Golden monkey trekking in Uganda
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda is among the activities which are carried out during tours around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located in southwestern Uganda. The golden monkeys are an endangered species which can be seen in the Virunga conservation area. These monkeys live in the bamboo forests of Mgahinga national park which is also home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda.
The golden monkey trekking activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters around 07:00 am before tourists start the search for the golden monkeys in Mgahinga national park. During the briefing, tourists are told about the rules and regulations to follow and also given information about the national park and the golden monkeys.
The park headquarters of Mgahinga National Park where the briefing is done is the Ntebeko park headquarters which is also a starting point for golden monkey treks and gorilla trekking experiences at the destination.
Tourists hike through the forests of Mgahinga national park as they search for the golden monkeys which takes about 2 to 4 hours. This is because the golden monkeys can be seen around the lower areas of the national park making them easy to see. The golden monkeys in the national park are also known for living in big groups of about 30 individuals.
The time tourists spend with the golden monkeys when they are found in the Mgahinga national park is 1 hour during which tourists can enjoy recording videos and taking photos of the monkeys. Other primates as well as different bird species can also be seen during the golden monkey trekking experience.
Another activity which tourists take part in during their golden monkey trekking tours in Mgahinga national park is golden monkey habituation.
Cost of golden monkey trekking
There are different costs associated with golden monkey trekking tours in Uganda and they include golden monkey permit costs, park entrance fees, transport costs and also accommodation costs.
To engage in the golden monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga national park, tourists are required to have permits. These permits can be booked from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) through licensed tour operators. A limited number of permits are issued daily for the golden monkey trek in the national park.
- Golden monkey permit fees
The permits for golden monkey trekking experience in Uganda cost 60 USD for foreign nonresidents, 50 USD for foreign residents and 40,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens. This fee excludes park entrance fees for Mgahinga national park.
When visiting Mgahinga national park, tourists can also take part in golden monkey habituation experiences. The cost of a permit for golden monkey habituation is 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 80 USD for foreign residents and 100,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens excluding park entrance fees to the destination.
- Park entrance fees for Mgahinga national park
Tourists are also charged park entrance for visiting Mgahinga national park and this fee is 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 20,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. This park entrance fee is valid for 24hours from the time of entry into the national park.
Other activities carried out around Mgahinga national park are also charged differently during tours at the destination. Volcano climbing costs 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 80 USD for foreign residents and 50,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Bird watching around Mgahinga national park costs 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 30,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
- Transport costs
Tourists are also charged transport fees during their tours to Mgahinga national park for golden monkey trekking experiences.
The transport costs range from 100 USD to 300 USD per day for transfers during the Golden Monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga national park. this cost depends on the starting point of the tour and also the type of vehicle and the vehicle hire company.
- Accommodation costs
Depending on the type of lodge which tourists choose during their golden monkey trekking tour in Uganda, tourists can spend about 100 to over 500 USD for accommodation around Mgahinga national park.
There are budget lodges, midrange and luxury lodges where tourists can stay during the golden monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga national park.
Other activities to do around Mgahinga national park
Apart from golden monkey trekking, many other activities can be done around Mgahinga national park and these include gorilla trekking, volcano climbing, bird watching, guided nature walks and also community tours.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is another popular activity among tourists visiting Mgahinga national park. This activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the do’s and don’ts of the gorilla trek. After the briefing, tourists trek into the forests to search for the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The gorilla permit costs 800 USD per person and only individuals above the age of 15 years are allowed to engage in the activity when visiting the park.
Volcano climbing in Mgahinga national park is done on the Virunga mountains found in the park which include Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo. When taking park in the hikes, tourists are led by experienced guides. The activity takes about 8 hours or more depending on the route used for the hike.
Best time to engage in golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park can be done at anytime of the year and the dry season from June to October and in December to February is considered the best time to take part in the activity.
Where to stay during golden monkey trekking
There are different lodges found around Mgahinga national park and they include Traveler’s rest lodge, Mount Gahinga lodge, Mucha hotel among others found around the Kisoro area.
How to get to Mgahinga national park
Tourists visiting Mgahinga national park for golden monkey trekking experiences can drive to the national park or fly to the park. The route used to get to the national park is the Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route which takes about 10 hours.
Flights to the destination can be booked from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip.
