Colobus monkeys are forest monkeys that spend most of their lives high in the trees, feeding on leaves. Tanzania has several kinds, from the striking black-and-white colobus to red colobus species found nowhere else in the world. They are easy to see in the right places and make a great addition to a safari or beach trip.
Colobus at a glance
| Group | Old World monkeys, leaf-eaters |
| Diet | Mainly leaves, plus seeds, fruit and flowers |
| Social life | Groups, often led by a dominant male |
| Habitat | Forest, from lowland to mountain |
| Found in Tanzania | Black-and-white colobus and several red colobus species |
Monkeys without thumbs
The name colobus comes from a Greek word meaning “cut short”, a reference to their thumbs, which are reduced to small stubs. Their hands work like hooks, which suits a life of swinging and leaping through branches.
A stomach for leaves
Leaves are hard to digest. Colobus monkeys have a complex, multi-chambered stomach with bacteria that break down plant material, similar in principle to cows. This lets them live on a diet few other primates could.
Types of colobus in Tanzania
Black-and-white colobus
Glossy black fur, a white face ring, long white side fringes and a bushy white tail. When they leap between trees, the white fur streams out behind them. Look for them in mountain and riverine forest in the north.
Zanzibar red colobus
Found only on Zanzibar. It has a red-brown back, a pale underside and a black-and-white face with a crest of white hair. It is endangered, and most live in and around Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.
Other red colobus
Tanzania has other red colobus species, including the Udzungwa red colobus in the Udzungwa Mountains and the Ashy red colobus in western Tanzania’s forests near Lake Tanganyika.
Where to see colobus monkeys
| Place | Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arusha National Park | Black-and-white | Easy to see in the Meru forest; good day trip |
| Kilimanjaro forest zone | Black-and-white | Often seen on the first day of a climb |
| Jozani Forest, Zanzibar | Zanzibar red | Relaxed groups close to paths |
| Udzungwa Mountains | Udzungwa red, black-and-white | Forest hiking |
| Mahale and Gombe | Red colobus | Alongside chimpanzee trekking |
Visiting Jozani Forest
Jozani is an easy half-day trip from Stone Town or the east coast of Zanzibar. A guided walk takes you to groups of red colobus that are used to visitors, then through mangroves on a boardwalk. Keep a respectful distance and do not feed them. Our Zanzibar Beach Week and Safari & Zanzibar can include the visit.
Tips for watching colobus
- Go early in the morning, when they feed actively.
- Look up. They spend most of their time high in the canopy.
- Listen for the black-and-white colobus’s deep, rolling calls at dawn.
- Never feed monkeys. It harms their health and changes their behaviour.
More primates
For chimpanzees, read our guides to Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream, or see Mahale Chimpanzees. For nocturnal primates, read about the bushbaby. For Arusha’s forest, see our Arusha National Park guide.
Frequently asked questions
Their thumbs are reduced to tiny stubs. Their hook-like hands help them swing and grip branches as they move through the canopy.
In and around Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park on Zanzibar, which is an easy half-day trip from Stone Town or the east coast.
Arusha National Park is one of the easiest places, in the forest on the lower slopes of Mount Meru.
