What kinds of monkeys live in Burkina Faso?

If you visit Burkina Faso, it’s only natural to ask yourself the above question. I mean, who doesn’t want to see monkeys!?

Luckily, there are quite a few species you should be able to find. So, keep reading to learn how to identify each monkey, ape, and primate, and learn some fun and interesting facts. Pictures and range maps are also included!

5 monkey species that live in Burkina Faso:

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#1. Olive Baboon

• Papio anubis

Also known as the Anubis Baboon.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Adults grow up to 85 cm (33 in) long.
• Their long muzzles resemble a dog’s, and their tails are strangely bent as if they were broken.
• As their name suggests, their fur has an olive tint.

Olive Baboons are among the largest monkeys in Burkina Faso!

You’ll find them in savannas, forests, and grasslands. These primates gather in groups of 15-150 members.

Their flexible diets, as well as their adaptability to different habitats, have made them the most widespread species of all baboons. Olive Baboons eat anything from plants to small animals. When hunting as a band, they can even take down small antelopes! Populations close to farmlands also prey on goats and sheep.

These monkeys follow a complex social hierarchy. Adult females form the core of the system, with social ranks passed down from mother to daughter. Several females create smaller sub-groups to groom each other and provide backup during conflicts. Meanwhile, males compete with one another to establish dominance.

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#2. Patas Monkey

• Erythrocebus patas

Also known as the Wadi Monkey or Hussar Monkey.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Adults are generally 61-89 cm (24-35 in) long and have 51-76 cm (20-30 in) tails.
• Males are much larger than females.
• White hair frames their dark faces. They have pale coats that grow reddish brown around their backs.

Patas Monkeys aren’t your average monkey in Burkina Faso that lives in trees!

Instead, they are ground-dwellers known for their impressive speed. Patas Monkeys are the fastest sprinters among primates, clocking in at 55 km/h (34 mph). They roam savannahs where trees are sparse and widely spaced.

Troops of Patas Monkeys can contain up to 60 members, with only one adult male leading the females and juveniles. At night, they sleep together in trees where predators can’t reach them. Sometimes, they must boldly fight off wildcats and jackals at watering holes!

Since they live in arid habitats, they spend a lot of time finding food and water. These monkeys like to feed on sap leaking out from Acacia tree trunks. Where their territories encroach with human settlements, they’ve acquired a taste for farm crops.

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#3. Tantalus Monkey

• Chlorocebus tantalus

Identifying Characteristics:

• Adults are 30-83 cm (12-33 in) long, with 41-66 cm (16-26 in) tails.
• Males are notably larger than females.
• They have dark faces outlined with white fur.
• Their undersides are white, while the rest of their coats are grayish or yellow.

It’s common to encounter Tantalus Monkeys in Burkina Faso near people due to urban expansion. This species thrives in woodlands, grasslands, and degraded forests. Groups of 30 individuals loiter around the edges of forests, always close to fresh water. Their varied diets include grasses, berries, and small animals, but they enjoy fruits the most.

Tantalus Monkeys don’t take kindly to strangers, aggressively screaming to shoo away intruders. They have 36 unique alarm calls for different situations and threats. They’re so loud because they aren’t as nimble as other monkeys in trees.

Bands of Tantalus Monkeys spend most of their days foraging on the ground. Cleverly, these primates store food inside their cheeks for later consumption. Once a feeding ground runs low on resources, they migrate to new areas.

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#4. Green Monkey

• Chlorocebus sabaeus

Also known as Sabaeus Monkey.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Adults have a body length of 30-60 cm (12-24 in). Their gold-tipped tails are 41-76 cm (16-30 in) long.
• They have yellowish hair surrounding their dark faces.
• These monkeys have a tinge of green and gold on their grayish coats. Their undersides are white in contrast.

If you spot a Green Monkey in Burkina Faso, chances are there are more nearby! A community can harbor up to 80 individuals, often staying near fresh water. They go swimming in rivers to cool down when it gets too hot. These monkeys can survive in habitats such as rainforest outskirts, dry woodlands, and coastal areas.

60% of their waking hours are spent traveling and searching for food. They prefer fruits, seeds, and leaves. As opportunistic predators, Green Monkeys also eat insects, small lizards, crabs, and lungfish. Populations overlapping with urban regions are notorious for stealing food from unwary tourists. Stay vigilant! 🙂

These primates are quite vulnerable, so they’ve developed distinct calls to warn troop mates of predators. For example, barks indicate a leopard sighting, while chirps alert others of a snake slithering around. Green Monkeys are quieter in areas where hunting is prevalent to hide from poachers.

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#5. Senegal Bushbaby

• Galago senegalensis

Also known as the Northern Lesser Galago.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Even as adults, these tiny creatures are only 9-21 cm (4-8 in) long, with 11-28 cm (4-11 in) tails.
• They have notably large and rounded eyes. Their ears, hands, and feet are also proportionally large.
• Their wooly coats range from gray to brown. Some have stripes and markings on their bodies.

Senegal Bushbabies are one of the most widespread primates in Burkina Faso!

They thrive in dry woodlands and savannas. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss them! These fast little critters sprint and leap through the tangle of branches, using their long tails for balance.

What they lack in size, they make up for with an array of adaptive abilities. Senegal Bushbabies are equipped with large eyes to help them see in the dark of night. Also, their twitchy ears can detect the faintest sounds from the insects they feed on. Finally, their tongues are narrow enough to reach deep into cracks where bugs hide. These primates eat fruits, nuts, and tree sap if they can’t find prey.

• Check out our LIVE bird camera from Burkina FasoHERE! At night it’s common to see bushbabies visiting the feeder. 🙂

Interestingly, Senegal Bushbabies got their name because their cries sound like that of a human infant! Family units of 2-5 mark their territories with urine to keep outsiders from trespassing. Adult females and their children sleep together in tree hollows, while adult males sleep alone. They tend to bite and spit when threatened, so try not to startle them.

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For more information about animals in Burkina Faso, check out these guides:

• 21 COMMON Birds Found in Burkina Faso!
• 29 Amazing ANIMALS to see in Burkina Faso! (ID guide w/ pics)

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Which of these monkeys in Burkina Faso is your favorite?

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