Finding the Golden Monkey on a Forest Walk
Experience the joyful and curious attitude of the golden monkey, a stunning little animal that can only be seen in the Volcanoes National Park's high-altitude forests. Spend the morning looking for one of the two habituated groups of golden monkeys—one of which is a troop of over 80 members—amid the lush greenery at the base of Mount Sabyinyo. Watch their antics as they jump among the thin bamboo shoots or fall among the thickets on the forest floor for an enchanting hour.
The golden monkeys are lively, energetic little animals that provide great entertainment as they swing through the bamboo or chase each other in loops above and around you. Their bright reddish-gold backs make them quite attractive and blend in wonderfully with the golden bamboo.
These adorable golden monkeys are endangered and only found in the Virunga Mountains area, which includes Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The only two nations where tourists can trek to get a close-up look are Rwanda and Uganda.
One of the more relaxed activities at Volcanoes National Park is hiking to see them. The bamboo forest at the base of the mountain range is home to the scuttling primates, and the ground is comparatively level and accessible by foot.
Trekking with Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park
Only in the Virunga region of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Golden Monkey Trekking feasible. A subspecies of the Sykes Monkey, commonly known as "Blue Monkeys," are golden monkeys. Their formal name is Cercopithecus Mitis kandti, and they primarily inhabit the lower slopes of the Virunga range in big groups of roughly 60 individuals.
Because of the gold or orange dots on their fur coats, golden monkeys are distinguished from other monkey species. They are regarded as one of Africa's most exquisite and adorable monkey species. Although they usually eat bamboo shoots and branches, golden monkeys will occasionally search the ground for ripe fruits and insects. They are playful, inquisitive, and highly active. 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.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists golden monkeys as an endangered species, similar to mountain gorillas, and there are roughly 5,000 of them in the world. Civil strife in some areas of the Virunga region and human encroachment on their territory pose a threat to them. Because golden monkeys occasionally leave parks to attack gardens, human groups persecute them. Trekking with golden monkeys has gained a lot of popularity due to their endangered condition and distinctiveness. More resources are allocated to their protection as more tourists visit them and raise awareness of their predicament.
Where Golden Monkeys Can Be Found
These national parks are home to golden monkeys:
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park:
There are currently two habituated tribes of golden monkeys in the park. With over 100 members, the largest and most popular group resides near Mount Sabyinyo's slopes. Additionally, the Gishwati Forest Reserve is home to golden monkey armies. It is also thought that a little number of them are still alive in the Nyungwe Forest National Park. However, trips to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati Forest Reserve are not tracked. These groups are still wild because they are not acclimated.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Two habituated golden monkey tribes can be found in Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The greatest location for tracking golden monkeys is most likely Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The park is unique in that it provides a four-hour golden monkey habituation experience for one additional group. Visitors are given extra time to watch and learn about the lives of the primates under the golden monkey habituation experience, accompanied by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, seasoned trackers, and international researchers.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo:
The Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biéga in the country's east are also home to golden monkeys. For a number of reasons, including security, golden monkey trekking in the Congo is not yet completely accessible to tourists.
Trekking with Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes and Mgahinga National Park
The finest places to track golden monkeys are Rwanda and Uganda. Both nations have greater infrastructure for tourists, are more secure, and are more organised. There is no upper age limit or minimum number of participants needed to track golden monkeys. At approximately 7:30 am, a briefing is held at park offices to begin tracking golden monkeys.
Before heading to the starting location, travellers may choose to hire a porter to assist with additional luggage after the briefing. Compared to gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking is less taxing and takes less time (approximately an hour). However, unlike mountain gorillas, they are smaller and do not leave visible traces of their prior position, so it takes some work to find them.
By keeping an eye out for new bamboo shoot remains, trackers can find them. The weather and group movements determine how each day of following golden monkeys unfolds. Taking pictures of these monkeys can be challenging due to their frequent movements on treetops, yet flash photography is permitted unlike with mountain gorillas. The monkeys only remain still when they seek cover from the rain or when the wind becomes too strong. They must remain vigilant for eagles and struggle to find their adversaries due to the winds. Setting your camera to a quick shutter shot speed is the ideal approach to get images of these adorable animals.
Because the monkeys enjoy hopping from tree to tree, trackers frequently have to follow them around once they have been identified. Although their long tails aid in their ability to balance, the bamboo plants have the potential to sever them. This is demonstrated by the fact that some members have short tails. Habituated golden monkeys may approach out of curiosity and are not overly shy around people. Similar to mountain gorillas, visitors are only permitted to spend one hour with the monkeys.
Golden Monkey Habituation in Uganda and Rwanda
A troop of golden monkeys must be acclimated before tourists are permitted to visit them due to their timid and untamed character. At first sight, battalions of wild golden monkeys will flee from people. The technique of gradually allowing a chosen group to become accustomed to human presence is known as golden monkey habituation. A unique gift offered to guests who want a deeper understanding of the primates is the golden monkey habituation experience. During golden monkey habituation experience, visitors are given 4 hours to closely study the behaviour of the monkeys while gaining more in-depth information from Researchers.
Permits for Golden Monkeys
You must have a golden monkey permission in order to participate in golden monkey tracking. A visitor is permitted to spend one hour with the primates under the permit. Permits can be obtained directly from the various national tourism authorities. Permits are obtained through the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda and the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Mgahinga National Park.
Your complete Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga tour itinerary, including obtaining the necessary permits, lodging, and transportation, can be organised with the assistance of a tour company. Golden monkey licenses, in contrast to gorilla permits, are subject to regular price changes. Unlike gorilla permits, golden monkey permits do not require reservations. They can be obtained on the day of tracking. There is a very good probability of seeing golden monkeys. Let's discuss the costs associated with tracking golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda.
What to park for Golden Monkey Trekking
When tracking golden monkeys, you will need to bring the following;
Note:
Gorilla trekking is a more popular pastime than tracking golden monkeys. Most of the time, tourists mix monitoring golden monkeys with gorilla trekking as an extra activity.