Golden Monkeys Trek Rwanda or Uganda

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Where do Golden Monkeys live?

Golden Monkeys live in the rich bamboo forests of the Central Africa Virguna Range. These rare monkeys live in only three countries in the world Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Mgahinga National Park (Uganda) are your two opportunities to see these rare and beautiful monkeys. These national parks are located on the extinct volcanoes of the Virunga Mountain range. Due to these protected areas they are also home to the equally rare mountain gorillas where the triad of countries collide.

Where is the best place to see Golden Monkeys?

The Golden Monkeys travel throughout the bamboo forests of the Virunga Range and both Rwandan and Ugandan National Parks offer Golden Monkey trekking safaris. The monkeys know no boundaries and it could equally be the same troop of Golden Monkeys you see whether you visit Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) Or Mgahinga National Park (Uganda). As essentially these parks are simply on opposite sides of the same mountain.

Should we see Golden Monkeys in Rwanda? Golden Monkeys Trek Rwanda

Cost of Golden Monkeys permit for Rwanda USD$100 (2024), Volcanoes National Park, Virunga Mountain (Same mountains). It’s advisable to book your permit in advance, as the number of permits issued each day is limited for both Rwanda and Uganda.

Should we see Golden Monkeys in Uganda? Golden Monkeys Trek or Uganda

Cost of Golden Monkeys permit for Uganda USD$60 (2024), Mgahinga National Park, Uganda, Virunga Mountain (Same mountains)

Are Golden Monkeys dangerous?

No.

Golden Monkeys predominantly stay in the tree canopy foraging for food. They are not aggressive monkeys are indeed if troops had not bee habituated to humans by park rangers visitors would rarely sight Golden Monkeys. Golden Monkeys are shy and timid after decades of persecution.

With ever decreasing habitat Golden Monkeys can come into confllict with humans when they raid crops due to ever decreasing natural resources. However again, it is the Golden Monkeys are likely to be persecuted, hunted and killed in these situations.

Do watch out for Monkey Rain though! As we gaze up in awe at the Golden Monkeys and there antics we wonder if it had started to rain and then we realise it is “Monkey Rain”!
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Golden Monkey Trek and what to expect?

Cynika border crossing from Rwanda to Uganda

Early Morning Start

Depending on where you are departing from expect an early morning pick-up. We were collected from our hotel at 4pm (in Musanze Rwanda) as we had decided to do our Golden Monkey Trek in Uganda on a day trip!

By the time we arrived at the Rwandan Ugandan, Cynika border crossing it was 6am. Our driver and guide, Arun, had to wake up the officials in order to process our visas.

We recommend you get a East African Tourist Visa as this will allow you to visit Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda over a 90 day period.

The border crossing took approximately 40 minutes despite being the first people in the queue! (Sleepy officials?)

When travelling from Rwanda into Uganda the first thing you will notice is the return of litter! The second might be the deterioration of the roads.
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Another short 40 minutes bouncy road journey later and we had arrived at Mgahinga National Park, Uganda.

We were welcomed by a community group performing some local dances and then we received our safety briefing from a head warden on what to bring and what to bring.

What to bring?

face mask
water
sun cream
snacks
rain jacket
bag to carry all your items
tuck your trousers into your socks (bug prevention)
camera/ telephone
walking poles (provided for free at Mgahinga)

Sorted into Groups

After the briefing the 80 or so visitors we are split into small manageable groups. Varying in size from 2 adults to 12 adults.

Depending on whom you had travelled with, your age and physical health. These assessments were made non-verbally and within a few minutes.

We must have been assessed as reasonably fit, as we were placed in a group which totalled 7 and where the first group to head off into the mountains.

The Trek

We have one guide and two armed rangers with each group. One ranger at the front and one at the back.

The rangers are to warn off any Elephants or Water Buffallo who may wish to share our path as we head off in search of the Golden Monkeys!

The guide checks our well being every 10 minutes. We all stop, have a drink and start to take off our layers. Not only walking up a mountain but we are at altitude. Slightly breathless and getting warmer as the sun starts to rise.

We pass fresh Water Buffallo dung and Elephant dung and are greatful for the presence of our guards.

We also catch fleeting glances of Waterbuck frozen in the forest glade watching us pass.

Trekking single file through the mountain jungle. Note my large walking pole to give me a bit of extra stability.

Duration of Hike?

We hike for approximately 2 hours. The guide is in radio contact with the guards who are sent out early each morning to locate the habituated troop of Golden Monkeys to facilitate the tourists successfully seeing these rare and beautiful creatures in the wild.

The entire viewing of the Golden Monkeys is limited to one hour of observation per group.

We cover only two miles in two hours.

Observing the Golden Monkeys

You will have to head off the winding animal pathways when you finally reach the Golden Monkeys. (Off Piste!) You will be even more grateful for your walking pole now!

Predominantly the monkeys are in the trees, constantly moving, foraging, climbing along, jumping, searching and chattering as they travel.
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Expect to spend an entire hour looking up in Wonder!

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