Embark on a unique adventure with our Golden monkey trekking in Uganda safari. Visit the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, home to the rare and endangered golden monkeys. With our experienced guides, trek through the lush bamboo forests to observe these playful primates in their natural habitat. Along the way, learn about the park’s diverse flora and fauna, and enjoy stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Our Uganda tours offer comfortable accommodations and expert guidance, ensuring an enjoyable and educational experience.
Where you can visit Uganda to do Golden Monkey Trekking?
You can do so in two places: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Both spots will give you a particular experience that rewards those willing to spend time indulging in nature. The golden monkeys aren’t the only sights to see, either — there’s also a variety of other primates and wildlife scattered throughout both parks.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
As previously mentioned, this park’s quite small. But don’t let its size fool you, as it’s home to an incredibly diverse wildlife population. Here, animals like mountain gorillas and golden monkeys take up residence with other primates and birds.
Golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga happens on Mount Gahinga itself — one of the three extinct volcanoes that make up the entire park. Just after sunrise, visitors meet up at the park headquarters where they’re briefed on what to expect throughout their journey with a guide and a group of local trackers.
Though the trek may be challenging due to harsh terrain (think steep slopes and uneven ground), once you find these rare primates it’ll all be worth it. You’ll get to spend an hour watching them from a respectful distance of around 23ft or 7m. During this time, feel free to observe how they go about their day eating, grooming, and playing while having guides answer any questions regarding their behavior or ecology.
Among the misty forests and towering volcanoes of southwestern Uganda, golden monkeys can be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The strikingly-colored primates are a unique and endangered species, endemic to the Albertine Rift region of East Africa.
The monkeys’ backs, arms, and legs are covered in long golden-orange fur while their faces, chests, and bellies are black. They live in social groups of up to 30 led by a dominant male. Golden monkeys’ habitat is being lost as humans continue to cut down trees for agriculture or construction. Illegal logging poses another threat. Scientists estimate that about half the forest cover has been destroyed since 1900.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
UNESCO just doesn’t hand out World Heritage Site ribbons willy-nilly. One of those badges of honor was awarded to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda — and it’s not hard to see why. Home to around half the world’s surviving mountain gorillas (around 400) and a smattering of golden monkeys, this place is an animal lover’s paradise.
This park covers 321 sq km and is one of the most diverse spots on the entire continent. More than 120 mammal species roam these parts, along with 348 types of bird and some 220 butterfly species.
In Bwindi, golden monkey trekking occurs in the Rushaga sector — a far-flung but exceptionally well-preserved part of the park. This spot is home to about 80 habituated golden monkeys.
Trekking starts early in the day, with groups meeting at park HQ for a briefing before entering the forest alongside their knowledgeable guide and band of local trackers.
The vegetation here can be denser than its Mgahinga counterpart, as are the slopes that visitors will have to clamber up (or down). And if you’re feeling out of breath by now, note that you’ll also be trekking at high altitudes: up to 2,600 meters above sea level.
Still keen? Great! Your reward for such efforts will be views over a misty rainforest sure to make your jaw drop… along with those cute primates peeking through tree leaves throughout your journey.
