Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: One of the most popular activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is golden monkey trekking. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is well-known for three main activities: gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and volcano hiking.
There is no other spot in Uganda for those who want to see the golden monkeys except Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The park shares many similarities with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda since they share the same Virunga missives but are separated by country borders.
The golden monkeys travel in huge groups of up to 500 individuals, commanded by an alpha male, yet the group continues to splinter owing to feeding demand. The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park golden monkey hike begins with an early morning briefing at the park headquarters in Ntebeko. After spotting the golden monkeys, customers get an hour to snap photographs and films of these timid primates, which are only found in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
What is entailed in golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in the Kisoro area of southern Uganda. This national park is home to two habituated golden monkey families and is the only site in Uganda where endangered mountain gorillas coexist with golden monkeys, earning it the moniker “silver meets gold.” Golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga gorilla national park begins with a lecture on the expectations, laws, and regulations at about 7:00 a.m.
Following the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people and will begin trekking in the jungle, which will take around 2 to 4 hours or longer depending on their position because they prefer to travel from one spot to another in search of food. Once you’ve located the golden monkeys, you’ll spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, taking photographs, recording movies, and learning about their routines and behaviors, among other things.
Cost
Golden Monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs $60, minus the parking charge of $40. On average, it costs $100 to observe the golden monkeys at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The golden monkey trek follows the same protocols as gorilla trekking. The golden monkeys are most visible during the rainy season because they eat bamboo shoots, which grow more abundantly during the rainy season.
A golden monkey permit in Mgahinga Gorilla national park is valid for one day and allows you to spend one hour in the presence of the golden monkeys as you watch them jumping around in the trees, playing, and feeding among others and it also includes the park entrance fee and the services of a park guide.
How to book a Golden Monkey Trekking permit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Golden Monkey trekking permit can either be booked directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority a tourism body in Uganda. The permits can also be booked via a tour company like Explore Rwanda Tours which will save you all the hustle.
While booking through a tour company you will contact us with the dates, month, and year when you want to participate in golden monkey trekking, and will check out the availability of the permits and get back to you. You will make a deposit for the permit and also send your passport details which will be used to acquire a permit and we will purchase a permit for you.
Though a golden monkey trekking permit in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda can be booked on the spot, it’s best to book 3 months before the trekking date because they can be competitive and sell out, especially during peak season, which runs from June to August and December to February.
Best time
It may be done at any time of year, but the optimum time is during the dry season, which lasts from June to August and December to February. There is less rainfall in the forests during this period, making entry to national parks easier and forest routes practicable, as opposed to the rainy season, when there is substantial rainfall, making the trails muddy and treacherous.
What to pack
- Golden monkey trekking permit, this allows you to trek a habituated golden monkey family in Mgahinga Gorilla national Park permit therefore without a permit you will not be allowed to trek the golden monkeys in any national park.
- Long-sleeved trousers and shirt, the long-sleeved clothes will protect you from insects and also protect your body from getting scratched due to thorny trees in the jungle.
- Garden gloves, the garden gloves will protect your hands from germs, mud, and getting scratched among others because due to steep slopes, you will be supporting yourself, therefore, the gloves will be of much help.
- Hat and sunglasses, these will protect you from direct heat which comes from the sun, especially during the dry season.
- Hiking shoes, the hiking shoes should be comfortable and reach up to your ankles so as to keep your feet dry.
- Waterproof jacket, this will protect you from the rain because it can rain anytime in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park regardless of the season.
- Warm sweater, the sweater will give you warmth, especially during morning and night hours.
- Camera and extra batteries, the camera will be used to take plenty of pictures and record videos on your safari during the one hour with the golden monkeys in their natural habitat.
- A pair of binoculars, binoculars will be used to spot the golden monkeys and bird species from afar because both destinations are ideal places for bird watching.
- Energy snacks, the snacks will give you strength and also keep you hydrated during trekking.
- Insect repellent, this will protect you from insect bites such as mosquitos, and tsetse flies among others.
- Waterproof backpack, this will be used to carry all your golden monkey trekking essentials such as energy snacks, insect repellent, permit, camera, and binoculars among others.
- Walking stick which will give you support during hiking in the jungle
- Hiring a porter to carry your backpack and also give you a pull or a push in steep areas which can be muddy and slippery.
