindi is one of the most robust remaining populations and benefits from the park’s UNESCO protection. In addition to Bwindi, the species occurs in Kibale, the Rwenzori foothills, and scattered forest patches in the Albertine Rift. The combination of terrestrial habits, relative boldness toward humans, and association with gorilla trekking trails makes L’Hoest’s one of the most frequently photographed primates in Uganda despite its threatened status.