In Mgahinga National Park, the population of habituated golden monkeys is between 150 to 200 individuals. There are between 2,000 to 5,938 golden monkeys in the entire Virunga massif of which Mgahinga National Park is a part. The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) is an endangered old-world monkey primarily endemic to the Virunga ranges and Gishwati forest in Rwanda.
The golden monkeys occur mostly in the bamboo and bamboo forest parts of the ecosystem. The golden monkeys generally feed on bamboo. However, they are known to be omnivorous, also feeding on fruits, leaves and insects. The bodies of golden monkeys are covered with golden orange coats. Golden monkeys live in troops that can number up to 100 individuals. Each troop is led by an alpha male.
About Mgahinga National Park?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda was established in 1991. Before, it was gazetted as a Gorilla Game Sanctuary in 1930 and later renamed a Gorilla Game Reserve in 1965. The Batwa used to inhabit the forest before they were evacuated. These were hunter and gatherers who occupied it for centuries. Currently, Mgahinga National Park is certainly Uganda’s smallest, covering approximately 33.7km2 of land. The park headquarters is at Ntebeko,
Mgahinga National Park is part of the greater Virunga Conservation Area. Out of the 8 volcanoes in this area, 3 are found in Mgahinga National Park. These are Mountains Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo. Altitude of Mgahinga National Park ranges from 2,227m to 4,127m above sea level. Vegetation in Mgahinga National Park is varied, and includes alpine, subalpine and montane forest etc. Other habitats include heath, moorland, swamp and grassland.
The Nyakagezi group is a habituated gorilla family residing in Mgahinga NP. Other animals found in Mgahinga include forest elephant, forest buffalo, leopard, giant forest hog, bush pig, and bushbuck, etc. Numerous bird species include plenty of Albertine endemics and localized forest dwellers. These include Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, regal sunbird, strange weaver, Archer’s robin-chat, African hill babbler, and Alpine swift, etc.
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park?
Golden monkey trekking is the most common activity done in Mgahinga National Park after gorilla trekking. This opportunity is available for visitors to locate a habituated troop of golden monkeys on the slopes of Mount. Gahinga. Once the visitors encounter the troop, a precious full hour is offered to spend in their presence. This time is vital since taking photos and watching the golden monkeys interact with themselves and their environment is allowed.
Golden monkey trekking is done at US$60. This fee is per person per trek and excludes park entrance. 12 years is the minimum age required for a visitor to trek the golden monkeys. The activity starts at around 7:30 AM. Briefing is first conducted by a park authority. You are led into the forest by an excellent tracker and armed ranger. Locating the golden monkeys is relatively easier in comparison to the gorillas since they prefer lower altitudes than the gorillas.
Best time to see golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park?
Golden monkeys reside in Mgahinga National Park throughout the year thus can be encountered on any day of the year. Despite this, the dry seasons offer optimal settings for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park. December to February and May to August are the dry months of the year in Mgahinga National Park. June and July are the driest months of the year in Mgahinga National Park.
In the dry season, you are guaranteed to get clear views in the forest due to less mist during the day. During this time, the forest is not as damp as in the wet season so you can feel more comfortable traversing on drier or less slippery trails. The reduced rains of the dry season also cause the less dense foliage in Mgahinga National Park. This makes both movement and viewing the golden monkeys much better.
How to reach Mgahinga National Park?
Mgahinga National Park is reachable by either road or air transport. The distance of Mgahinga National Park from Kampala city is at least 500km. Travel time is between 9 to 11 hours and highly determined by the traffic and road conditions. However, well-maintained 4X4 safari land cruisers are available at Standard Safaris for hire. One of our knowledgeable guides is available to transport you on one of them to Mgahinga National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is also reachable from many other tourist destinations in Uganda. These include Queen Elizabeth National Park (260 km), Kibale National Park (370 km), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (80 km), Lake Bunyonyi (60 km), Murchison Falls National Park (680 km) and Lake Mburo National Park (290 km). At Standard Safaris, we offer both pickups and drop offs from any place in Uganda or through out East Africa.
For air transfers, scheduled flights are provided by AeroLink. From Entebbe International Airport, you will fly to Kisoro Airfield for 1 hour and fifteen minutes. This is not only a luxury way of traveling, but also a chance of exploring Uganda’s natural features aerially. Since Standard Safaris is a locally based tour operator and with a strong work relation with AeroLink, we can make reservations for your flight swiftly and conviniently.
