Golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the next exciting primates adventure after the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experience on a tailored safari to Uganda.
The golden monkey (Cercopithecus. n. kandti) is an Albertine rift endemic, restricted to the high-altitude bamboo zones on Mgahinga Gorilla NP, where the largest population of this primate occur alongside the mountain gorilla. Often lumped up in a blue monkey complex group, the golden monkey is distinctive with grizzled golden back and cheeks, dark hands and legs, occurring in large groups of over 100 individuals, led by a dominant male.
The Golden Monkey Trekking Experience
A trek-day to the golden monkey is a guided hike adventure, to encounter up-close a troop of these primates as they forage in their bamboo habitats at Mgahinga Gorilla NP.
Golden monkey trekking begins with visitors checking-in at the park’s trailheads of Ntebeko and Muhabura at 7:30am. After a short briefing, groups of 8 will be led by ranger guides to visit a designated golden monkey troop. Mgahinga Gorilla NP has the largest population of golden monkey in the region where two groups are habituated for daily trek experiences. These large troops venture between feeding ranges that lie along the Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura bamboo zone belt. Golden monkey are bamboo specialists, feeding mainly on new bamboo shoots on the forest floor, supplementing with fresh leaves and insect larvae.
Once the feeding troop is located, trekkers spend only one-hour, watching, photographing and observing diverse interactions between these charismatic primates.
Golden Monkey Habituation vs Ordinary Trekking Experience
Golden monkey trekking on Mgahinga Gorilla NP is offered in two different expereince options. Visitors with time on their hands, can opt for a longer yet rewarding habituation trekking experience, where visiting trekkers, join a research and tracking ranger guide team to follow a near-habituated monkey troop.
On habituation trek experience, visitors spend more time with the monkeys, which gives you ample photography opportunities and more insights into the social structure and its relationship with its fragile ecosystem. This longer time of up to 4hrs in this montane ecosystem gives you a chance to interact and observe other fauna including various endemic birds, bushbucks and appreciate the stunning scenery of the volcanic peaks.
Visitors on ordinary trekking experience visit a fully habituated golden monkey whose home range is well known making trekking duration shorter and relatively easy. On locating the monkey troop, visitors are only given One-hour, to photograph and watch the interaction.
What to pack for a Golden monkey tracking Experience
Golden monkey in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla NP occur on higher altitudes therefore appropriate footwear and clothing to is important to enhance a rewarding adventure expereince.
Visitors on the day of trek must pack;
- Poncho/ rain gear
- Good hiking shoes
- Waterproof backpacks
- Walking sticks are available on the trailheads
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sweat t-shirts and long trousers, nature blending colors advised.
- And of course a good attitude, you will need it!