Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda
Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda is one of the top Rwanda Primate Safaris where travelers travel to Volcanoes National Park to see these colorful monkeys. Golden monkeys are one of the most beautiful primate species that usually inhabit bamboo forests where there is the availability of shoots, and fruits to munch on as that is their best primary diet. Golden monkeys also feed on flowers and stem of the bamboo trees which is always surrounding them in their habitat.
In Rwanda, golden monkeys are found in Volcanoes National Park, home to other different primate species including other monkey species and the mighty mountain gorillas which are found in Virunga massif within two countries of Uganda, and Rwanda In fact golden monkeys inhabit the same national parks as the mountain gorillas. In Africa, these cute creatures with golden fur around their faces are found in Rwanda with in Volcanoes national park, and in Uganda within Mgahinga Gorilla National park.
Golden monkey is also included on the IUCN list of endangered primate species with about 3500 remaining in Rwanda out of 5000 remaining in the world due to several factors including loss of habitat as a result of agricultural practices such as farming, these golden monkeys also face a challenge of poaching and hunting which has terribly reduced their population in the wild but as of now, golden monkeys can be encountered in Rwanda which has two habituated troops in its volcanoes national park and in Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park a home to one huge habituated troop of golden monkeys available for trekking all year round.
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park – Rwanda is one of the most fascinating activities that every traveler on a Rwanda safari to volcanoes national park should engage in alongside gorilla trekking to have a wholesome primate viewing experience in Rwanda. Trekking golden monkeys is so awesome in a way that these monkeys keep on jumping from one bamboo plant to another while swinging the tail and cheerfully laughing. In Rwanda, a golden monkey trekking permit goes for $100 per person for foreign non-residents, $65 for Foreign residents and east African residents in Rwanda, RWF 4000 for citizens of Rwanda, finally $80 for the foreign residents In east Africa. These Golden monkey trekking permit can be booked online and then obtain upon arrival at the park headquarters at Kiningi allowing trekkers to trail within the bamboo forest where troops of habituated golden monkeys are easily spotted in their natural habitat living in groups of 30 to 80 members and even above with one dominant leader.
Like gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking also starts at 7:00 am in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters about the golden monkeys and the dos and don’ts while in the jungle with the golden monkeys and off to the bamboo, you trail alongside armed rangers and the tour guides to view the beautiful primates in their home. The golden monkey trekking takes between 2-5 hours depending on the trekking speed of the trekkers and once a particular habituated family is spotted, a duration of one hour in presence of golden monkeys is allowed and the age limit for golden monkey trekking is 12 years.
For travelers who prefer to spend ample time with these pretty golden monkeys, they should opt for a golden monkey habituation experience which allows about 4 hours in presence of these monkeys after trekking them for a reasonable period of time. However, golden monkey habituation is a bit straining since these monkeys aren’t used to human beings and are always on a move and habituators have to follow them up until they finally settle down allowing travelers to have as enough time as possible.
Requirements for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda – Volcanoes national park
All you require for a golden monkey trekking safari in volcanoes national park is to obtain a golden monkey trekking permit, a good camera to capture as many photographs as possible since it is possible to take the photographs with the flashlight on unlike with gorillas which do not need flashlight of the camera, expect to have such beautiful photographs of these cheerful golden monkeys, good hiking shoes taking into considerations that golden monkey trekking is carried out in bamboo forest so ensure that you put on waterproof hiking boots, wear long sleeved attire to protect your delicate body from the injuries, a cap, sunglasses, and a raincoat are also important while on any tour in the jungles of Africa. Do not forget to pack snacks and enough drinking water to keep you moving until the trek is done.
Accommodation facilities in volcanoes national park –Rwanda
Do not worry about where to sleep during the golden monkey trekking safaris there are several accommodation facilities within and in close vicinity to the park. These accommodations facilities range from budget, midrange and luxury depending on the traveler’s choice and pocket. These facilities include camps, hotels and lodges such as Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, One and Only Gorilla Nest, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Bishop’s House, Sabyinyo silverback lodge, Bisate Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Kinigi Guest House, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Classic Lodge- Musanze, among others that offers the best places for relaxation during the golden monkey trekking safari in volcanoes national park in Rwanda
Other things to do in volcanoes national park – activities in Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda has several tourism activities to engage in other than golden monkey trekking. These other activities include gorilla trekking since the park harbors at least a third of the mountain gorillas still surviving on the planet earth today following Bwindi Impenetrable national park a home to more than a half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world today. There is also community walks, exploring the crater lakes, cultural encounters, coffee experience, visiting Dian Fossey, visiting the caves, hiking volcanic mountains such as Visoke, Karisimbi and many more. These activities can actually be combined with golden monkey trekking or else a traveler can choose to add either one or two or three of these activities with a golden monkey trek to have an awesome safari in the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda.
Conclusion: Taking part in golden monkey trekking is one of the most adventurous activities that several travelers have enjoyed with in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The same activity can be carried out in Uganda the pearl of Africa within Mgahinga gorilla national park alongside gorilla trekking and Batwa trail. Book your trip now to encounter these endangered primates while they still exist.
