Monkeys

During my time in Tanzania,  I remember the different spieces of monkey that I photographed, for different reasons. What I did learn looking at all the different troops we came across, was the very close similarity they had to human traits and emotions. But I have kept my favorite shots at the end of this page, emotion, love and protection come to mind....

The first I will mention is the Vervet. I came across these at Lake Manyara National Park. The reason I remember them so well was the bright blue they displayed. When I got home I couldn't remember what they were called so I googled 'monkeys with blue private parts' and sure enough they popped up on my screen... The small troop at the lake put on a lovely display, some grooming, youngsters jumping from tree to tree, and the old man just looking on. 'The Old Man' looked so thoughful, just sitting there watching the world go by....

Click image to enlarge

On the daily rounds across the different parks and reserves visited, we came across a number of Baboon troups. Some just resting and taking it easy. One troup, (taking it easy), had a number of youngsters with them. Watching the youngsters at play was not unlike children in a playground, pulling and tugging, chasing each other, older ones playfully teasing and younger ones consoling each other. With the odd telling off from a mother or elder. It felt as if you were just watching a family out for a day in the park....

As I keep sayiing... I dont profess to be a wildlife photographer, and these monkeys make me work hard for these shots. Let me tell you.... those youngters are always on the move, and boy they can move.....

click image to enlarge

 Troupd of baboons seemed to be around every corner, some making their was across the savannah, some using the roads and tracks overtaking our vehicle and some just moving from tree to tree. Apprearing from nowhere and disaprearing just as quick, up a bank or into the ground cover...

I am just going to let the images speak for themselves. I couldn't just pick half a dozen of the many shots I took of this troop to post here, so I picked a bakers dozen instead... I could have added so many more.....