Golden Monkeys
Golden Monkeys are very rare and elusive primate species. Which live in the bamboo forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and also Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Rwanda and Uganda are the only two countries. Where visitors have the opportunity to participate in the golden monkey trekking experience. And get to see these beautiful creatures up-close. These golden monkeys live in the bamboo forests and vegetation at the base of the volcano mountains. They mostly feed on bamboo shoot, bamboo branchlets and the young bamboo leaves.
Tracking the golden monkeys can be quite an interesting and adventurous activity. Golden monkeys are unique in appearance with an attractive and outstanding color which is close to gold. They are very playful creatures and move quite fast therefore, in case you want to take pictures, you need to steady and fast. Most of these monkeys used to humans therefore they will not run away if they see people.
Golden monkeys are one of the mammal species not missed on your Uganda safari adventure. While there are so many other exciting activities like gorilla trekking. Mountain climbing, white water rafting, and so much more, golden monkey tracking is exciting and interesting all on its own.
Mgahinga gorilla national park in southwestern Uganda is the perfect place to go tracking the golden monkeys. The bamboo forests of Mgahinga provide a much-appreciated habitat for these beautiful creatures. Tracking the monkeys is not as common as tracking the gorillas, but it is exciting all the same. The Virunga volcanoes provide a scenic backdrop for golden monkey tracking.
Tracking the golden monkeys in Mgahinga gorilla national park starts as early as 8.00am. The session starts with a brief orientation on what to expect, the do’s and also the don’ts while in the forest. Therefore, you are then separated in to groups with guides and off you go tracking monkeys in the bamboo forest. There are 2 habituated troops of golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. But the larger troop in Sabyinyo volcano with 80 – 100 members and it is the most visited.
The golden monkeys spend most of their time at the top of the bamboo, but they also climb down along the trees to eye level and sometimes they even move on ground. The monkeys are some of the least shy monkeys since you can get so close to them within a meter. They are wonderful for photography. Therefore, flash permitted which is not the case with other primate adventures like gorilla trekking and chimp trekking in Rwanda. Surprisingly, even these monkeys love camera flash. The monkeys will venture out of the park into the open potato fields in order to eat the Irish potatoes left behind after the harvest.
