Golden monkey trekking is one the most amazing and exciting activities one can do while in Mgahinga National Park for a primate safari.
Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest National Park covering an area cover of 33.7 square kilometers located in the southwest in the Virunga conservation area along the border of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
This National Park features Volcanoes such as Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo and known to have been named after the local word “Gahinga” which refers to the piles of volcanic stones.
Mgahinga National Park is therefore a renowned home to mountain gorillas as well as golden monkeys and thus being referred to as a “place where gold meets silver”. This National Park therefore supports both mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking.
Golden monkeys are referred to as a distinctive race of the more wide spread blue monkeys a little known as bamboo-associated taxa primate also listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union.
These golden monkeys only thrive in the Virunga massif along the Volcanoes in National Parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park and Kalinzu-Biega National Parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift, characterized by their bright orange-gold body, cheeks and tails that contrast with their black limbs, crowns and tail ends.
Golden monkey trekking experience
Golden monkey trekking starts with a briefing at the Park headquarters about the activity’s rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing, visitors hit the jungle with the guidance of an experienced guide to embark on the search of these amazing primate species.
The trek lasts for about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on how far the golden monkeys could have moved in search for food. During golden monkey trekking, participants often lookout for fresh leftovers of bamboo shoots and leaves as they try locating a troop and once a troop is located, a maximum of an hour is allowed close to them in their natural habitat which gives one a chance to learn about their social behaviors, take enough photos, watch them jump from one bamboo tree to another and many more.
The cost of golden monkey trekking
For travelers interested in golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park, they are required to possess a golden monkey trekking permit from UWA or at the Park headquarters at Ntebeko or even though a reputable tour operator. The golden monkey trekking permit costs 60US$ for foreign nonresidents, 50US$ for foreign residents and 40,000 Uganda shillings per person. Golden monkey trekking is only open to visitors above 15 years of age.
To have a successful golden monkey trekking experience, travelers need to have the right tracking gears such as comfortable hiking shoes, rain jacket, long sleeved shirt and a pair of trousers, energy giving snacks and enough drinking water, back pack, insect
repellents to mention but a few.
Best time to trek golden monkeys
Mgahinga National Park is open to travelers throughout the year implying that they are guaranteed of taking part in this activity at any time of the year. However, the best time to track golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During this period of the year, the trails are passable and the vegetation is thin making it easier to spot these golden monkeys compared to when the trails are slippery and the vegetation is very thick.
Where to stay while trekking golden monkeys in Mgahinga
Mount Gahinga lodge
Mount Gahinga lodge is a luxurious accommodation facility that is conveniently positioned close to the entrance into Mgahinga National Park making it one of the best options for visitors interested in golden monkey trekking and other tourist activities such as mountain gorilla trekking, bird watching, volcano hiking, nature walks to mention but a few.
The lodge features eight guest Bandas all with walls and thatched with papyrus of which two are deluxe rooms, four are double rooms and the other two are twin rooms. All rooms have en-site flashing toilets, showers with cold and hot water running, twin washbasins, private
verandas where guests can easily capture the scenic beauty of this area.
The bandas are connected through a short walk via the gardens to a living room that is fully equipped with a warm central fire place, an outside terrace and other amenities. This space extends into a comfy sun room which boasts amazing of the volcanoes and the surrounding landscape.
This hall also features an open-planned lounge with well-cushioned wicker sofas, armchairs, a long table flanked by upright chairs for communal meals, dinning place, a fully stocked bar with a variety of other facilities. Other services include a reliable Wi-Fi, laundry services, room service, outdoor sitting area, a gift shop where guests can purchase some souvenirs and many more.
Amajambere-Iwacu community camp
This is a budget accommodation facility also known as Mgahinga community camp ground. It is an eco-friendly accommodation at the foothills of Mgahinga National Park. Amajambere-Iwacu community camp is strategically located by the entrance of the Park at the Ntebeko gate about 12 kilometers southwest of Kisoro town. This community camp offers magnificent and splendid views of the famous Virunga and preferably the starting point for hiking the Virunga Volcanoes of Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga. Amajambere-Iwacu community camp features a campsite, dormitories and bandas. The camp has a wide area for camping where travelers set their tents or camping vehicles as well as five bandas of which two serve as dormitories. There are two en-suite bandas available, both with double beds with a provision of one being turned into a twin with the third not being self-contained. Each dormitory accommodates a maximum number of 3 persons per night.
