Explore a complete guide to golden monkey tracking Vs habituation. Get to know the differences between golden monkey tracking/trekking and golden monkey habituation experience.

Golden monkey tracking and habituation offer exceptional encounters with a troop of golden monkeys in the wilderness. The two primate experiences provide you a unique opportunity to locate a troop of golden monkeys in the wild with the company of an experienced guide.

• • 2 Days Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Tour from Kigali
  • 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari
  • 3 Days Fly Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Adventure
  • 4 Days Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking
  • 4 Days Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
  • 5 Days Uganda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Trekking
  • 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
  • 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tours & Wildlife
  • 6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari

The best tourist destinations to visit for golden monkey tracking and habituation include Uganda and Rwanda. These are the ideal spots with already habituated troops for you to explore. In Uganda, expect to experience the unmatched African golden monkey tracking experiences in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga is the smallest park of the available Protected Areas that offer refuge to the beautiful golden monkey troops. The habituated troops that are open for trekking in Uganda reside in the slopes of the Sabyinyo Volcanoes.

The Park is situated in the Virunga Conservation Area, the Protected Area that stretches to cover the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and also the Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Mgahinga features a lush bamboo forest and natural rainforest. Its golden monkey troops comprise 30 to 60 golden monkeys. In each of the troops, there is a leading male golden monkey. In general, there are approximately 5000 golden monkeys, and these are distributed in most parts of the golden monkeys.

Mgahinga National Park is also an ideal spot to experience the golden monkey habituation. The guided golden monkey habituation experience is a special opportunity to spend more time with a semi-habituated troop of golden monkeys.

Mgahinga’s golden monkey habituation permits cost USD 100 per visitor, and a permit guarantees you a higher chance to participate in the search for these unique primates.

4 hours are given to guests to enjoy a face-to-face with a semi-habituated golden monkey troop, and this includes photographing them, observing their daily behaviors at an acceptable distance, and others.

Take note that golden monkeys often tend to be more active than mountain gorillas. Therefore, as you position yourself to capture their pictures, a higher chance are they can jump from place to another. You should be quick as well and ensure your camera is set properly.

Where to stay on Golden Monkey Tracking Vs Golden Monkey Habituation

The lodges and camps present in and around Mgahinga for you to book for your golden monkey tracking tour and habituation experience include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, and Mucha Hotel Kisoro.

Other accommodation options include Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Traveler’s Rest Hotel, and many other places around the Rushaga/Nkuringo sectors.

Getting to Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Kampala/Kigali)

Two key alternatives that can let you reach Mgahinga include road and air travel. Road transportation from Entebbe or Kampala involves driving for 9-10 hours, but on an enriching route. The main towns to be covered when you set off from Kampala to Mgahinga include Masaka, Mbarara, and Kisoro. The Equator crossing tour at the Kayabwe is part of your journey, and at this point, you will take pictures and have fun.

From the Equator, your journey continues with a lunch break to be made in the Igongo Cultural Centre or at any other hotel in Mbarara city. Visitors taking the Kampala-Mgahinga route have an abundance of things to explore and experience. Your journey is never complete without incredible sights to see. It is one route that comes with plenty of things to spice up your Uganda safari.

Kigali to Mgahinga through the Chanika border. Enjoy only 4 to 5 hours to access the Mgahinga National Park from Kigali. The exceptional bit about this alternative route is that you can have a city tour in Kigali combined with golden monkey trekking or habituation in Mgahinga.

The Kigali city tour can take 2 hours or more, depending on the places you plan to explore. In Kigali, there are multiple places that are special and guarantee incredible experiences, including the Kigali genocide site, Umusambi Village, Museums, Art galleries, Niyo Art gallery, Kimironko market, Kandt House museum, and others.

Reaching Mgahinga by air transportation from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Kisoro Airfield. Flights always offer a better alternative, especially if you do not want to be on the road for long hours. With flights setting off from the Entebbe Airport to Kisoro, guests can expect to have about 2 hours to get to Southwestern Uganda.

At the airstrip in Kisoro, you can find your driver guide already waiting to pick you up and connect you to Mgahinga National Park, where the actual trek with golden monkeys or habituation experience is to be enjoyed.

Golden monkey trekking experience in Rwanda

Rwanda is a special place in East Africa where you can enjoy the golden monkey trekking tours. In Rwanda, guided golden monkey treks are enjoyed in the Volcanoes National Park.

This Park is found in the Northwestern end of Rwanda and is the most accessible destination, taking visitors approximately 2-3 hours. Rwanda’s golden monkeys can be spotted around the base of the Virunga volcanoes and as they are playfully roam in the lush bamboo forest.

A trek with Rwandan golden monkeys takes at least 2-4 hours, which includes an hour for a face-to-face and taking photos. The Sabyinyo area is known to hold the highest concentration of golden monkeys, with one troop consisting of 80-100 golden monkeys. To visit a troop of Rwanda’s habituated golden monkeys, expect to pay a permit at USD 100 per visitor.

Rwanda Safari Lodges to Book during Golden Monkey Tracking Vs Habituation

Major accommodation options to stay on the Rwanda golden monkey tour range from budget, midrange, to luxury. The ideal lodges and camps to secure in advance for your overnight stay in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, include;

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, 5 Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Da Vinci, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest. You may also book Kinigi Guesthouse, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Teloreza Eco Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, and more.

When to Visit Golden Monkeys?

The dry season is a perfect time to explore golden monkeys in their habitats, and this is from June to September, or consider planning a golden monkey safari from December to February.

Even in the low season, there is a possibility to organize and engage in the active search for a habituated troop of golden monkeys. This can be either from March to May, or you can travel from October to November.

What should you carry for Golden Monkey Tracking Vs the Habituation Experience?

Pack only key items for your amazing golden monkey tracking tour and habituation experience. On the list, expect to include a raincoat, insect repellent, hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, trousers, a first-aid kit, a pair of binoculars, and sunscreen.

How to Book Golden Monkey Tracking and Habituation

Book your golden monkey tracking or habituation with Flawless Adventure Planners Ltd, a trusted Premium Africa Safaris and tour company that is based in Kampala. We have vast experience and expertise to organize for you the best golden monkey safari not only in Uganda but also to Rwanda.

Contact our expert now to secure your slot in advance. At Flawless Adventure Planners Ltd, we do not only book permits but also the rest of the amenities that make up the complete tour.