What is 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.

Wildlife

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordVervet Monkey40+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records6,852 records

Curve from 6,852 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

KwaZulu-Natal and beyond

Provinces where Vervet Monkey is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

6,852 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Leopard, Spotted hyena · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Quatermain's Camp

Paterson

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 3 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Blesbok · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,592 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Birdsong Cottage

Howick

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Grassland biome · 77 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Vervet monkey · Canoeing, Fishing

From R 795 per night

Zululand Lodge

Hluhluwe

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Savanna biome · 9 birds recorded · Giraffe, Nyala · Canoeing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,280 per night

Mvubu Bush Camp

Goukamma Nature Reserve

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,380 per night

Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,580 per night

Buffalo Valley River Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,580 per night

Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

Vervet Monkey recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,410 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Vervet Monkey

Hosts have recorded the Vervet Monkey at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Gondwana Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Vervet Monkey
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kruger	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here
Sabi Sand	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

Early morning and late afternoon. The Vervet Monkey is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger Marakele

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand Gondwana Welgevonden

Species

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Records

6 852

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Vervet Monkey on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Vervet Monkey in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Vervet Monkey at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Gondwana Game Reserve, Welgevonden Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve and Marakele National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Vervet Monkey in South Africa?

The Vervet Monkey is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (36% of records), Mpumalanga (21% of records), Limpopo (14% of records), based on 6 852 iNaturalist observations. 42 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Vervet Monkey on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Vervet Monkey?

The Vervet Monkey is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.