Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda;  golden monkey trekking is an interesting activity which involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated golden monkeys and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Golden monkeys are unique primate species that are found in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Golden monkeys are also found in Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Golden monkeys are playful and active primates that live in the lower slopes of the Virunga mountain ranges, live in large troops of about 30 to 60 members and feed on bamboo shoots, leaves, shrubs, fruits and wild insects.

Golden monkey trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda

Golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the habituated golden monkeys with an experienced park guide. Golden monkey trekking takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located because they are playful and active primates which like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will follow trails of leftover bamboo shoots, leaves 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, habits, watch them feed, play, jump up in tree branches, take photos and record the incredible moments.

Mgahinga gorilla 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 habituation experience takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and tourists who engage in the experience get a chance to spend four hours with the golden monkeys.

Cost of golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda

A golden monkey trekking permit is a legal card that is issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated golden monkey family and spend one hour with the golden monkeys in their natural environment. A golden monkey trekking permit in Volcanoes national park costs 100 USD per person for all nationalities while a golden monkey trekking permit in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 100 USD per person for foreign non residents, 80 USD per person for foreign residents and 60,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

A golden monkey habituation experience in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 140 USD per person for foreign non residents, 110 USD per person for foreign residents and 120,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

How to book a golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda

Golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government body in charge of tourism in Rwanda by contacting the head offices by email or telephone calls. Golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and destination you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability on your dates 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 permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

Best time to go for golden monkey trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore golden monkey trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.

What to pack for your golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda

When going for a golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda, there are a number of items that you should pack including hiking shoes to keep your feet dry, long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm, garden gloves, insect repellent to protect your skin from biting insects, waterproof rain jacket/ poncho to protect you from rain, camera and extra batteries to take pictures during the one hour with the golden monkeys, a pair of binoculars, backpack, energy snacks, facemask and sanitizer among others.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park is an exciting activity that can be combined with other activities like wildlife viewing, bird watching, boat cruise among other for breathtaking experiences. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.