Where to See Golden Monkeys in Uganda & Facts
Where to See Golden Monkeys in Uganda & Facts : In Uganda Golden monkeys are best seen in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park if you once decide to try out a new product or activity of tracking the golden monkeys. Golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla national park can be found in bamboo forest that provides the best dwelling areas for this rare golden monkeys.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park ,is a famous location for gorilla trekking not knowing that golden monkey tracking is also open with in the park for tourism ,Golden monkeys are an active primates with beautiful appearance one wouldn’t miss to have a sight-seeing of its beauty looks .However ,Mgahinga Gorilla national park is located in the south-western Uganda in the Virunga Mountains and encompasses three inactive volcanoes that are Mount Muhabura ,mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga ,it was established in 1991 as national park to protect these endangered mountain gorillas and other species .The park is a UNESCO world heritage site that sits on altitude ranging from 2,227 to 4,127meter and is part of the Nile River watershed area .It continues to enlarges to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the southern sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo .Mgahinga is approximately 9-10 hours right from the starting point from Kampala capital or Entebbe ,another option you can choose to fly with a domestic chartered flight from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip taking only one hour to access the landing site ,then from there you will be packed up by the safari driver from the park to drive you to the park.
The park is home for wild animals mostly the gorillas, golden monkeys and other species which encompasses bamboo forest, Albertine Rift montane forested, Ruwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands with tree. Mgahinga is also home for bird life species that can spotted on the visit and birds recorded in the park include stripe breasted tit, blue head sunbird, regal sunbird, strange weaver, dusky crimson wing, red throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, montane nightjar, and Grauer’s swam warbler mentioned but few.
Facts about Golden Monkeys
Golden monkey’s species are the most sought full subspecies of the blue monkeys and the two are similar overall species though the golden monkeys has a golden orange patch on the upper flanks and back.
Golden monkeys live in social groups of up to 30 members lead by an Alpha. They have diet that consists mainly of bamboo, leaves and fruit but it is also thought to eat insects.
They were listed as endangered species on the IUCN Red list.
Golden monkeys travel in various group sizes and have been in small groups of three up to large groups of 62 monkeys.
Golden monkeys which live on higher elevation tend to be smaller.
They often sleep in small subgroups at the top of bamboo plants.
They also tend to feed near to their sleeping area and in the evening return to their same sleeping location day after day, are not like mountain gorillas.
Golden monkeys feed on the diet that consist of primary of young bamboo leaves, fruits, bamboo branch lets, invertebrates, flowers, bamboo shoots and shrubs.
Their diet can easily be influenced by the availability of fruits in the forest.
Their favorable diet is the bamboo shoots which tend to the most frequently eaten because it if often more available year round.
These endangered species are currently left in the wild with a total population of 3,000 individuals, although each year over 100memebrs are killed by the hunters as Where to See Golden Monkeys in Uganda & Facts.
Golden monkeys can live up to 19 years in the wild.
The male golden monkeys range between 48 to 67 centimeters and female ranges 46 to 53 centimeters, rendering them slightly in the smaller size.
The male golden monkey can weigh between 4.5 to 7 kilogram while the females go up to about 3.5 to 4.5 kilograms.
They have a gestation period of about five months and the infants is born with fur and eye wide open. Mother golden monkeys takes care of the infant for about two years before time it is given any freedom. The freedom given to them is to join new monkey groups, form their own packs. They are still classified as an endangered species as the only free wild is confined in the Virunga mountains.
Most of the golden monkeys in higher altitude areas live in smaller groups compared to their counterparts that live lower altitude.
Female golden monkeys are the one responsible for ensuring the safety of their territories and their off springs till they are old enough to cater for their own diet during the day.
Golden monkeys are scientifically known as Cercopithecus mitis Kandti.
They can be found in the Virunga region that spans from Northern Rwanda, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Southwestern region of Uganda in Kisoro district.
They can live as a domestic species in a special way.
Golden monkeys have patch straight from their long tail to its back and cheeks and some darker patches on the legs arms and have faces that gives them a weird but captivating look from the other primate’s species in the wild.
Book now your Golden monkey trekking permits and enjoy to see these playful and active species. Most travelers who come to Uganda to do tracking of Golden monkeys usually combine it on their planned itinerary with gorilla trekking safari or Game drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
To those who are lovers with primates, the major trip is usually seeing chimpanzees, gorilla, golden monkeys, and other primate’s species to see include baboons, colobuses and L’Hoest monkeys.
Please, if you are interested in tracking golden monkey or Mountain gorillas or Chimpanzee tracking which can be tracked in Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla national park do not hesitate to contact us about your specific needs.
