Golden monkey trekking in Uganda can only be done within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park– Uganda’s merely park where travelers can track the endangered Golden monkeys and enjoy Mountain gorilla trekking safaris as well.

The adventure of golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is indeed amazing! Infact, golden monkey tracking is comparable to gorilla trekking and the only difference is that this activity takes a shorter time and it’s easy to find these colorful primates.

In most cases, golden monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga park starts early morning around 8 am. These fast and interesting monkeys are normally spotted in bamboo trees. Since these monkeys are social, it’s possible to spot them in a group of about 30-100 individuals, lovely to watch led by a dominant male.

Out of the 3000-4000 Golden monkeys in Virunga Conservation Area, Mgahinga park hosts the highest population. Therefore, though tourists can track golden monkeys in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga is the best place for a golden monkey trekking thrill in East Africa.

For a notable golden monkey tracking expedition, you should put on jungle boots since the trek takes you through a tropical rainforest with hilly terrain. Also, mind to book in advance your golden monkey trekking permit.

A golden monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga park is open year-round. It’s possible for tourists on Uganda safaris from Entebbe International Airport or those undertaking Rwanda Uganda tours from Kigali International Airport.

Below, let’s explore all the details about the golden monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park!

The Golden Monkey Trekking Experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park golden monkey trekking experience starts at 8:00 in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. In this session, a Uganda Wildlife Authority range will take you through the guidelines you’ll follow as you track these beautiful primates.

Golden monkeys inhabit areas with bamboo shoots mostly. As the golden monkeys are constantly foraging for food, you’ll go through the forest to find them in the company of trackers and armed rangers. This memorable trek can take about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on their movement.

During this primate trekking adventure in Mgahinga park, you’ll follow various trails. Some are made by game animals such as forest Buffalos or Forest Elephants. Once you reach the Golden monkeys, you’ll have the opportunity to spend one hour in their natural habitat. During this time, you can observe their thrilling habits as they feed, play, and jump up in the trees for one hour.

Don’t miss the incredible opportunity to take stunning photos & record unforgettable moments to share with loved ones back home after your safari.

They are tracked following their fresh leftovers!

Cost for Golden Monkey Trekking Permits- How Much Is Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda?

Golden monkey permits in Uganda Mgahinga park costs;

• Foreign Non Residents: $60
• Foreign Residents: $50
• East African Citizens: 40,000 UGX

The fees for the golden monkey trekking permit include the park entrance fees and even guiding fees. Tracking golden monkeys is worth the money as a percentage of this fee goes back to conserving nature and even developing local communities around.

Golden monkey habituation experience

For travelers interested in spending more time with the Golden monkeys, it’s possible to undertake the golden monkey habituation experience. During this activity, you’ll learn how the wild Golden monkey family is trained to get used to human presence within their natural habitat. Golden monkey habituation experience can take for a whole day or half a day, the choice is yours.

The fees for golden monkey habituation permit in Mgahinga park;

• Foreign Non Residents: $100
• Foreign Residents: $80
• East African Residents: 100,000 UGX

There is no limited number of people to go for golden monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga however, the age limit is 12 years.

How to Book a Golden Monkey Tracking Permit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

To reserve golden monkey trekking permits in Mgahinga park, one can either send an email or call the headquarters of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Kampala. This applies as you book gorilla permits also.

In most cases, travelers interested in golden monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park book their golden monkey tracking permits (golden monkey permits) through a trusted tour operator for instance, Prime Safaris & Tours Ltd. You’ll make a deposit and this company will buy the golden monkey trekking permit and provide you with a scanned receipt as confirmation.

Best Time for Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park is at its finest from June to September and December to February. This is because, during these months, it is Uganda’s dry season, with mild rainfall that makes the forest treks easier. What’s more, the vegetation is not fully grown, so the scenery is great for photographs.

While the rainy months of March, April May, and November to October do cause vegetation to grow tall, making sightings difficult and the forest muddy and slippery, the treks are usually shorter! Golden monkeys don’t travel as far in search of food, since there are plenty of ripe fruits in the forest.

You may go golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at any time of year, and it’s a highly organized activity with a 99% probability of sighting the monkeys.

Note that, dry months are also the best months for Uganda gorilla trekking tours in Mgahinga park plus other activities including volcano climbing or bird-watching safaris.

Packing List for Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The packing list for golden monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is almost like that of Mountain gorilla trekking & chimpanzee trekking expeditions

Below is the packing list for the golden monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga park:

1. A golden monkey trekking permit/ Golden monkey permit
2. Camera
3. Waterproof hiking boots
4. Warm sweater
5. Waterproof rain jacket. The rain jacket will protect you in case rain finds you in the jungle.
6. Sunhat and sunglasses- helpful in the dry season
7. A long sleeved shirt and a trouser as well. Long sleeved shirts are important to protect your skin from cuts while walking in the jungle.
8. Garden gloves
9. Energy-giving snacks and bottled water. Keeps you hydrated as you search for the habituated golden monkey troop
10. Insect repellent
11. A waterproof backpack
12. Walking stick. This is normally picked from the park headquarters. It is at park headquarters you’ll be briefed from!

Accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Use During Golden Monkey Trekking Safari in Uganda

There are numerous lodges around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which can be used by tourists coming for golden monkey trekking tours in this park. These facilities are categorized into budget, mid-range as well as luxury facilities.

Some of the best lodges in Mgahinga park are;

1. Mount Gahinga Lodge
2. Mucha Hotel
3. Travelers Rest Hotel
4. Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
5. Mount Gahinga Rest Camp
6. Kisoro Tourist Hotel
7. Virunga Hotel and Campsite

How to Get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda?

Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla Park can either be by air or road transport but numerous travelers on Uganda safari tours travel by road. Air is commonly done by visitors undertaking luxury Uganda safaris.

Getting to Mgahinga Park By Road

Most Uganda tours to Mgahinga park- (in southwestern Uganda) begin from Entebbe or Kampala. You’ll drive via the Kampala- Mbarara- Kabale- Kisoro highway, this drive takes around 8-9 hours. Don’t think of getting bored, we shall have numerous stopovers and the scenery is lovely! In most cases, visitors make a stop at the Equator Crossing monument for photoshoots and even Igongo Cultural Center for a traditional meal.

It’s also possible to access Mgahinga park from Kigali International Airport, this drive is only 2-3 hours. Therefore, it’s possible to tour Volcanoes National Park & Mgahinga park.

Traveling to Mgahinga Park By Air Transport Means

To reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by air transport means, fly to Kisoro airstrip from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield. Aero Link and Fly Uganda are two domestic airlines that offer both scheduled and charter flights.

We shall pick you up from the airport and then connect to Mgahinga park.

What to Expect During Golden Monkey in Mgahinga National Park?

This a common inquiry we get also from travelers who book their gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda or Rwanda Volcanoes National Park.

The following should be your expectations during this adventure of golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga park;

• You should be expectant to go through a fairly challenging hike in the montane tropical rainforest.
• Rain showers are prone in Mgahinga at most hours of the day. Therefore, before you start trekking from the park offices, check your bag to see whether you have a rain jacket.
• On spotting these playful primates- Golden monkeys, you’ll be limited to one hour with them.
• The duration of a golden monkey trekking adventure depends on the movement of these endangered species.
• You’ll be accompanied by armed park rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
• During this adventure, be expectant to find some mud along the walking trail.
• In most cases, these colorful monkeys are spotted in bamboo shoots
• Tourists tracking golden monkeys will see both wild and habituated golden monkeys
• Except for Golden monkeys and Mountain gorillas, there are no other monkey species in Mgahinga park. On the golden monkey tracking trail, you can spot other wildlife species such as Forest Elephants, Buffalos, Giant Forest hogs plus numerous bird species.
• These expeditions take about 30 minutes to 5 hours. This duration is influenced by the movement of these endangered primate species.

FAQs About Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Park

1. Where Is The Best Place to See Golden Monkeys?

In Eat Africa, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the best place to see Golden monkeys. Out of the 4000 golden monkeys in the Virunga Conservation Area, Mgahinga holds the highest total of habituated troops. The other parks in this conservation area include Virunga National Park in DR Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

2. Where Are The Golden Monkeys in Uganda?

In Uganda, golden monkeys can be only spotted in Mgahinga park. Within this 33.7km2 park on Uganda’s border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, there dwells also Mountain gorillas.

To wind up, golden monkey trekking is another amazing activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park after the gorilla trekking experience. Activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park don’t stop on the mentioned but, you can also enjoy volcano climbing, nature walks, cultural encounters as well as bird watching tours.

This adventure- golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga can be supplemented on other safari activities in Uganda such as chimp trekking & game viewing expeditions. Talk to our friendly expert!