Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Similar to gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking in Rwanda occurs at the Volcanoes National Park at the same time as 7:00. There are currently two habituated troops of roughly 80 habituated golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park that tourists can visit. These uncommon species are also categorised as endangered.

Found only in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains, golden monkeys are a rare species with distinctive personalities that are currently under threat of extinction. The yellow markings that are visible all over their bodies make them simple to identify. The sole method to distinguish the Golden monkeys from other primates is by their noses. They are also referred to as “the Old world monkey.” The golden monkeys have a distinctive feature: most other monkeys have their noses sticking out to the sides, but upon closer inspection, the nostrils of golden monkeys face upwards.

Living in the bamboo jungle along the foot of the mountains, Rwanda’s golden monkeys have become accustomed to researchers and tourists, helping them get past their initial shyness. In a small group of no more than eight people, trekking golden monkeys and gorillas is comparable, and once you locate the monkeys, you can spend an hour with them. The critters that are endangered are highly energetic and hop from tree to tree, which makes for fascinating photography subjects.

If you’re interested in animals, the golden monkey hike is a unique and enjoyable experience that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Volcanoes National Park. The other group of golden monkeys is found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the Kisoro district of south-western Uganda, in addition to Volcanoes National Park.

Since the majority of golden monkeys reside directly beneath Volcanoes Mountain and are often spotted swinging from bamboo branches in the wild, finding them is not difficult. The visitors get to see monkeys with short tails that were amputated after becoming entangled in bamboo branches. They have an hour to see the animals and learn about their various traits from the knowledgeable tour guide who accompanies them. The simplest method to locate them is to follow the leftover bamboo shoots that the monkeys always leave behind after they eat. In addition, the monkeys come out into the open to graze on fruit and cones in the farmer’s fields next to the forest, making it simple for visitors to observe them as they swing back and forth.

You must have a golden monkey permit in order to engage in golden monkey tracking. A visitor is permitted one hour with the primates under the permit. Direct permits can be obtained by visitors from the tourism authorities of each nation. Permits for Volcanoes National Park are obtained via the Rwanda Development Board. Your complete golden monkey tour can be planned with the assistance of a tour company, including obtaining permits, lodging, and transportation. Golden monkey permits are more expensive than gorilla permits, and they vary often. Unlike gorilla permits, golden monkey permits do not require reservations in advance. They can be obtained on the day of tracking. There is a very good probability of seeing golden monkeys.

The male monkeys in a group of 30 to 80 golden monkeys always exhibit dominance over the other males in the group. While female monkeys typically guard a single area, males wander between groups and can mate with any of the groups. These golden monkeys have a twenty-year lifespan.

They are well known to be highly gregarious animals that live in packs that are headed by a single male. They can be observed hopping from one tree to the next all day long because they are quite active during the day. When they go to sleep, they always gather in groups of four for easy protection, especially for the young ones. They typically sleep on top of the various bamboo trees in the artificial trees in the forests.

There are roughly 5000 golden monkeys on the earth, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as an endangered species. The civil conflicts raging in some sections of the Virunga region and human encroachment on their territory pose a threat to them. Human communities harass golden monkeys because they occasionally leave parks to trespass in gardens. Due to their uniqueness and endangered position, trekking with golden monkeys has become highly popular. More resources are allocated to their protection when more people visit them and raise awareness of their predicament around the globe.

There are presently two habituated troopings of golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. About 100 people make up the largest and most popular group that resides near the Mount Sabyinyo slopes. There are battalions of golden monkeys in the Gishwati Forest Reserve as well. It’s also thought that a tiny group is still alive in the national park of Nyungwe Forest. For visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati Forest Reserve, tracking is not arranged. The groups present here are untamed and not habituated.