Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park has become one of the most sought-after primate experiences. It excites both local and international visitors. It is one of those wild life experiences that are less hyped. However, it delivers one of the most unmatched primate experiences. Even though gorilla trekking dominates the Mgahinga, golden monkeys offer the most playful, and highly thrilling primate encounter in the region.

The golden monkeys are bright faced, full of energy and constantly move from one spot to another. Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, yet one of the most vibrant primate spots in the world. The park is situated in the southwestern part of the country in the lower slopes of the Virunga massifs. It is one of the best places to track habituated golden monkeys in their natural habitat.

About the Golden Monkeys.

The golden monkey is a primate species also known as the Cercopithecus Kandti. It is a rare subspecies of the blue monkey, that can only be spotted in the Volcanoes of Virunga region. This region spans Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Golden monkeys are mostly recognized by their vivid golden-orange faces, shoulders, and backs. These strike out sharply against their darker limbs.

They are actually one of the average sized primates, especially when compared to the giant gorillas. The adult golden monkeys at 4 to 7 kilograms, and males being a bit bigger than the female ones. Golden monkeys also feature long tails and stronger limbs perfectly meant to maneuver through the dense bamboo forests. These quick monkeys also live in large troops of over 100 monkey members.

What makes these highly intelligent primates special is how they react to human presence without pretense. Golden monkeys are playful in nature, and are famous for being loud, while displaying their dramatic skills. Unlike silent gorillas, golden monkeys are never humble and always curious jumping from one place to another. They make the whole experience an intimate one.

Golden monkey tracking experience in Mgahinga.

The adventure kicks off at dawn around 7 am with briefing at the park headquarters. The experienced guides and expert rangers outline the rules. They also share the background of the primates and that of the forest. Participants are usually capped at eight people per visitors’ group ensuring a top tier experience. Once the briefing is done, visitors hike to the bamboo and misty montane forest zones in search of the monkey troops.

The tracking session usually takes about 30 minutes to close to two hours. This depends on where the primates are feeding from on that day. Once the monkeys are located, visitors are granted one full hour in their presence.

It’s at this profoundly heartwarming moment that visitors watch them swiftly swing off one bamboo tree to another or be playful, and sometimes grooming each other. Their bright orange face is an eye-catching feature that many visitors find stunning. Even though the Mgahinga terrain is steep in nature, the tracking trails are always smooth and easy to access for many.

Park rangers are well versed and can help visitors take the most scenic routes, and the success rates are always higher with them in company.

It is important to note that monkeys are still wild primates and many of them are still pre-habituated, not fully used to human presence hence making their predictability a challenging one, they sometimes move high quickly canopies making the whole primate experience a thrilling one.

The cost of golden monkey trekking.

Booking primate permits through a trusted and licensed tour operator or directly through the preferred accommodation is key for a legit primate experience. The gorilla permits at Mgahinga are always scarce, but those of golden monkeys come in plenty, yet visitors are still advised to book in advance for a seamless experience.

Compared to gorilla permits in the same area, golden monkey permits are decently affordable.

As of today, golden monkey trekking permit costs USD 60 each, making it an exceptional add-on to gorilla trekking safaris in Mgahinga national park.

When to go for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

Like the case with gorillas, the drier seasons are the most ideal for proper primate experience on Uganda safaris, especially between June to September during the long dry season. It is also the best time overall and coincides with the peak crowded period. The drier period offers unforgettable views of the wildlife in the area, and routes too are easier to access. The short dry season is also prime for a seamless safari especially between December to February, given that it offers decent weather, favorable prices, and a less crowded environment.

The rainy wet period is quite tricky, especially from March to May and October throughout November. The lush forests look stunningly greener and birds can arrive in abundance, but the tracking trails are hard to maneuver given that they get muddy making hikes a stressful event.