Staying with the golden monkeys is known as the golden monkey trekking safari, which takes place in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It’s an interesting and intriguing safari activity that involves the tourists moving on foot into the forest while searching for the habituated golden monkey families, and once found,d you will spend one hour with the golden monkeys in their natural habitat. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the Virunga Mountains, which stretch across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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The park is famous on a Uganda safari because it is one of the two national parks in Uganda where you can trek and see the endangered mountain gorillas as well. The park covers an area of 33.7 square kilometers (13 sq. mi).
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has various habitats that include the montane forest, bamboo forest, alpine vegetation that supports diverse range of the wildlife like mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, buffaloes, duikers, bush pigs and among many others, over 180 bird species like Rwenzori turacos, Black-and-white casqued hornbill, crowned crane, Grey crowned crane, Waxbills, sunbirds and among others. However, it’s worth noting that some species, like the elephants, are occasional visitors and not permanent residents. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s rich biodiversity makes it a fascinating safari destination for nature lovers, bird watchers, and those interested in exploring the unique ecosystems of the Virunga Mountains.
How long do you stay with the golden monkeys in Mgahinga?
On your Uganda safari, when visiting the golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the duration of the visit is typically limited to 1 hour. This is to minimize the impact on the monkeys and their habitat and to ensure that they do not become too habituated to humans.
During your golden monkey trekking safari, you are expected to know the following during the one hour,
On guided treks, a park ranger will lead you through the forest to look for the golden monkeys in their natural habitat.
Observation: Once you find the monkeys, you will be able to observe them for 1 hour. This is a great safari moment where you are going to observe them doing their daily activities like feeding, playing, grooming, and many others, and that’s the period when you will take photos and learning about their behaviors.
It’s important to note that the golden monkey trekking safari experience is not as physically demanding as gorilla trekking, but it still requires a moderate level of fitness and mobility.
Golden monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Golden Monkey Trekking Safari is a distinctive and captivating safari activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The activity starts early in the morning at the park headquarters with a briefing about the rules, regulations, and expectations during the golden monkey trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced guide which takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located as they like to move from one place to another while looking for fresh food and along the way looking for the golden monkeys you will spot different wonderful animal species, other primate species and bird species. Golden monkeys are small in size and do not leave behind clear evidence of their previous day’s location like the mountain gorillas. During trekking, you will look out for the fresh leftovers of the bamboo shoots and leaves.
Cost of a Golden Monkey trekking permit.
The golden monkey trekking permit is a legal document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to any visitor who is above 15 years, allowing them to stay with the golden monkey family in their habitat for one hour in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A single golden monkey trekking permit costs 60 USD for foreign non-residents, 50 USD for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX for East African citizens. The price includes the park entrance fees, an hour encounter with the golden monkeys, and the services of a park guide.
How to book Golden Monkey trekking permits.
Golden monkey permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be booked in two different ways: either directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority by contacting the offices on telephone calls or by emailing them. On the other hand, the golden monkey trekking permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be booked through a trusted tour operator like us.
What to carry for your golden monkey trekking safari
Trekking to see the golden monkeys in their natural habitat is an exhilarating safari experience.
- A camera and extra batteries to take the pictures and record videos.
- Insect repellent to protect your body from insect bites.
- Energy snacks like the packed lunch and the drinking water.
- A walking stick to give you support during the golden monkey trekking.
- Backpack to carry your golden monkey trekking essentials like insect repellent, rain jackets, and many others.
- Hiking boots/strong hiking shoes to keep your feet dry during the trek.
- A waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall.
- Long-sleeved shirt and trousers to keep you warm and avoid insects from entering your trousers.
- Waterproof jacket and pants.
- Quick-drying trekking shirt.
- Bring a water bottle or hydration pack.
- Respect the park rules and regulations.
- Portable change for the tips and the souvenirs.
- Hand sanitizer and Face Mask.
- First-aid kit.
The best time to go for a golden monkey trekking safari is in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The golden monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done at any time throughout the year, though the best period is during the dry/peak season in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. The dry season is when there is less rainfall in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; therefore, the hiking trails will be passable, making it easier to hike and navigate through the forest. The vegetation will be thin, which allows you to view the golden monkeys and other wildlife species.
The clear skies and less foliage provide better views of the monkeys and their habitat, and the golden monkeys can be more active during the dry season, thus making them easier to spot. Overall, the dry season provides a more comfortable and enjoyable trekking safari.
However, golden monkey trekking can also be in the rainy season, that is, the months of March to May and September to November. Although the trails can be muddy and slippery, there are advantages in the park, as there can be fewer tourists that visit during the rainy season, making for a more peaceful and intimate safari experience with the monkeys.
The rainy season brings lush, green vegetation, making the forest even more beautiful for photography. Also, the golden monkeys tend to stay in the lower elevations during the rainy season, making them easier to spot.
Other tourist activities to do in Mgahinga National Park
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
It is another exciting activity that can be combined with golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this park is home to one habituated gorilla family called the Nyakagezi family, in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is not very famous for mountain gorilla trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nation which is very popular, this is because Mgahinga has only one family yet Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to more than half of the total world’s population of mountain gorillas.
Hiking
The other volcano is Mount Muhavura, which is a crater lake with several bird species. There is also Mount Sabyinyo, which has three peaks. The hike takes 8 hours. Hike to the third volcano, Mount Gahinga, which means a small pile of stones. This hike takes 6 hours. With the help of porters to carry the luggage.
Batwa in Mgahinga
Besides the golden Monkey Trekking activity, there is an option for visiting the Batwa Cultural Trails in Mgahinga. Visit the Batwa pygmies and learn about their past life in the forest, including food gathering, fruit gathering, hiding in Ngarama caves, collecting firewood, hunting, music, dancing, and drama.
Bird Watching
There are also bird-watching activities,s and you will be able to see over 120 bird species. Birds spotted in Mgahinga National Park while trekking the Golden Monkeys include pin-tailed whydah, black kites, paradise flycatcher, ibis, speckled mousebirds, Grey-capped warbler, Double-collared sunbird, waxbills, alpine, Blue-headed Coucal, Archer’s Robi-chat, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Olive Pigeon, Olive woodpecker, kivu ground thrush, blue-headed coucal, and Rwenzori nightjar. You will enjoy the sweet songs of birds in the trees within the fresh rainforests.
Nature walk
Tourists can also engage in Nature walks as they go for gorilla trekking, and in this,s you can enjoy the forest walk where you have chances of spotting the bush pigs, jackals, elephants, forest hogs, baboons, gorillas, monkeys, ys, and many more. This walk can take about 6 hours.
What are the rules of Golden Monkey Trekking?
- Avoid provoking the golden monkeys because you may stimulate them to charge at you.
- Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas to avoid passing germs to them.
- Littering in the forest is forbidden as it alters the nature of the forest where golden monkeys thrive.
- Only 1 hour of golden monkey trekking and four hours of golden monkey habituation experience are allowed with these primates when you locate them during a golden monkey safari adventure.
- The age limit for golden monkey safaris is 15 years and above in Uganda and Rwanda, as the wilderness may be rough for a child below this age. Sometimes, mountain gorillas feed from deep in the forest, which may not be easy to withstand.
- Stand in a tight group when you locate the golden monkeys. They are highly sensitive to visitors around them, as they may look suspicious. In case they come closer, stealthily retreat.
- Use a flash-less camera to take photos, and it should be soundproof.
- Wear a clean mask when you encounter golden monkeys and when you locate the golden monkeys.
Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park during the golden monkey trekking.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers various accommodation facilities to tourists who come to do golden monkey trekking. For this matter, the park features a wide range of accommodation options from luxury to midrange and budget options. Some of the lodges include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Traveler’s Rest Hotel, Kisoro, Mucha Hotel,l Kisoro, Montana Guest House, Ichumbi Hotel, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, IkazCottages, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mutanda Lake Resort, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mgahinga rest camp, and many others.
How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits in southwestern Uganda. To get there, you can drive from Kampala through Masaka and Kisoro, which takes 9 to 10 hours. Alternatively, you can drive from Kigali through the Cyanika or Katuna border, reaching the park in 4 hours. For air travel, fly from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kisoro Airstrip, then connect by safari vehicle. You can also fly into Kigali and take a short flight to Kisoro.
Once inside, you can trek gorillas and golden monkeys, watch birds, and climb Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura.
At Anthill Safaris, our team of experts is readily available to assist you in planning your safari. Contact us for more information.
