Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus pygerythrus)

They will eat almost anything including seeds, lizards, grass and berries.

For protection, they will sleep in the tops of trees at night as the thin branches prevents predators from getting near them.

 Vervets are preyed upon by leopard and certain of the larger species of eagle.


These are the only species of resident monkey found in the Kruger National Park.

Just like certain other species, they will use pouches in their cheeks for storing food.

 These monkeys cannot be confused with the many Chacma baboons found in the same areas. Vervets are much smaller, have a general light grey colouring with a black face and a black-tipped tail.

.They are very social and so the size of the troop can vary according to the area, but usually about twenty are found in a troop.

After a seven month gestation period, usually they give birth to a single young, but on rare occasions they have been known to have twins.

They can become very agitated at the approach of any danger, jumping from tree to tree or hopping about from branch to branch. This pattern of agitation also serves as a warning to the other animals in the area of approaching danger.




Unlike many other species of monkey, their tails cannot be used as an aid for swinging amongst the branches.