Golden monkey trekking in Africa
Golden monkey trekking in Africa is one of the most amazing safari activities that one can do in Africa. Golden monkeys are endangered species that range from 3000 to 4000 individuals still left in the world. The golden monkeys have a number of colours on like black, great and a beautiful shade of orange-gold that have them called golden monkeys. The golden monkey’s live in the large groups of up to 100 individuals that are led by an Alpha male and they do not move as much for they stay in one location for a time, compared to the mountain gorillas.
The golden monkeys feed on the bamboo leaves, seasonal fruits, lichens, leaves and other small invertebrates all that are abundant in the forest. The golden monkey is a sub-specie of the Sykes Monkey which is also known as the Blue monkey. These monkeys; the golden monkeys are listed as an endangered species on the International Union of conservation of Nature (IUCN) just like the endangered mountain gorillas whose numbers are less left in the world. And the left in the entire world are only living and existent in the Virunga ranges, and these ranges are 8 in number in Uganda, Rwanda and then Democratic Republic of Congo.
Golden monkeys live in the bamboo forested areas and they can only be found in the Virunga Volcanoes that are the Mount Karisimbi, Mount Mikeno, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamulagira and all these are home to the golden moneys and the mountain gorillas that live on their slopes; that is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Uganda, the golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley, and they share their home with the equally endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking the golden monkeys in Democratic Republic of Congo is not a fully developed tourism activity majorly because of the insecurity concerns.
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda.
Golden monkey trekking in Uganda is among the activities that is carried out around in Mgahinga gorilla national park that is located in the Southwestern Uganda. These monkeys live in the bamboo forests of Mgahinga national park which is also a home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla national park offers other wonderful safari activities that the travelers can take in after having the golden monkey trekking including gorilla trekking where the tourists spend one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas, bird watching where you spot the park’s beautiful and colourful bird species including the Albertine rift endemics, hiking safaris, this is where the tourists hike some of the Virunga volcanoes including Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura, then having the cultural experience that is where you will interact with the Batwa people that used to be the early inhabitants of the forest before it was gazetted as a national park.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park is as well great safari destination that offers you 4 hour long habituation of these interesting creatures, the travelers who decide to take golden monkey habituation on a Uganda safari will enjoy more time in the home of the golden monkeys in their natural habitat, where you will be joined by the researchers, scientists and skilled ranger guides led by the skilled trackers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority that will make your experience stunning.
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda.
Golden monkeys in Rwanda, takes place in Volcanoes National Park is one of the national parks of Rwanda and is famous for being the home of the mountain gorillas. Volcanoes national park is also home to other primates and more common one are the mountain gorillas. Trekking golden monkeys in Rwanda is a wonderful choice and option as the safari activity is fully available for the tourists to partake in. Rwandan government along with the park is very well organized and the country is a secure one so there will not worry on your safari activity. Trekking golden monkeys, compared to other safari activities like mountain gorillas have no age limit which means every tourist who is interested can engage in it.
Golden monkey trekking experience in Africa.
Golden monkey trekking experience in Africa starts very early in the morning at 7:30 am with a morning briefing at parks headquarters, you will be given the rules and regulations to follow during golden monkey trekking and what to expect and the expected code of conduct for the trek while in the forest. You will also be given chance to hire the porter to help you with the extra luggage if need, and at the same time you will get the hiking stick and head out into the forest.
Trekking golden monkeys compared to the mountain gorillas is a faster experience as you will meet the golden monkeys is a shorter time compared to when trekking the mountain gorillas. Although golden monkey trekking is not all that easier activity as it requires some effort to the activity because these do not leave behind evidence of existence. Though the golden monkeys can be trekkers through spotting fresh leftover of the bamboo shoots and when your meet them, you will see them swinging from one tree branch to another and the best way to take the pictures and recording videos is by putting your camera to fast shutter shot speed in order to get the pictures.
In order to do golden monkey trekking safari on an African safari, you have to first acquire golden monkey trekking permits, and these golden monkey permits are booked from the government bodies in charge of tourism that is Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or you can book through licensed tour operators like African Vacation Safaris. There are other costs associated with the golden monkey trekking as they include park entrance fees, accommodation costs, transport costs and among many others. You are kindly advised to know the limited number of permits are issued daily for the golden monkey in the different national parks.
