Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda.

Golden Monkey Trekking –Mgahinga Gorilla Park in the shadows of the Virunga Volcanoes

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s only park where you can embark on the Golden Monkey Trekking, this endangered species (Golden monkeys) totals about 3000 -4000 according to a 2003 assessment. One must always not forget that the beautiful Monkeys only occur/live in the Bamboo Forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, apart from there nowhere else in the world. This is the finest park to trek the Golden Monkeys in Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park). On top of engaging in the trekking of Golden Monkeys that are more  found in this park, you can supplement it with the 4-hr Golden Monkey Habituation Experience which is a full-day Trek related to 4 hrs for the regular Golden Monkey Trek here.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is adjacent to especially the South-End of Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, the Rushaga section & Nkuringo section meaning that Gorilla Trekkers can easily supplement on Golden Monkey Tracking in the park. Those that desire ample time to spend with the Golden Monkeys can plump for the Golden Monkey Habituation Experience.

Trekking of Golden Monkeys is a lot of fun, it is not as tiring as it is with Gorilla Trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest and by the way Golden Monkeys do not traffic around and form new cases each day, stay pretty well in the same place, so there is no need to have our pre-trackers trying to detect/trace them as is done with Mountains Gorillas in both Uganda & Rwanda.

The Golden Monkeys are lovely to stare at with their numerous colors, involving long golden hair, orange mixed into it along with its black limbs.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located in Uganda is where Golden Monkeys were first tracked and which is as well located near other fascinating points like Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda.  The endangered golden monkey is widely spread to the Albertine Rift and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park presents a rare opportunity to track these striking creatures, high in the thick bamboo forests on the Gahinga trail.

This activity (Golden Monkey Trekking) starts at 8:00 am in the morning with co-ordination of course and then pushes into the forest along what is termed as the Gahinga Trail.  Recommendations are, do carry/ have a day pack, a snack such as dried fruit, a large bottle of drinking Water, binoculars if you relish birding, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, hat, rain jacket, hiking boots, and maybe a walking stick that you can buy locally.

Immediately you are in the Golden Monkeys ‘presence, you will know it because, the forest becomes flourished with monkeys everywhere, even jumping over you, the bout of Monkey activities will be astonishing. Once in the presence of these endangered species, strictly 1 hr is allowed but if you need more hours/time then decide the  Golden Monkey Habituation where you are in the presence of them(Golden Monkeys) for 4 hrs, alongside scholars and trackers.

You will relish your time with the Golden Monkeys of Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Sorrowfully that one hour is soon gone and you come back down the Gahinga Trail to conclude your safari of the day.