What to expect on a Golden Monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga National Park.

Only in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park is golden monkey trekking an exhilarating sport that entails journeying through the jungle in search of golden monkey habituated families. Since golden monkeys inhabit the lower lands, hiking with them is easier than trekking with mountain gorillas, which prefer the upper regions of the national park.

The smallest national park in Uganda is Mgahinga National Park, which is situated in the Kisoro district near the country’s southwest border in the Virunga region. It borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Hiking golden monkeys is also possible in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Golden monkeys have a golden brown covering on their back and lower body and are larger than other monkeys. The simplest way to identify them is by their golden hair, and despite their present acclimatization to humans, their playful nature means that they are unlikely to settle down in one location. They reside in groups where an alpha male serves as the family’s head and primarily eat fruits and bamboo shoots. To make it easier to find food during the day, they divided into smaller groups.

Anticipations for the Golden Monkey Expedition

The tiniest park in Uganda, Mgahinga National Park, is the location of golden monkey trekking. Early in the morning, the guides at the headquarters provide a briefing on the expectations for the walk as well as the rules and regulations that must be adhered to. The trekkers will be split up into groups of eight and paired with a habituated family as soon as the briefing is over. You get to trek and spend an hour with the monkeys under the guidance of an experienced guide.

Depending on where you are assigned to find the golden monkey family, golden monkey trekking can take anywhere from one to five hours. They are known to roam about in pursuit of food and are quite playful. Finding the path of discarded bamboo shoots on the ground is one of the greatest methods to find the monkeys. Once you’ve found the golden monkeys, you may spend an hour with them, watch them hop from tree to tree, take pictures and movies, and discover how they behave in their natural habitat.

Permit to Trek Golden Monkey

Tourists who are 15 years of age or older can obtain golden monkey trekking permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which allow them to see the golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park. No one can walk the Golden Monkeys without a trek permission, which is a legally binding document.

Golden Monkey Trek Permit Cost: The price of a Golden Monkey Trek permit in Mgahinga National Park varies based on the type of visitor. East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan) pay 40,000 UGX per person, whereas international residents pay $50 and foreign non-residents pay $60.

However, because you get to spend more time with the golden monkeys, habituation allows for higher prices. East African nationals must pay 100,000 UGX for a golden monkey habituation permit, while international residents must pay $80 and foreign non-residents must pay $100. Keep in mind that park entrance fees are not included in the permit cost.

Obtaining a Golden Monkey trekking permit: One of the most often asked concerns is how to do it, and it’s quite simple. Note that you may only reserve the permit directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable tour operator like us if you want to avoid being duped. Please contact us with the dates you would want to go on a golden monkey trek.

Once you get in touch with us, we verify with UWA to see if the dates are available and provide advice as needed. You have to pay a deposit once the dates are confirmed. We buy the trek permit on your behalf and send you a floppy copy as soon as payment is confirmed.

A UWA park guide, armed guards, and an hour with the monkeys to observe their behavior are all included in the Golden Monkey Trek Permit. Keep in mind that the permission can only be used once, during the one hour spent with the monkeys.

The optimum time to reserve a Golden Monkey trek permit is three to four months in advance to prevent last-minute purchases, as golden monkeys are always in high demand, particularly during the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to September.

What to bring to Mgahinga National Park for a golden monkey safari

If you want to enjoy your golden monkey trip in Mgahinga, you must pack appropriately for the safari. However, there’s no need to worry because we have compiled a list of necessary supplies for your golden monkey trekking safari, which include:

Long-sleeved shirts and pants will keep you warm while shielding you from the sun and insects. These ought to be in muted hues.
During the rainy season, you can use this waterproof rain jacket, but you can also use it in the dry season.
Snacking and drinking water

To avoid getting bitten by insects, apply insect repellent. Remember that you are in a rainforest with a variety of insects.
A daypack that will enable you to carry everything you’ll need for your hike
A camera accompanied by additional batteries, a tripod, extra lenses, and lens cleaner
Extra batteries and a torch

To keep warm and prevent insect crawls on your body, you should tuck your pants inside warm sweaters and thick socks.
a walking stick, particularly in the rainy season when the paths are slick and muddy.
Also required are binoculars.
sturdy hiking boots that reach the ankles

Among other things, there should be sunscreen, a first aid kit, hand protection gloves, a reusable water bottle, and a recognition book.
Guidelines for golden monkey trekking

Every trekker must abide by the guidelines established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to preserve the natural habitat of both golden monkeys and hikers. During a briefing on the day of the journey, the following guidelines are reiterated:

The minimum age to hike is fifteen years old.
With a designated golden monkey family, only eight people are permitted to journey together.
Turn off your flash while photographing the golden monkeys.
If you have the sickness or a cough, you are not permitted to trek the primates.
The golden monkeys spend an hour with each group.

The monkeys may become agitated if you make noise when they are around.
Only approach them if they are approaching you first, and maintain a 7-meter gap.
It is prohibited to litter in the national park, and you must carry your trash with you until you locate a trash can.

If you feel the need to use the restroom, dig a 30-cm hole and cover it afterwards.
When to travel to Uganda for a golden monkey trek
The best time to do this activity is from June to September and December to February, when the park receives little to no rainfall. This is because the trek routes are passable, making it easy to trek through the jungle, unlike during the wet season from March to May and October to November, when the trek routes are muddy and slippery.

FAQs regarding trekking with golden monkeys in Uganda

How much does a golden monkey safari in Uganda cost?
One of the most common inquiries concerning golden monkey trekking is this one. The price of the golden monkey safari is influenced by a number of factors, including:

vacation season: Because of the high demand for safari activities, certain service providers tend to charge exorbitant costs during the peak vacation seasons, which are the dry months of June to September and December to February. However, because of the lower prices, the low/wet season is the ideal time to go if you’re on a tight budget.

The length of the safari: The golden monkey trekking safari costs more the more days you spend on it, and the less days you spend, the less you spend.

Safari activities: Because some of the activities demand payment before you can participate in them, the more activities you choose to combine with golden monkey trekking—such as bird viewing, primate walks, Batwa path, and gorilla trekking—the more expensive the safari will be.

The number of passengers: Because expenses such as gas/fuel, driver guide tips, and lodging are split among all passengers, the more people going on the golden monkey safari, the cheaper the price. However, the cost of a private golden monkey safari is high.

What kinds of pursuits can I mix with trekking Golden Monkeys?
You can combine golden monkey trekking with a number of other activities, such as bird watching, gorilla trekking, exploring the Batwa trail, going on game drives, trekking chimpanzees in Kibale, taking a cultural tour of the nation, visiting the Nile’s source, and taking boat rides.

Is walking with golden monkeys safe?
Indeed, walking with golden monkeys is a safe activity. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the park provide security, which is covered by the Golden Monkey permit fee. You must also take good care of your property and adhere to all laws and regulations in order to protect your personal safety.

Do golden monkeys pose a threat?
Although golden monkeys are not harmful primates, you should nonetheless abide by the laws and regulations that were explained to you at the briefing. The regulations are in place to safeguard the animals and to prevent you from upsetting the monkeys, which could cause them to become angry.

How much time does it take to hike Golden Monkey?
Trekking with golden monkeys is contingent upon the weather. For instance, the muddy and slick trekking routes during the rainy season may make it take longer, and finding the monkeys can be challenging. It is difficult to estimate how long a golden monkey trip in Mgahinga will take, but it may take anything from one to six hours, depending on where the family assigned to you is located during the dry season.

Additional things to do in Mgahinga National Park
In addition to golden monkey trekking, Mgahinga National Park, like other Ugandan national parks, offers other thrilling activities. These include mountain climbs on the three dormant volcanoes that make up the Virunga region, gorilla trekking—the primary safari activity in Mgahinga—with one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi family, and birdwatching, which has over 300 identified bird species. Mgahinga, Muhavura, and Sabinyo are these. Learn more about the Batwa culture and way of life by taking part in the nature and primate walks and exploring the Batwa trail.

Lodging at the National Park of Mgahinga

Mgahinga National Park is the smallest national park in Uganda, as was previously said, and it does not have any lodging options. Nevertheless, there are lodges and motels close to the park that you can utilize; these fall into three categories: basic/budget, mid-range, and luxury lodging options.

Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Kisoro Traveller’s Rest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Ikaze Cottages, Montana Guest House, Mucha Hotel, Mount Gahinga Rest camp, Lake Mutanda Resort, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, and Mucha Hotel are a few of the facilities available for use during the Golden Monkey Trek safari.

Accessing Mgahinga

Mgahinga is accessible by plane and is quite easy to get to. From Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip, charter flights to Mgahinga are available every day. From Kisoro Airstrip, travelers can connect via road to the park headquarters.

It takes roughly nine to ten hours to go from Kampala to Mgahinga. Before arriving at the park headquarters, you can drive from Kampala to Masaka to Mbarara to Kabale to Kisoro in the safari vehicle that is provided.