Page 91 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

FIELD GUIDE  89

Chacma Baboon
Species: Papio ursinus • Best Seen: uKhahlamba-
Drakensberg, Kruger, Cape Peninsula
LC
Weighing up to 45 kg (99 lb), the chacma
baboon is the largest primate in South Africa
and probably the most widespread. Dark grey-
brown in coloration, it is distinguishable from
all other South African monkeys by its pugilistic
build, inverted U-shaped tail, dog-like head and
long fangs. Like the vervet monkey, the baboon
is behaviourally fascinating, living in large,
quarrel some matri archal troops whose social
struc ture allows for regular inter-troop movement
of males seeking dominance. An adaptable
omnivore, the baboon is at home in almost any
habitat, from semi-desert to forest fringe, but is
particularly fond of well-wooded savannah and
mountains, where hikers are often alerted to its
presence by a far-carrying barking call. Although
mainly terrestrial, baboons feel safest when
close to trees – their first path of retreat when
preda tors (especially leopards) are in the vicinity.
Baboons ordinarily steer clear of people, but they
can become very aggressive in places where
they have come to see humans as a source of
food, as in some parts of the Cape Peninsula. If
encoun tered, they should be treated with
The chacma baboon, South Africa’s largest primate extreme caution, as they can inflict a nasty bite.
Blue Monkey
Species: Cercopithecus mitis • Best Seen:
iSimangaliso, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Kruger
(far north only)
LC
The most widespread of African
forest monkeys and the only one
whose distribution extends south of
the Limpopo River, the blue monkey
is also known by a number of other
names – diademed, white-throated,
Sykes, and samango – in different
parts of its range, reflecting its high
level of regional variability. Associated
mainly with forest margins, it lives in
troops of up to 10 animals that will-
ingly travel ripar ian corri dors through
savannah habitats. It has a very limited
distribution in South Africa, where it is
confined to the northeast corner of the
country – the KwaZulu-Natal coast, the
Mpumalanga escarp ment forests, and
the riparian forest along the Limpopo
and its tributaries bordering Zimbabwe.
The blue monkey can be distinguished
from other South African monkeys by
its more arboreal behaviour and retiring
nature, and its cryptic but rather beauti-
ful coat – dark grey-blue with flecks of
orange-brown on the back, and a white
belly and throat.
The shy blue monkey spends most of its time in trees
Key to Field Guide icons see p72

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