Golden monkey trekking experiences in Africa

Are you looking for golden monkey trekking experiences in Africa? Golden monkeys are one of the beautiful primates that are found in the Virunga conservation area in East Africa. These beautiful primates are found in Mgahinga national park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. If you want to try a new activity like golden monkey trekking, then visit any of these national parks. The bamboo type of vegetation in Mgahinga national park and the volcanoes’ national park have provided the best place for the golden monkeys to grow.

The golden monkeys are very peaceful primates, and to trek with them you must possess a valid golden monkey trekking permit as issued out by the bodies in charge of tourism in these national parks. These golden monkey national parks can be visited at any time of the year and all can be accessed by both air transport and road transport. Travelers who want to trek golden monkeys in either Mgahinga national park or Volcanoes national park can always contact us to book their golden monkey trekking permits and perhaps organize the whole safari.

Best locations where you can go for golden monkey trekking experiences in Africa

Mgahinga and Volcanoes national parks are the only places in East Africa where you can trek mountain gorillas. These parks are part of the Virunga conservation area. Mgahinga national park is Uganda’s smallest national park in the southern part of the country, while volcanoes national park is found in the northern western part of Rwanda. The golden monkeys in these national parks live in troops and stay mostly in bamboo types of vegetation. Their diet consists of bamboo leaves, bamboo branchlets, fruits, flowers, shrubs, bamboo shoots and roots.

How to book a golden monkey trekking permit in East Africa?

Every traveler needs a valid golden monkey trekking permit to spend time with these beautiful primates. These permits can be booked through a trusted tour operator and Africa Adventure Vacations is one of them. Africa adventure vacations limited helps travelers to book permits before the final trekking day. This is done by requesting travelers to send their travel dates and we check for the availability of the golden monkey trekking permits with different bodies in charge of tourism. Once the permits are available, we always send the travelers emails containing information on how they can pay, and once we have received the money, we will go further to secure the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy.

How much is golden monkey trekking in East Africa?

Every country with golden monkeys in East Africa has their own price they sell the golden monkey permit. The golden monkey trekking permit in Rwanda is a bit high, with the price going for as much as $100, and in Uganda, the permit is $60 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents, while for East Africans it is shs40,000. The golden monkey permits allow travelers to be with these beautiful endangered primate species for only 1 hour.

In Mgahinga national park in Uganda, there is an option for golden monkey trekking. A group of rangers, together with researchers, join the trekkers and search for mountain gorillas to be with them for 4 hours as they make them get used to human presence, watch them do daily activities, and learn about their habits. This can only be achieved by travelers using valid golden monkey habituation permits sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee of $100 for both foreign and non-foreign residents, as well as shs100,000 for East African citizens.

How is Golden monkey trekking experiences in Africa?

Golden monkey trekking does not differ that much from gorilla trekking. On the day of golden monkey trekking, the trekkers are expected to be at the briefing points to meet the rangers. The rangers do brief these trekkers about the dos and don’ts of the golden monkey trekking activity after which these rangers lead different groups of trekkers into the jungle to look for the assigned golden monkey family.

During the trek, the trekkers have opportunities to see different park animals such as buffaloes, elephants, duikers, gorillas, and different bird species and plant species. After hours of searching for these golden monkeys and finding them, the trekkers are given one hour to be around them as they learn about their habits, watch them play, and take pictures. When paying for golden monkey habituation, visitors will be allowed to spend four hours with the monkeys as they become accustomed to human presence.

Where to stay on a golden monkey trekking safari in East Africa

Mgahinga national park

Travelers on a golden monkey trekking safari to Mgahinga national park have several accommodation facilities where they can stay, and these range from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Some of the accommodation facilities in Mgahinga National Park include Lake Mulehe Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, Lake Chahafi Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Air Land Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Muhabura Motel, Mondi Lodge Kisoro, Virunga Campsite and Backpackers, Sabyinyo Guest House, Kisoro Backpackers’s Rest Hotel, Kisoro Lodge, Muhabura, Muhabura, Muhabura, Muhabura, Muhafi, Muhafi’s’

Volcanoes National Park 

Travelers on a golden monkey trekking safari to the Volcanoes National Park can sleep in any of the accommodation facilities based on their travel budget. These accommodation facilities range from budget to mid range to luxury options and include One $ Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Virunga Hotel, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge, Kinigi Hotel, Faraji Hotel, Hotel Muhavura, Villa Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Views Lodge, and La Palme Hotel among others.

How to access Mgahinga national park or Volcanoes national park for golden monkey trekking?

Mgahinga national park

Mgahintga national park in south-western Uganda can be accessed by both air and road transport. People driving from Kampala or Entebbe can access the park using the Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro road, and this takes only 9-10 hours. Those driving from Kigali can access the same part using the Cyanika border in Kisoro or the Katuna border in Kabale. The journey to Mgahinga from Kigali takes about 4-5 hours.

Luxury travelers can access Mgahinga national park using chattered flights by AeroLink Uganda and Fly Uganda. These airline companies do start from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip and fly to Kisoro airstrip. Africa Adventure Vacations Limited organizes scheduled flights to Mgahinga National Park and also has vehicles to transport you to and from the park.

Volcanoes National Park

Travelers can get to the Volcanoes National Park using road transport from Kigali city. The journey takes only 2 hours, making it the nearest national park from the city center.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Mgahinga National Park

Apart from golden monkey trekking, travelers can trek with mountain gorillas in both Mgahinga national park and Volcanoes national park. The most popular activity in these national parks is gorilla trekking, and in order to do so, you must first obtain a gorilla trekking permit from either the Uganda Wildlife Authority in the case of Mgahinga national park or the Rwanda Development Board in the case of Volcanoes national park. We advise our clients to book gorilla trekking permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga National Park starts with a briefing at the park headquarters where trekkers are briefed about the dos and don’ts of the gorilla trekking activity. After the briefing, the trekkers are led by the rangers through different parts of the park, and while they are looking for the gentle primates, they get opportunities to see different park animals, birds, and vegetation. On locating the assigned mountain gorilla family, the trekkers are given a full hour to spend with these primates as they learn about their habits, watch them do daily activities and take photos.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa Adventure Vacations is a tour company based in Uganda, licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa, such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee trekking and habituation, birding, golden monkey trekking, game drives, hiking, nature walks, and community tours, among others. Booking golden monkey trekking experiences in Africa can be done at any time of the year.