Golden Monkey Tracking & Trekking Safaris

Golden monkey trekking is a thrilling adventure that every traveler should experience on a Uganda or Rwanda safari. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter these cute and endangered primates deep in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountain Ranges. This guide provides a glimpse into tracking these lively primates including where to see them, when to visit and the cost of a permit.

What is Golden Monkey Trekking

Golden monkey tracking is a thrilling wildlife experience that has you seeing the endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat at close range. They live only in moist montane forests, mostly made up of bamboo or mixed with bamboo.

There are approximately 2000 to 4000 golden monkeys left in the wild, making them an endangered species. These amazing creatures live in troops of about 30-100 individuals led by an Alpha male. They are active and lively providing an exciting, fast-paced encounter.

The Golden monkey trekking excursion usually begins with a briefing at 8:00 AM, followed by a 30-minute to 3-hour hike through the misty bamboo forest trails to find the primates. After finding them, you’ll spend one-hour watching them leap between trees, forage, and interact in their natural habitat. You can also use this time to capture unique photographs. The hike is less physically demanding than gorilla trekking.

Golden monkeys feed on a varied range of seasonal fruits, bamboo shoots, leaves, flowers, lichens, sprouts, and small invertebrates. They mostly remain in areas where ripe fruit is available in dry seasons and move to areas where bamboo is growing at the beginning of the rainy season.

Golden monkey trekking is one of the best experiences to add to your African safari bucket list. Most travelers on a Uganda or Rwanda safari combine golden monkey tracking with gorilla trekking or big five safaris.

Where to See Golden Monkeys

A golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park

Golden monkeys are endemic to the Virunga Mountains which comprise Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo and can only be seen there. Of the three countries, most travelers go to Uganda and Rwanda to see them.

Golden Monkey Tracking in Uganda

In Uganda, golden monkey trekking is conducted in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, situated in south-western Uganda. It is a portion of the Virunga massif and one of the places to see golden monkeys and mountain gorillas in their natural habitat at close range. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park hosts a significant population with roughly 42-60 individuals habituated for tracking.

While Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also known for gorilla trekking, it offers better golden monkey tracking adventures. The number of tourists joining daily excursions to see golden monkeys is less restricted than it is with mountain gorillas, and the treks begin at 08:00 AM at the Ntebeko Visitors’ Center.

Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda

In Rwanda, golden monkey tracking is conducted in Volcanoes National Park, a remarkable park also popular for gorilla trekking. There are two human-habituated golden monkey troops in the park. The largest troop located in the Sabinyo area consists of about 80 to 100 individuals and is the most visited group in Rwanda.

Regular golden monkey tracking excursions start at 8:00 a.m. from the park headquarters at Kiningi. Visitors are advised to be at the park headquarters by 7:00 a.m. for a safety briefing before embarking on the trek. Only one session per day is offered here.

Golden Monkey tracking permit

To embark on a golden monkey tracking excursion, you need to purchase a permit. It allows you to spend one hour in their presence in the wild. The permit accounts for armed ranger services, expert local tracker guides, and the time you spend with the primates but excludes park entrance fees.

In Uganda, a golden monkey tracking permit costs USD 60 per person for foreign non-residents, USD 50 for foreign residents and UGX 40,000 for East African residents. Golden monkey habituation experience permit costs USD100 per person for foreign non-residents, USD 80 for foreign residents and UGX 100,000 for East African residents.

In Rwanda, a golden monkey tracking permit cost $100 for foreign non-residents, $65 for foreign residents and East Africans, $80 for East African foreign residents, and RWF 4000 for Rwandan citizens. Students or children pay $45 for all categories except Rwandan citizens, who pay RWF 2000.

There are no restrictions on the number of visitors since golden monkey tracking excursions don’t attract as many tourists as mountain gorillas. Permits can be purchased on ground from the park headquarters at Ntebeko in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Kinigi in Volcanoes National Park.

Best Time for Golden Monkey Tracking

The best time to see golden monkeys is during the dry seasons of June to October and December to February. During this time, the trails are dry and easier to navigate and spending a precious hour with a habituated troop might be more enjoyable when it isn’t raining.

However, these months coincide with the peak safari season meaning expect demand to shoot up, and the majority of descent lodges usually get fully booked. So even though it’s not difficult to get the golden monkey permit during the peak season, we highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance, especially between June and October.

What to Pack for Golden Monkey Tracking

The golden monkey tracking packing list is similar to that for gorilla trekking, as you’ll be hiking in the same rain forest to see both primates. You can read our full gorilla trekking packing list guide for more details.