The Rwanda golden monkey trekking is one of the mesmerizing primate experiences awaiting you an African holiday. Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda offers nature enthusiasts a lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in the African jungles in search of the rare golden monkeys in the wild. The entire adventure involves observing the different behaviors of golden monkeys and visitors also have a chance to take photos of these apes while in their natural habitat.
Where to find golden monkeys in Rwanda
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is best done while in the Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. The park lies within the Virunga Area, a region dominated by golden monkeys. These primate live in troops of 60-100 groups and each group is led by a dominant male golden monkey.
Visitors on a tour to see golden monkeys are first briefed about the golden monkey tracking regulations. The briefing is done at the Kinigi offices of Volcanoes National Park. The actual search for golden monkeys begins at 8:00am and the entire trek will last for 2-4 hours inclusive of an hour of up close and personal encounter with these primates. The an hour that you have with a troop of golden monkeys is a perfect time to have in-depth exploration about how these primates behave and taking pictures.
The allocation of park guides and golden monkey troops will be done during the briefing session. After briefing from the park official, your guide takes over and he/she will lead you through the forest in search of these primates.
Within Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, there are 2 (two) habituated troops of golden monkeys. The bigger troop roams around the Sabyinyo Volcano and is comprising of 80-100 individuals. Golden monkeys are naturally stunning creatures and they roam around the bamboo forest and often jump from tree to tree.
Golden monkeys occupies the Virunga Region –Uganda, Rwanda and D. R. Congo. The treks to see these species is mainly done in Uganda –Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. During the golden monkey trek, you have higher chances to see other species including birds, floral species and more.
Cost of Volcanoes NP golden monkey permits
A single golden monkey trekking permit costs USD 100 per visitor and this applies to foreign non-residents. The foreign residents can obtain the permits at USD 65 per visitor and Rwandan citizens pay RWF 4000 per visitor. The minimum acceptable age for golden monkey tracking is 15 and you can secure the permits through the reliable tour operator on the ground.
The process of booking your permit and the entire safari involves contacting the reservation team on ground. You let the company know of the actual date you intend to go to track golden monkeys, then the reservationist will cross-check with authorities to ascertain if the permits are available.
The reservation team will get back to you immediately and you will be required to pay a particular deposit to enable the company book the permit and also other facilities including accommodation. The rest of the things will also be booked by our reservation team on your behalf.
How fit should you be?
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park is generally unpredictable. It is entirely about navigating through the jungles and at times you may come across steep areas. You require some fitness level to be in position to have a round trek.
What to carry on Rwanda golden monkey trekking experience
Only essentials should feature on your packing list for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda. These include waterproof hiking boots or shores, a rain jacket, bottled water, a camera, long-sleeved shirt, trousers, permits, visas, valid passports, insect repellents, daypack, medical or first aid kit and others.
Additional activities to golden monkey tracking include gorilla trekking, volcano hiking, birding, visit the twin lakes, cultural community experience and others.
Best time to go to trek golden monkeys
Golden monkeys can be visited at any time of the year but the most ideal period is the dry season. There are 2 phases of dry season to mark on travel calendar run from June, July, August, September, December, January and February. These months come with favorable weather conditions that are ideal for golden monkey tracking. These are far better than the wet or rainy months when heavy rains are experienced and the ground turns muddy or slippery. The rainy or wet months of the year; March, April, May and the other phase occurs from October to November.
Where to stay
There are many accommodation options to choose from for a night stay inside and outside Volcanoes Park. They include budget, midrange and luxury options; Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Da Vinci Lodge, Gorilla Solutions Lodge, La Bambou, (Midrange), Kinigi Guesthouse, Garr Hotel, Garden Place Hotel, and others.
Getting to Volcanoes NP in Ruhengeri
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the far Northwestern Rwanda and getting there takes just 2-3 hours’ drive. Your journey begins from Kigali capital with an experienced driver guide.
