Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda
Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda; Golden monkey trekking is an adventurous and one of the major activities that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Uganda. Golden monkey trekking is done in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is the smallest protected area located in southwestern region in Kisoro district and the activity involves moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated golden monkeys and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Golden monkey trekking experience in Uganda
Golden monkey trekking is an active activity that starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle following trails of left over bamboo shoots and leaves. Golden monkey trekking takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates such as chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, view bird species, plants among others and once the golden monkeys are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record the moments.
Mgahinga gorilla national park also offers golden monkey habituation experience and adventurous activity where the golden monkeys are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Golden monkey habituation experience is carried out by a team of researchers, scientists, park rangers, guides among others and it allows visitors to spend four hours in the presence of the golden monkeys.
Cost of a golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda
A golden monkey trekking permit is a legal card that is issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit the habituated golden monkeys in Mgahinga gorilla national park. Golden monkey trekking permit is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body in charge tourism and it costs 60 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 60 USD per person for foreign residents and 40,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. A golden monkey habituation permit in Uganda costs 100 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 100 USD per person for foreign residents and 100,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book a golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda
A golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) by contacting the head offices in Kampala via telephone calls or email. Golden monkey trekking permits in Uganda can also be booked through a tour operator like Achieve global safaris by contacting us with the dates when you wish to visit the golden monkeys. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. When we receive the payments, we will purchase the golden monkey trekking permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Best time to go for golden monkey trekking in Uganda
Golden monkey trekking can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season also known as the high season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season the park receives less rainfall therefore golden monkey trekking trails will be dry and passable, vegetation will be thin hence giving you an opportunity to clearly view the golden monkeys and other wildlife species.
Where to stay in Mgahinga gorilla national park
There are a number of accommodation facilities in Mgahinga gorilla national park where you can stay during your golden monkey trekking safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange and budget including Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mucha Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Montana Guest House, Muhabura Motel, Kisoro Travelers Lodge, Mutanda Island Lodge among others.
How to get to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means.
Road transport, when using road transport means tourists will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.
You can also access Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda whereby tourists will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters via Cyanika border which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Air transport, Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Golden monkey trekking is an interesting activity that can be combined with gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park or wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park. For more information about golden monkeys, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various golden monkey trekking packages.
