Frequently Asked Questions on Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
There are many Frequently Asked Questions on Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda by people who want to adventure about these rare primates. In Uganda, golden monkeys are only found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, also a home to the endangered mountain gorillas. While in Rwanda, golden monkeys are found and trekked in the Volcanoes National Park which also doubles as a habitat to mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Golden monkey trekking in either countries is not a common tourist activity. However, its picking up as tourists tend to inquire about after understating details derived from the frequent questions raised about the tour activity. The Frequent Questions on Golden Monkey Trekking include but not limited to the following:-
What is a Golden Monkey?
The golden monkey is a subspecies of the blue monkey and is an Old World monkey found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa including four national parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes, in north-west of Rwanda plus the Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the east Democratic Republic of Congo.
What is Golden Monkey Trekking?
Golden Monkey trekking is an adventure tourist activity that involves moving on foot into the tropical rain forest in search for the habituated golden monkeys and once found spend one hour with them in their habitat. The golden monkey is known scientifically as Cercopithecus mitis kandti and considered an endangered species as they only live in the Virungas.
Where are golden monkeys found in Uganda?
In Uganda, Golden Monkeys are only found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of the two parks where mount gorillas in Uganda. And Golden monkey trekking in Uganda is done in Mgahinga which is the smallest protected area found in southwestern region in Kisoro district.
Where to go for Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda?
Golden Monkeys are attractively unique primates found on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes which are shared between Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. In Uganda, golden monkey trekking is carried out in Mgahinga gorilla national park in south-western Uganda.
Where to trek Golden monkeys in Rwanda?
Volcanoes National Park is a home for the golden monkeys in Rwanda. The park has two habituated troops of golden monkeys. The biggest and most trekked group lives around the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo with over 100 individual members. Golden monkeys can also be found in the Gishwati Forest Reserve.
What are the characteristics of the golden monkey?
Comparing them with other monkey species, the golden monkeys are good-looking in appearance. They have bright colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange. The general approximation at present stands between 2000 and 4000 individuals and since they are only found in the Virungas, they have been categorized as endangered species. The monkeys are restricted to highland forest, especially near bamboo trees.
What is the cost of golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda or Rwanda?
The cost of a Golden monkey trekking permit is USD 100 per person for foreign non residents, USD 60 per person for foreign residents and 40,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. These permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in responsible conservation protected areas and tourism in the country.
In Rwanda, the golden monkey trekking permit costs USD 100 per foreigner for a single trek. A foreign resident however pays USD 80 per trek, East Africans and Rwandan citizens pay RWF 4000. Same like gorilla permits, Golden monkey permits are sold by the Rwandan Development Board (RDB).