Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga

Only in the Virunga region of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is it feasible to embark on a golden monkey trekking expedition. A subspecies of the Sykes monkey, commonly known as “Blue Monkeys,” are the golden monkeys. Known by their scientific name, Cercopithecus Mitis kandti, they are found largely on the lower slopes of the Virunga Mountains in huge groups of up to sixty individuals.

The gold/orange markings on their fur coats set Golden Monkeys apart from other monkey species. They are regarded as one of Africa’s most exquisite and adorable monkey species. Although they often graze on bamboo shoots and branches, golden monkeys will occasionally search the ground for ripe fruits and insects.

They are lively, inquisitive, and entertaining.

They are constantly hopping from tree to tree in search of food or to get away from the golden eagle, which is their main predator. Similar to gorillas found in the highlands, golden monkeys are classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Only 5,000 of these primates remain in the wild today.

The civil conflicts raging in some sections of the Virunga region and human encroachment on their territory pose a threat to them. Human communities harass golden monkeys because they occasionally leave parks to trespass in gardens. Due to their uniqueness and endangered position, trekking with golden monkeys has become highly popular. More resources are allocated to their protection when more people visit them and raise awareness of their predicament around the globe.

Where to See Golden Monkeys

Golden monkeys are found in the following national parks:-

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda:

The volcanoes national park presently includes two habituated tribes of golden monkeys.The largest and most frequented group dwells along the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo with roughly 100 members. Golden monkey troops can also be found in the Gishwati Forest Reserve. A small group is also reported to be surviving in the Nyungwe Forest National park. But in the Gishwati Forest Reserve and Nyungwe Forest National Park, visitor tracking is disorganized. The groups present here are untamed and unhabilled.

 Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:

The greatest area in Uganda to track golden monkeys is most likely Mgahinga National Park. The park’s offerings are unique, as it has reserved a second group for a four-hour golden monkey acclimatization experience.

Visitors are given more time to see and comprehend the monkeys’ lifestyles alongside foreign researchers, skilled trackers, and Uganda Wildlife Authority guides during the golden monkey habituation experience.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo:

 The eastern region of the DR Congo, Kahuzi-Biéga, and the Virunga National Park are also home to golden monkeys. For a number of reasons, including security, golden monkey trekking in the Congo is not yet entirely accessible to tourists.

Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park

The finest places to track golden monkeys are Rwanda and Uganda. Both nations have improved infrastructure for tourists, are safer, and are better organized. For the purpose of tracking golden monkeys, there is no minimum age or required number of participants.

 At approximately 7:30 am, a briefing is held at the park offices to begin the tracking of golden monkeys. Following the briefing, travelers may choose to proceed to the starting point with additional luggage in hand by hiring a porter. Compared to gorilla trekking, tracking golden monkeys takes less time—roughly an hour—and requires less physical exertion. However, unlike mountain gorillas, they are smaller and do not leave obvious signs of their prior position, so finding them does take some work.

Trackers can find them by searching for looking for fresh bamboo shoot leftovers. Every day spent tracking golden monkeys is unique because of the weather and troop movements. Taking pictures of these monkeys can be challenging due to their frequent moves atop trees (flash photography are permitted, unlike with the mountain gorillas).

The only times the monkeys remain motionless are when they seek cover from the rain or when the wind picks up. They have to be on the lookout for eagles and find their foes more difficult due to the winds. Using a quick shutter shot speed on your camera is the greatest approach to get images of these adorable critters.

Trackers frequently have to follow the monkeys around once they’ve been found since they adore climbing up and down trees. Although their long tails aid in their balance, the bamboo trees may trap and cut off their tails.

As evidence of this, you may note that certain members have short tails. When it comes to humans, habituated golden monkeys are not very timid and could approach out of curiosity. Similar like gorillas in the mountains, tourists are only permitted to spend one hour with the monkeys.

Habituation of Golden Monkeys in Rwanda and Uganda

A golden monkey tribe must be acclimated before tourists are permitted to see them due to their reticent and untamed character.At first glance, tribes of wild golden monkeys will shy away from humans.

The practice of progressively allowing a chosen tribe to become accustomed to having humans around them is known as “golden monkey habituation.”The golden monkey habituation experience is a unique gift offered to guests who want to learn more about monkeys in-depth.During the 4-hour golden monkey habituation session, guests can closely observe the monkeys’ behavior and receive additional in-depth information from researchers.

Packing List for Hiking with Golden Monkeys

When tracking golden monkeys, you will need to bring the following items:

1.         Appropriate hiking footwear

2.         Long pants

3.         A raincoat

4.         A long-sleeved shirt with a cap

5.         Packed water and a lunch.

6.         A camera. Flash cameras are accepted

7.         A walking stick for stability

8.         A porter to assist with additional luggage and to negotiate slick conditions

9.         An insect deterrent

Golden Monkey Licenses

You must have a golden monkey permit in order to engage in golden monkey tracking. A visitor is permitted one hour with the primates under the permit.Direct permits can be obtained by visitors from the tourism authorities of each nation. Permits for Mgahinga National Park are obtained through the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda, as opposed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda.

You can plan your complete golden monkey trip with the assistance of a tour company like Naleyo tours and travels. Golden monkey permits are more expensive than gorilla permits, and they vary often. Unlike gorilla permits, golden monkey permits do not require reservations in advance. They can be obtained on the day of tracking. There is a very good probability of seeing golden monkeys.

Let us discuss the costs associated with tracking golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda.

Rwanda: At the moment, each participant must pay $100 for a golden monkey tracking permit. Ranger and park fees to the Volcanoes National Park are included in the price.

The Rwanda Development Board is where the permissions are obtained.

Uganda:

Permits for golden monkeys can be obtained at the Ntebeko Center, the headquarters of Mgahinga National Park, or via the Uganda Wildlife Authority. A tracking permit for golden monkeys costs $100 per person. Park fees, ranger/guide costs, and the amount of time spent with the monkeys are included in the price. It can cost extra for those who want to participate in the 4-hour golden monkey habituation session.

Note: Gorilla trekking takes precedence over golden monkey tracking as an activity.

 Most often, tourists combine tracking golden monkeys with gorilla trekking as an additional activity.