Golden Monkey Trekking experience
Golden Monkey Trekking experience
Hiking with Golden Monkeys in Uganda
Mgahinga National Park is the country’s smallest national park, located in the country’s southwest. This is the only spot in Uganda where you may see golden monkeys, and it has a population of roughly 5059 golden monkeys.
The National Park is located on the Ugandan side of the Virunga Mountains, making it one of the few places in Africa where you may see golden monkeys. Mgahinga is also a good gorilla trekking location with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but the golden monkeys are the finest part of visiting Mgahinga.
When Does the Golden Monkey Journey Begin?
The traditional half-day excursion for golden monkeys begins as early as 8:00 a.m. at the Ntebeko path. After identifying the primates, you will spend an hour with them before returning to your lodging. Golden monkey habituation is also practiced at Mgahinga, which is made feasible by the presence of a habituated family of golden monkeys in the National Park.
Everything you should know about gold monkeys
There are several things you need to know about golden monkeys in order to learn more about them. They include:
The moniker “golden monkey” comes from the gold coloring on either side of the cheekbones, around the eyes, and occasionally on the stomach, which contrasts with the rest of the body’s black color. Scientists have proven that communication between monkeys occurs through gestures, facial expressions, and noises.
Female golden monkeys commence mating and give birth once every two years, with one offspring each time. The females also look after the group because the male is always roaming about looking for new females to mate with. The female only stops feeding her infants when she is ready for the next baby, and once a monkey reaches adolescence, it joins the other older monkeys and begins searching for food. Other primates seen when golden monkeys are hiking include colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys, among others.
They also live in groups of 30 to 80 monkeys, with one male acting as dominant in each group. Golden monkeys sleep in groups on top of bamboo trees and can live for up to 20 years, according to studies. Golden monkeys mostly consume bamboo shoots, although, in times of scarcity, they can also consume flowers and fruits.
The cost of a permit for a golden monkey expedition.
Golden monkey trek permits are the only way to participate in the walk, and without them, you will be unable to enter Mgahinga National Park. The cost of a basic golden monkey permit is determined by several criteria, including nationality. The permission expenses are approximated here.
Foreigners $60 per day per person
40,000shs for East African citizens
40,000shs for foreign residents
The aforementioned rates are established for 2021 to 2022 and are subject to change. As a result, before making a reservation, you should find out how much the permit will cost at the time of your safari. It should be noted that the golden permit prices do not include lodging or other services such as park admission fees or transportation.
The golden monkey habituation permit is slightly more expensive, costing $100.
Packing list for a golden monkey
While the Mgahinga woods receive rainfall even during the dry season, most of the items you should carry for golden monkey trekking should be able to keep you warm. Because you will be traveling through the forest, here is a list of items you should bring.
- Lightweight hiking footwear will aid in your trip because bulky boots will make it more difficult.
- Long-sleeved shirt • Trousers • Bug repellent • Raincoat • A bag • Trekking stick • A camera with additional batteries • Binoculars • Bottled water
In Uganda, golden monkey hiking vs. gorilla trekking.
Golden monkey trekking and gorilla trekking are comparable in many aspects, particularly when it comes to trekking in National Parks, but certain nuances distinguish each session.
Golden monkey trekking is less tough than gorilla trekking because gorillas make new nests every day in different sites, making it difficult to follow them from the previous spot, but golden monkeys generally stay in the same location for as long as there are bamboo shoots to eat. The golden monkeys will only relocate if the food in a particular region is depleted.
Golden monkeys are incredibly active and do not remain in one position like gorillas, making it difficult for tourists to obtain important images. You may wind up shooting random shots of the monkeys and afterward selecting the ones that turned out well.
Because mountain gorillas are an endangered species, the number of visitors each day is controlled by printing a few gorilla treks permits. During one hour, each group of eight persons is permitted to visit the gorillas. On the other hand, golden monkey trekking is not regulated, and people are welcome to see the primates regardless of their number.
Even when there are limits, gorilla trekking attracts a diverse spectrum of people each year, which is not the case with golden monkeys. Gorillas may also be observed sitting in one spot for an extended period of time, but golden monkeys move from one location to the next, approaching humans before leaping into the treetops.
What is the best time to go golden monkey trekking in Uganda?
The dry season is the greatest time to go golden monkey trekking. The dry season lasts from June to August and January to February, and these are the best months to hike since the trails are drier, easier to navigate, and less treacherous. It may, however, be done all year, and if you intend on doing golden monkey trekking during the rainy season, be prepared for rain and slippery and wet pathways.