Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Trekking with Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Golden Monkey Trekking is an interesting and vigorous activity that entails walking through the forest to find habituated golden monkey families and spending an hour with them in their natural habitat.

The sole protected region in Uganda that is home to the endangered golden monkeys is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is situated in the Kisoro district in the country’s southwest. Other locations, such as the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the Virunga National Park, and the Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are also home to golden monkeys. They are playful and energetic monkeys who constantly hop from tree to tree and eat ripe fruits, bamboo shoots, branches, and insects.

Trekking with golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, golden monkey trekking is an exciting and vigorous activity that begins at park headquarters with a briefing on expectations, laws, and regulations. Following the briefing, you and an expert guide will begin your jungle journey, which might take anything from thirty minutes to three hours, depending on where the golden monkeys are. This is because the monkeys prefer to roam about in quest of food.

Because golden monkeys are small and do not leave obvious signs of where they were the day before, unlike mountain gorillas, you will need to keep an eye out for new bamboo stalk and leaf remnants while walking. Once you’ve found the troop of golden monkeys, you’ll be able to spend an hour with them in their natural environment, which includes taking pictures, learning about their habits, and seeing them hop from tree to tree, among other things.

The price of a trekking permit for golden monkeys

Any tourist above the age of 15 who wants to visit a golden monkey family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park must have a golden monkey trekking permit provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of a single golden monkey trekking permit is UGX 40,000 for East African citizens, USD 60 for foreign non-residents, and USD 60 for foreign residents. The cost covers park admission, a one-hour interaction with the golden monkeys, and a park guide’s services.

How to reserve permits for Golden Monkey Trekking

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, golden monkey trekking permits can be reserved directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority by calling or emailing the offices. A reputable tour company like Mwesigwa Adventure Safaris can also be used to reserve golden monkey trekking permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Since there is no minimum number of visitors needed, golden monkey trekking permits can be reserved in advance at the Uganda Wildlife Authority or on-site from the park headquarters.

The ideal time of year to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a golden monkey trekking safari

While golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is possible at any time of year, the best time to go is in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, which is the dry/peak season. Because Mgahinga Gorilla National Park experiences less rainfall during the dry season, trekking routes will be accessible and the vegetation will be sparse, providing you with a clear view of the golden monkeys and other wildlife.

What to bring to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your golden monkey trekking safari

Use insect repellent to keep insects away from your body.
To stay warm and prevent insects from getting inside your pants, wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
Wearing a waterproof rain jacket will shield you from the rain.
To keep your feed dry when trekking, wear hiking boots.
Bring a backpack with your needs for golden monkey trekking, such as a rain jacket, camera, and insect repellent.
Using a walking stick to provide assistance when traveling
Water and a packed lunch are examples of energy snacks.
Additional batteries and a camera to capture images and movies
The Mgahiga Gorilla National Park travel route

The southwestern region of Uganda is home to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is reachable by plane and road. Using road transport entails traveling nine to ten hours from Kampala to the park headquarters via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro.

When traveling by air, you will reserve scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda from Kajjansi Airfield or Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip. From there, you will take a safari vehicle to the park headquarters.