Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Golden Monkeys are mountainous primates that belong to the Old World Monkey species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources [IUCN] has classified these intriguing small primates as severely endangered. These species are restricted to the Virunga Massif in East and Central Africa, and the IUCN added them to the list because of a sharp decline in their global population.

The Virunga massif, which is home to mountain gorillas, another endangered species that is native to this region, is located at a high altitude and spans three countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. A decrease in the number of golden monkeys can be attributed to several factors, such as trophy hunting and human encroachment that has destroyed their natural habitat for agricultural and habitational purposes. Since these species have almost no significant predators in the wild, humans pose the greatest threat to them.

With this thought in mind and their numbers decreasing trekking golden monkeys is one appropriate experience you can add to your list of experiences, as you might be witnessing one of the last groups even with the serious conservation efforts by government authorities in these countries. Golden monkeys are found in 4 national parks in these three countries namely, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Kahuzi Biega and Virunga national parks in D.R. Congo and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. This essay will examine golden monkeys in Uganda in great detail.

One of Africa’s pearls, Mgahinga National Park is situated in the country’s southwest and is considered a precious gem. It takes pride in harboring the two most threatened species on Earth, golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. Golden monkeys, despite being recognized as highland primates, are slightly less inclined to higher, cooler altitudes than their counterparts, the mountain gorillas.

Their primary food consists of bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, and occasionally lichens. They are primarily herbivorous. They can be easily recognized by the vivid golden colours covering their flanks and back. They can be seen darting from one landing location to another, pausing briefly to indulge in some playful antics and chew on something.

Golden monkeys, just like other monkeys are naturally curious creatures and visitors are assured to be fascinated by their presence. They move around the park in social groups known as troops, based on the availability of food, which is influenced by seasonal variations. A troop can have three to more than fifty members and is led by a single alpha male.

There are two sessions available in Mgahinga National Park for visitors who want to interact with the golden monkeys. One is standard trekking, which typically takes one to two hours and includes a 30-minute briefing during which a guide goes over a list of dos and don’ts while trekking, such as the strict prohibition against feeding or littering animals. Remaining on the approved routes and remaining together at all times.

In addition, they will go over the park’s background and history, conservation initiatives, and what to anticipate on the hike. Once you locate the monkeys, you are allowed to spend an hour with these adorable, gregarious animals. Their never-ending antics will make you laugh. The other experience is golden monkey habituation, which is gained after four hours of interaction with the experiential groups and qualifies them for future visits from visitors.

All things considered, seeing golden monkeys is an incredible safari experience that is far less expensive than going gorilla trekking, even though tourists may be fortunate enough to see gorillas while trekking. In addition, because the golden monkeys live on the lower slopes, the trek is less strenuous. For example, there are fewer age restrictions (12 is the maximum age for trekking golden monkeys, compared to 15 for gorillas, and you can obtain a golden monkey trekking permit without even making a reservation in advance). Though for easier planning and time management, we encourage guests to book in advance.

While visiting this national park, tourists can go on trekking excursions with golden monkeys and gorillas, as well as cultural tours.

Where should I stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see the golden monkeys?

For interested visitors, there are very many accommodation facilities to pick from ranging from budget, mid-range and luxury facilities. It all relies on your spending limit and personal taste. Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Travellers Rest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Lodge, and numerous other upscale lodges and camps are a few of these.

It is recommended that hikers bring long-sleeved clothing due to the often thick and bushy trails, sturdy hiking boots for uneven terrain, a water bottle, energy-boosting snacks and rainproof gear because precipitation can still fall during dry seasons. Apart from these, travelers are recommended to always think about going during the dry season, which runs from early June to October and December to February. In contrast to the rainy season, when the tracks are muddy, slick, and difficult to manoeuvre, these months see more useable and manageable conditions.

For a full African wilderness experience, visitors can also include a safari in Queen Elizabeth or Lake Mburo national parks. If you were pondering where to go for your next safari in non-congested location, then choose Golden monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.