Golden monkey trekking in Uganda, A thrilling activity

Golden monkey trekking in Uganda, a thrilling activity carried out in Mgahinga National Park, the only home to the gorgeous primate species. This park is located in the south-western part of the country in Kisoro district bordering Rwanda and DR Congo. It was gazetted in 1991 to protect several wild animals including the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

Golden monkey activity allows tourists to get close to the cute and fast-moving monkeys with long, bright golden hair mixed with orange. Every trekker is allowed to spend one hour around these primates, which live in troops of between 30 to 70 members. They are the only primates in the wild that can live together with mountain gorillas, and on a lucky day you might be one of the people who get an opportunity to meet them together.

Mgahinga National Park is the only place in Uganda where tourists have an opportunity to see endangered primate species which are the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys. Tourists should plan for more than 2 or more days safari in this park to get an opportunity to meet these primates.

The cost of golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is a very affordable activity that can be done by persons aged 12 and above. To carry out the activity, one needs to pay entrance fees and purchase golden monkey permits. Entrance costs $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, $25 for Rest of Africa, and UGX20,000 for citizens of East African Member States.

After paying the entrance fee, trekkers now need the golden monkey permits which cost $60 for foreign non-residents, $50 for foreign residents and Rest of Africa while citizens of East African member states pay $40,000. Tourists can get the golden monkey permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority or at the park entrance on the day of the activity.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park.

On the day of trekking, trekkers must wake up early for morning breakfast, and get packed lunch. The driver guide transfers them to the park headquarters at Ntebeko where they meet all trekkers of the day. The registration for permits is first done, and later trekkers are briefed about the rules and regulations of the activity for safety.

After the briefing exercise is done, trekkers are grouped and each of the groups is given armed ranger guides who will lead them in the jungle. Trekkers with excess luggage can hire porters at an affordable fee to help them carry luggage while in the jungle. Trekkers are driven to the starting point of the trek, where they are left with the armed ranger guides to head into the jungle and search for the golden monkeys.

While searching for the golden monkeys, trekkers get an opportunity to meet different forest attractions among which are the animals that live within, birds, water sources, and unique vegetation cover. Tourists who trek in September and October on lucky days might get an opportunity to meet the golden monkeys together with mountain gorillas as these love to feed on bamboo shoots.

After hours of searching for the golden monkeys, trekkers will be able to meet the golden monkey, similar to blue monkeys but with a slight difference due to their golden orange upper flanks and backs. Armed ranger guides will give you an hour around these cute golden monkeys and this comes with an opportunity of seeing them jump from one tree to another, eat, breastfeed, mate, and lounge to mention but a few.

After having a great time with the golden monkeys, you will be asked to move away from the troop and leave the members to continue with the daily activities. As trekkers are getting out of the jungle, they get an opportunity to meet more of the forest attractions, and as soon as they get out, they are given trekking certificates to show they participated in the activity.

What to pack for the golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

To have the best of golden monkey trekking in Uganda, trekkers need to head to the jungle well prepared with all the required essentials. The lists of things to pack include rain coat, rain pants, garden gloves, waterproof walking shoes, water, a cap, sunscreen, a walking stick, a pack, camera, a pair of binoculars, and energy-giving snacks, to name a few.

Another popular activity done in Mgahinga National Park

Mountain gorilla trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is the most done activity in Mgahinga National Park a home to endangered mountain gorillas. The park happens to be the smallest gorilla park in the world, harboring the least population. A few mountain gorilla families have been habituated, and one mountain gorilla family is currently available for trekking.

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family is available for trekking every day in Mgahinga National Park, and a maximum of 8 people visit it with the help of armed ranger guides. The forest has different trekking trails which trekkers use to search for where the mountain gorillas could be. To locate the mountain gorillas, it might take 2 to 5 hours, and as soon as they are spotted, trekker get to have 1 hour around them, and this helps them to learn about their habits and take photos.

The most appropriate time for golden monkey trekking

June to September and December to February are the best times for golden monkey trekking for there is little or no rainfall in the park. The trekking trails are dry and easier to walk through which makes it easy to locate the monkeys. Vegetation is dry and scattered, and this gives a clear view of these monkeys.

Trekkers may still visit Mgahinga National Park during the low season of March to May and October to November. These are rainy season months because they have plenty of rainfall and little sunshine which keeps the trails muddy and slippery hence creating challenges in searching for the monkeys. The vegetation is tall which may result in unclear views of the golden monkeys.