The Golden monkey habituation experience in Uganda is an active and adventurous activity where we train wild golden monkeys to get used to human presence for trekking. You can only do golden monkey trekking in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the smallest national park in Uganda, located in the southwestern region of Kisoro district, bordering Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
The Golden monkey habituation experience is an interesting activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations you must follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will join a team of researchers, park guides, and rangers and start trekking in the jungle. You will follow trails of leftover bamboo shoots and leaves, which takes about 2 to 5 hours, depending on the golden monkeys‘ location, because they are active primates that like to move from one place to another.
During the trek, you will view other primate species. Once you find the golden monkeys under habituation, you can spend four hours with them in their habitat. This allows you to learn and monitor their behaviors, watch them jump in trees, observe them carry out their daily activities like feeding, playing, and breastfeeding, and take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Cost of Golden Monkey Habituation Permits in Uganda
A golden monkey habituation permit lets you spend four full hours with a wild golden monkey family inside their natural habitat. Uganda Wildlife Authority issues this permit to visitors aged 15 and above.
Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? Here is what the permit costs. Foreign non-residents pay $100 USD per person. Foreign residents pay $80 USD per person. East African citizens pay UGX 100,000 per person.
Book your permit early with Anthill Safaris and secure your spot before they sell out.
How to Book Golden Monkey Habituation Permits
You can book Golden monkey habituation permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park through a trusted tour operator like Anthill Safaris. Contact us with the date, month, and year when you wish to trek the golden monkeys. After you contact us, we will check for permit availability on your preferred dates. Once permits are available, we will ask you to deposit the permit. When you have made a payment, we will purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Best Time to Go for Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
You can do the Golden monkey habituation experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park all year round, though the best time is during the dry season, from June to September, and December to February. During this period, less rainfall occurs in the park; therefore, vegetation will be thin, which allows you to have clear views of the golden monkeys. Golden monkey trekking trails will be dry and passable, making trekking easy compared to the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, which makes golden monkey trekking difficult.
What to Pack for the Golden Monkey Habituation Experience in Uganda
Packing smart makes all the difference on the trail. Start with the basics: sturdy hiking shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and full-length trousers. These protect your skin from the forest undergrowth and morning chill.
Next, toss in a waterproof rain jacket and a warm sweater. The weather in the Virunga Mountains shifts fast, so layering keeps you comfortable throughout the day.
Do not forget your insect repellent. Apply it before you set off and reapply as needed. Bring a walking stick too, as it steadies your footing on steep, muddy paths.
For energy, pack light snacks and enough drinking water to last the full trek. Finally, carry a camera with extra batteries, a small backpack, and a face mask.
Prepare well, and your golden monkey experience with Anthill Safaris will be nothing short of incredible.
Where to Stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has many accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange, and luxury, where you can stay during your golden monkey habituation experience, including Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mucha Lodge, Travelers Rest Camp, Travelers Rest Hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mubano Hotel, Montana Guest House, among others.
How to Get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
You can access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by road transport means. Travelers will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, and then to the park headquarters, which takes about 9 to 10 hours.
You can also access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by air transport. Travelers will book scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aerolink Uganda or Bar Aviation from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Tourists can also access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali, Rwanda. You will fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect to the park headquarters via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale, which takes about 3 to 4 hours.
The Golden monkey habituation experience is an interesting activity that you can combine with other activities like gorilla trekking, a Batwa cultural tour, a guided nature walk, mountain climbing, and bird watching. You can contact us at Anthiil Safaris for more information about the golden monkey habituation experience in Uganda, or visit our website for affordable Uganda safari packages.
