Golden Monkey Trekking In Volcanoes National Park.
Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park: One of the most popular tourist attractions in Rwanda is golden monkey trekking, which entails travelers entering the tropical rainforest to look for habituated golden monkeys and spending an hour with them in their natural environment. Known for housing endangered mountain gorillas, many bird species, and five of the eight Virunga volcanoes—Mt. Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura—Volcanoes National Park is situated in Musanze village in the northwest of Rwanda. Trekking with golden monkeys is also possible in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Trekking with golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
At Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey trekking is an exciting and busy activity that begins early in the morning with a briefing on the expectations, rules, and regulations at the park headquarters. Following the briefing, you will be paired with an expert park guide and begin hiking through the forest, following the pathways created by fallen leaves or bamboo shoots, in search of the golden monkeys.
You can see other primate species, birds, plants, and trees while trekking. After you find the golden monkeys, you can spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can watch them eat, play, and climb tree branches. You can also take pictures and videos to show your family back home after the safari.
The price of permits for golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Permits to trek golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park cost $100 USD per person, regardless of nationality. The cost covers park rangers, an expert ranger tour, and an hour spent with the golden monkeys.
How to reserve trekking permits for golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
You can either make a direct reservation for golden monkey hiking permits through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) by calling or emailing the park’s Kampala headquarters. You can also reserve trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park by contacting a reputable tour operator, such as Experiya Tour Company, and providing the date, month, and year you would want to see the golden monkeys.
After getting in touch with us, we will verify whether permits are available on the dates you have selected. If they are, you will be required to pay a deposit. We may buy the golden monkey permit on your behalf as soon as the payment is received, and we’ll email you a scanned copy of the receipt as proof.
Because golden monkey trekking permits are competitive and sell out rapidly, especially during the busiest months of June through September and December through February, reservations should be made two to four months prior to the trekking date.
Things you should bring for a golden monkey trekking expedition
Among other things, travelers should bring an insect repellent, hiking shoes, a waterproof rain jacket or poncho, long sleeves and trousers, a warm sweater, garden gloves, a camera and extra batteries, energy snacks and water, binoculars, a walking stick, a backpack, and face masks when embarking on a golden monkey trekking safari.
When is the best time to go on a golden monkey safari?
The best time to trek for golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because there is less or no rainfall in the park during this time, making the trekking trails dry and passable, making trekking easier than during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making trekking challenging.
Accommodations for your hiking safari with golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Sambora Kinigi Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Kataza House, Urugano Virunga Palace, Hotel Muhabura, One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Inn Resort and Spa, Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, and Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge are just a few of the affordable, midrange, and luxury lodging options available in Volcanoes National Park.
Accessing Volcanoes National Park
It takes roughly two to three hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to the park headquarters in a safari vehicle to reach Volcanoes National Park, which is situated in the northwest of Rwanda.
