Where is The Best Place to See Golden Monkeys : where to see golden monkeys in Uganda; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda famously known as a home for endangered mountain gorillas and unique golden monkeys among other species that call Mgahinga their home. However, the park is sounds worldwide as the best place to track golden monkeys. More so, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers remarkable golden trekking because it has extra group designated for a four-hour golden monkey habituation experience and it has two fully habituated golden monkey troops.
Fact, Golden monkey is one of Uganda’s 20 primate species and in Uganda only found Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. More so, the park is located in Virunga Mountains where it is endemic. The golden monkey species is highly compared with other monkey species and they are gorgeous in appearance. Golden monkeys have bright colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange.
Currently, the total remaining population of golden monkeys estimates between 2000 and 4000 individuals and quite more, they are only found in the Virunga’s and they have been classified as endangered species.
Facts About Golden Monkeys;
They live in troops of about 100 leads by an Alpha male and feed on bamboo shoots, a variety of seasonal fruits, lichens, bamboo leaves, sprouts, leaves, flowers and small invertebrates.
More to that, the currently the habituated troops are available for tracking and the semi-habituated troops are available for primitive lovers- tourism.
Golden monkey tracking is not as exhausting as gorilla trekking because monkeys do not build new nests every day, therefore there is no need for pre-trackers to trace them every morning.
However, Golden monkey experiential tourism is a new product for travelers who visits the park and it allows them to have rewardable view and a better understanding of what it means to research, conserve and protecting an endangered species of decades of years and many challenges faced everyday by the team out in the field. Despite the fact, there is experiential tourism that gives visitors an understanding of why research is important however, the conservation is a result that witness to visitors when your out in the field, learn about primate life in the canopy and their habitat among other forest dwelling animals that share their home with the monkeys.
Age limit; Children below the age of 12 years cannot do golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
For successfully golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga, you need to have the right gear like hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts, rain jackets, insect repellants, energy giving snacks, binoculars and enough mineral water bottles. You can also hire a porter to help you during the trek and support you while on slippery paths by pulling or pushing you, Where is The Best Place to See Golden Monkeys
What is the cost of Golden Monkey tracking permits; The golden permits costs USD60 for foreigners and golden monkey habituation permits costs at USD100 for foreign nonresidents while East African Citizens pay UGX40,000 for golden permits and golden habituation for East African citizens at UGX100,000 only per person. They can be purchased on the ground from the park headquarter of Ntebeko. Bookings of golden monkey permits can be obtained direct to ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority or by help of trusted tour operator if you don’t hesitate you can contact us Achieve Global Safaris through email or contact.
Other activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park includes; Gorilla tracking, birding, Guided nature hikes, Visiting local communities and the Batwa cultural trail many more.
Generally, Mgahinga National Park is one of the Uganda’s smallest parks which is under Uganda’s government agency responsible for the management and protection of wildlife in and outside protected areas. More to that, the park is one of the great destinations to see endangered mountain gorilla and other rare primates like golden monkeys, chimps, baboons as well as various bird species.
Location; Mgahinga National Park is located in southwestern region of Uganda approximately 8 to 9 hours’ drive or you can opt to fly into Rwanda and be transported by road on a 4 hours’ drive from Kigali to Mgahinga through the Cyanika or Katuna border. Alternatively, you can use domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport to fly you to Kisoro airstrip’’1:30 hours’’ and 30 minutes drive from the airstrip to the park.
