Mgahinga National Park, where gold meets silver, is located in the southwestern region of Uganda. Situated close to the border with Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a place like no other. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is part of the Virunga conservation area, hence one of the few places in the world that hosts mountain gorillas. It was gazetted in 1991 as a national park, having been a game sanctuary in the 1950s. During the colonial times in the 1930s, the park was designated as a forest resource.
Towards the end of 1989, an average of five gorilla families were spotted in the park, hence, in 1991, the park gained the national park elevation. It stretches for over 33.7 square kilometers, bearing incredible features like the volcanoes of the Virunga massif. These volcanoes include Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. These mountains are an incredible addition to adventure for nature enthusiasts. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gets its name from Mount Gahinga, and it’s a local word that means a cleared pile of volcanic stones or rocks. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is famous for hosting mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, a combination that has earned it the slogan “where gold meets silver.”
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only park that hosts golden monkeys in the whole country. Golden monkeys are rare, elusive primates that dwell in the bases of mountains in the bamboo plantations. They live in groups known as troops headed by a dominant male tasked with the responsibility of protecting the troops and finding food. There are approximately 4,500 golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Golden monkeys are distinctive in their looks and easily spotted in the canopies and bamboo plantations. Golden monkeys have golden-like fur on their backs, brown faces, black limbs, and tails. Male golden monkeys can weigh approximately 12 kilograms, with females weighing about 8 kilograms. The main diet of golden monkeys is made up of mainly bamboo shoots. However, golden monkeys also feed on small insects and moths.
Golden monkey trekking experience
Trekking golden monkeys is one of the spanning experiences in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. After mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking takes second place in the major tourist activities in this national park. The trekking experience of golden monkeys involves setting out on a journey through the thickets of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, looking for the golden monkeys and spending an hour in their presence upon locating them. While in their presence, visitors can take pictures, watch the monkeys go by with their daily chores, and enjoy the moments. Unlike their bigger cousins, the mountain gorillas, trekking golden monkeys is not limited to any number of visitors. Therefore, any number of visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can track the golden monkeys as long as they maintain and follow the trekking rules and regulations.
The trekking adventure of golden monkeys takes between 2-5 hours, depending on the movements of the monkeys. Visitors, with the help of guide rangers, can track the movements of the primates following the bamboo shoots leftovers. The monkeys are fast and agile and, hence, can move a lot in a single day. However, upon finding food, they can spend hours feeding and playing.
How to obtain a golden monkey trekking permit?
A golden monkey trekking permit is a document that allows visitors to track the golden monkeys in their natural habitats. Trekking permits are only obtained through a local tour operator who purchases the golden monkey trekking permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This authority is the national governing body of all protected areas in the country.
Visitors are urged to book their permits three months before the main trekking date. This is because golden monkey trekking is a highly anticipated activity, and permits may be issued for the desired date. Upon contacting the local tour operator and purchasing your permit, you will be sent a scanned copy of the permit to confirm your purchased permit.
How much is golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Trekking golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park comes at a cost. The costs for trekking the golden monkeys vary from nationality to region of the visitors. Foreign non-resident visitors pay USD 60 for a golden monkey trekking permit, foreign residents pay USD 50, and East African citizens pay UGX 40,000. The money collected from purchasing these permits is used for conservation efforts and developing the nearby communities of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Golden monkey habituation allows visitors to spend more time, up to 4 hours, with the golden monkeys, costing much compared to trekking. A golden monkey habituation permit costs USD 100 for foreign non-residents, USD 80 for residents, and UGX 100,000 for East African citizens. Habituation is a process that prepares the golden monkeys for the trekking experience by gently introducing the golden monkeys to the presence of humans.
What is the best time for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Given Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s proximity to the equator, the park receives two dry and wet seasons every year. The dry season begins from June to September and December to February. The wet season runs from May to March and October to November. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is open all year round and can be accessed at any time of the year. Golden monkey trekking is a physical activity that requires visitors to traverse the thickets in the park to the habitats of the primates. Therefore, it is best to embark on a golden monkey trekking adventure in the dry season. This is because, during this period, the park receives little or no rainfall, hence easing navigation across the park since the park is dry and has less vegetation.
What to pack for a golden monkey trekking experience?
Many factors are aligned to give you an incredible golden monkey trekking experience, and a good packing list is essential for a successful adventure experience. This packing list includes many items, as unveiled below.
- Hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- First aid box
- Light long-sleeved shirt
- Jungle trousers
- Insect repellent
- Bummed hat and sunscreen
- A camera and extra batteries
- A plastic bag to cover your luggage
- Reusable water bottle
- Energy-giving snacks, etc.
