Golden Monkey Trekking – Mgahinga Gorilla Park in the Shadows of the Virunga Volcanoes
Mgahinga Gorilla Park is the only park in Uganda where you can Trek Golden Monkeys
Uganda’s only park for Golden Monkey Trekking is Mgahinga National Park, this endangered species of monkeys numbers around 3000 to 4000 according to a 2003 survey. One must keep in mind that the beautiful Monkeys only exist in the Bamboo Forests of the Virunga Volcanoes – nowhere else in the world.
Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda – the best park to trek the Golden Monkeys. There are more Golden Monkeys to be found. You can do the 4-hour Habituation Experience, which is a near all-day Trek compared to 4 hours for the regular trek here.
Mgahinga Gorilla Park is close to especially the South-End of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Rushaga, and Nkuringo areas meaning that Gorilla Trekkers can easily add on Golden Monkey Tracking in the park.
Those that want more time with the Golden Monkey can opt for the Golden Monkey Habituation Experience.
Golden Monkey Trekking is a lot of fun. It is not as exhausting as is Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Golden Monkeys do not move around and build new nests each day. They remain pretty well in the same area, so there need to have pre-trackers our trying to locate them as is done with Mountains Gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda.
The Golden Monkeys are beautiful to look at with their various colors, including long golden hair, orange mixed into it along with its black limbs.
Golden Monkeys were tracked first in Uganda in Mgahinga Gorilla Park, which is located near other points of attraction, such as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda. The endangered monkey is endemic to the Albertine Rift, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a rare chance to track these extraordinary creatures, high in the dense bamboo forests on the Gahinga trail.
Golden Monkey Trekking begins at 8 am with an orientation, and then it is up into the forest along what is referred to as the Gahinga Trail. Best to have a daypack, a snack such as dried fruit, a large bottle of Rwenzori Water, binoculars if you enjoy birding, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, hat, rain jacket, hiking boots, and maybe a walking stick that you can buy locally.
When you get into the presence of these of a kind Monkeys, you will know it. The forest comes alive with monkeys everywhere, even jumping over you, the flurry of Monkey activities will be incredible.
You are in the presence of the Golden Monkey for one hour- if you wanted a long time, you could choose the Golden Monkey Habituation where you are in the presence of the Golden Monkeys for four hours, alongside researchers and trackers.
You will enjoy your time with the Golden Monkeys of Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Sadly that one hour is soon gone, and you come back down the Gahinga Trail to call it a day…
If you like to add Golden Monkey Trekking to your Safari with us – please let us know.