Vervet Monkey
Vervet MonkeyVervet MonkeyVervet MonkeyVervet Monkey

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
at Nairobi National Park
112 Verified sightings at Nairobi National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,546 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Vervet Monkey

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about 40 cm (16 in) for females, to about 50 cm (20 in) for males.

In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity. Studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition, and particular predator sightings.

The vervet monkey was previously classified as Cercopithecus aethiops, now renamed 'grivet... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Nairobi National Park

Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Blue Monkey
LC

Blue Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cercopithecus mitis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Northern Lesser Galago
LC

Northern Lesser Galago

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Galago senegalensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Small-eared Greater Galago
LC

Small-eared Greater Galago

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Otolemur garnettii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~80%
2 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
3 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
4 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~70%
5 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~70%
6 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
7 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
8 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~50%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
10 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~50%
11 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
12 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
13 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
14 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
15 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
16 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
17 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
18 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
19 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~40%
20 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
21 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
22 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
23 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
24 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
25 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
26 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
27 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
28 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
29 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~30%
30 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
31 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
32 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
33 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
34 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
35 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
36 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
37 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
38 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
40 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Insufficient data
41 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Vervet Monkey in Nairobi National Park?

About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Vervet Monkey sighting in Nairobi National Park, based on 112 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Vervet Monkey in Nairobi National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Vervet Monkey in Nairobi National Park in our monthly data.

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