Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda; Golden monkey trekking is an active and interesting activity which involves travelers moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the unique golden monkeys and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Golden monkeys are playful primates that have bright colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange and golden monkey trekking in Uganda is carried out in Mgahinga gorilla national park while in Rwanda it’s carried out in Volcanoes national park. Golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda live in big groups/ troops of about 30 to 100 members and feed of bamboo shoots, leaves, shrubs, fruits, flowers, lichens, sprouts and wild insects.
Where to go for golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda is done in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in southwestern region in Kisoro district. The national park is also a home of the famous mountain gorillas, animals, different bird species and the three volcanic mountains namely Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabinyo. Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of two habituated golden monkey families which are available for trekking on a daily basis. The national park also offers golden monkey habituation experience where the wild golden monkeys are trained to get used to human presence for trekking.
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park which is located in northwestern part of Rwanda. Volcanoes national park is a home of two habituated golden monkey trekking families which are available for trekking daily.
Golden monkey trekking experience
Golden monkey trekking in both Mgahinga gorilla national park and volcanoes national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be allocated an experienced park guide and start trekking in the jungle following trails of leftover bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits among others. Golden monkey trekking takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view different other primate species, bird species among others and once the golden monkeys are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, watch them feed, play, jump up in tree branches, take photos and record the beautiful moments to show people back home.
Best time to go for golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and golden monkey trekking trails will be dry and passable.
Cost of golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking permits in Volcanoes national park costs 100 USD per person for foreign non residents while golden monkey trekking permits in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 60 USD per person for foreign non residents, 50 USD per person for foreign residents and 40,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
Golden monkey habituation permits in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 100 USD per person for foreign non residents, 80 USD per person for foreign residents and 100,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) by contacting the park headquarters via email or telephone calls. Golden monkey trekking permits can also be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf.
What to pack for your golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda
There are a number of items to pack for your golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda including hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trouser, camera and extra batteries, waterproof rain jacket/ poncho, a pair of binoculars, drinking water, warm sweater, walking stick, waterproof back pack among others.
Golden monkey trekking is an interesting activity that can be combined with gorilla trekking in either Volcanoes national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park or Bwindi impenetrable national park for breathtaking and unforgettable memories
