How to Book Golden Monkey Permits for Mgahinga National Park: All tourists need golden monkey permits for Mgahinga National Park to join the trekking team. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these legal documents, which allow tourists to trek and spend time with golden monkeys. They sell these golden monkey permits to persons over 12 years old. Golden monkey trekking and habituation are some of the popular, interesting activities you can enjoy in Mgahinga National Park.

Golden monkey trekking and golden monkey habituation involve tourists walking on foot and searching for endangered golden monkeys. Some golden monkeys have undergone full habituation, and you can trek with them for 1 hour, while others are still undergoing habituation and are available for habituation activities. In Uganda, you can only do golden monkey trekking and habituation in Mgahinga National Park.

Each tourist needs a golden monkey permit to encounter a troop in the jungles of Mgahinga National Park. As long as you have the money, you can get yourself a golden monkey trekking or habituation permit from a licensed local tour operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government body in charge of tourism activities in the country.

Different Ways Tourists Can Book Golden Monkey Permits for Mgahinga National Park

Directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority

Tourists can book golden monkey permits for Mgahinga National Park directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government body that issues permits. At the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you book golden monkey permits for Mgahinga National Park with the reservations office. To book the golden monkey permit, you need the dates of the month and year you want to trek, and your money is ready.

When you contact the reservations office via email with your preferred travel dates, they first check for availability. If permits are still available, consider yourself lucky. If golden monkey permits are available, they will send you different banking details for sending the money. Once you have sent the money, you will need to send a scanned receipt as proof of payment.

Once they confirm your money, they will book your golden monkey trekking permit, and you will pick it up at the Uganda Wildlife Authority office in Kamuwokya. Yes, tourists can book golden monkey permits directly from UWA, but there’s no need to waste your time when you have a local tour operator. Local tour operators book golden monkey permits for Mgahinga for clients at no extra cost.

Booking Golden Monkey Permits from a Local Tour Operator

When you have a local tour operator organizing your safari to Uganda, you don’t need to book the golden monkey permits yourself because they have direct contact with the people at the reservations office. The local tour operator you use must be licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board because these are the ones authorized to purchase golden monkey permits at UWA.

Anthill Safaris Ltd is a licensed local tour company in Uganda, you should work with if planning a safari in Uganda. We help book golden monkey permits for our clients who want to spend time with these beautiful primates in their natural habitats. First, we calculate the total safari cost for you and then ask you to send a partial payment. We use that payment to purchase your permit from UWA for the days you will be in Mgahinga National Park.

After knowing how and where to get your golden monkey trekking permits, you need to know when to get them. We advise tourists who want golden monkey permits to book them 3-4 months in advance to avoid last-minute bookings and to allow for proper safari planning. You particularly need to book golden monkey permits in advance during the dry season, as they can sell out on some days.

How Much Does a Golden Monkey Permit for Mgahinga National Park Cost?

Mgahinga National Park offers two types of golden monkey permits. First, golden monkey trekking permits, which travelers purchase to spend 1 hour with the monkeys, cost $60 for foreign non-residents, $50 for foreign residents, and UGX40,000 for citizens of East African member states. Golden monkey habituation costs $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents, and UGX100,000 for citizens of East African member states.

Golden Monkey Trekking Experience in Uganda

The Golden monkey trekking is an interesting and active activity that involves tourists moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of habituated golden monkeys. Once found, you spend one hour with them in their habitat. Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts early in the morning, around 8:00 am, with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations, and expectations. After the briefing, you will receive an experienced park guide and begin trekking in the forest, following trails of leftover bamboo shoots and leaves. During the trek, you will view other primates, different plant species, and birds. Once you locate the golden monkeys, you can spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can watch them jump in trees, observe them feed and play, take photos, and record videos.

Best Time to Go for Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda

You can do Golden monkey trekking 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 national park; therefore, access roads to the park and golden monkey trekking trails will be dry and passable, which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trails are wet, muddy, and slippery, making trekking difficult.

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. You will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, and then to the park headquarters, which takes about 9 to 10 hours in a 4WD safari vehicle.

 Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda. You will fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via the Cyanika border in Kisoro or the Katuna border in Kabale, which takes about 4 to 5 hours.

It can also be accessed by air transport. You will book scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.

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 flashless 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.

What to Pack 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 pictures and record videos.
  • Insect repellent protects your body from insect bites.
  • Energy snacks like the packed lunch and drinking water.
  • A walking stick to give you support during the golden monkey trek.
  • 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.