Sometimes called the “swamp monkey” or the “old man monkey” for its dignified white beard and wise expression, this species is a master of disguise and stealth, perfectly adapted to life among rivers, wetlands, and dense tropical vegetation. Named after the 19th-century French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, it remains one of the continent’s most distinctive monkeys—an emblem of patience, elegance, and mystery in the treetops.
De Brazza’s monkeys are medium-sized guenons, but males are almost twice the size of females. Their appearance is instantly recognizable: a steel-gray coat, reddish-brown back and limbs, a black face framed by a long white beard, and a bright white stripe across the thigh and rump. Perhaps their most famous feature is the orange crown patch above the eyes, which, together with their beard, gives them a wise, almost monk-like look. Their tails are long and prehensile for balance, and their cheeks hold expandable pouches used for storing food—a handy adaptation for cautious feeding in risky habitats.
Native to central and eastern Africa, De Brazza’s monkeys are found from Cameroon and the Congo Basin eastward to Ethiopia and Kenya, living mostly near rivers, swamps, and dense forests. They are highly adaptable, capable of surviving in habitats that would challenge many other primates—from flooded forests and reedbeds to montane bamboo zones. They are notably cautious feeders: they often fill their cheek pouches quickly, then retreat to the safety of thick foliage to chew in peace—an effective strategy for avoiding predators such as crowned eagles, leopards, and snakes.
Unlike the loud, boisterous social species of monkeys such as vervets or colobus, De Brazza’s are quiet and secretive, relying on body language, soft grunts, and deep booming calls rather than noisy chatter. This subdued communication helps them remain undetected in their shadowy forest homes. When alarmed, they freeze instantly rather than flee, depending on stillness and camouflage rather than speed to avoid danger. This behavior, along with their preference for thick cover, makes them one of the hardest African monkeys to spot in the wild.
Distribution
Angola
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Congo-Brazzaville
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Kenya
South Sudan
UgandaAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
