Super User 25 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Golden Monkey Trekking Safari In Mgahinga National Park Wildlife In Uganda

Golden monkey trekking in Uganda is among the most rewarding activities during your primate safaris in Uganda and you will have an amazing time during your Uganda safari.

Mgahinga National Park is one of the best places you can see golden monkeys in Uganda. The total population of golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park is estimated to be between 3164 and 5059 individuals. One group is fully human habituated with about 30 individuals, and it's available for daily golden monkey trekking excursions.

About Mgahinga Nationa Park;

Mgahinga National Park covers the Ugandan slopes of the three Virunga Volcanoes; Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo. Though small in size, just 33.7 sq. km, it adjoins Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The golden monkeys are usually found in different groups of many members and usually, an adult male is the dominant member of the group that exercises mating with the different adult females in the group.

Golden Monkey Trekking Experience;

Just like the gorilla trekking experience, golden monkeys in Mgahinga gorilla national park start with a morning briefing at 7:00 am, and trekking takes about 2 to 4 hours or more because they are found moving from one location to another such for food as well as playing with one another as one of their lifestyle behavior.

Golden monkey trekking can also be as short as 3o minutes depending on the speed of movement of the monkeys. However, golden monkeys do not go to higher altitudes like gorillas hence sparing travelers several hours of hiking.

Travelers are allowed to spend one hour with the golden monkey's group once allocated as they enjoy taking photos and videos with these stubborn and playful creatures in their territories as well as learning about their behavior patterns of life in the jungle.

Obtaining Golden Monkey Permits;

Tourists interested in having an amazing experience while they take part in golden monkey trekking in Uganda can obtain a golden monkey trekking permit from the different tour operators from a trusted tour company or from the Uganda Wildlife Authority the tourism body of the country to receive the permit to miss out on participating in the activity.

Best time to go golden monkey trekking safari.

Although golden monkey trekking is open to travelers throughout the year, the best-recommended season to trek the golden monkeys is during the dry season in December to February, June to October when there is little rainfall that is expected, and when the forest trails are dry and passable. During the rainy season, the roads and forest trails are wet, muddy, and slippery thus making the golden monkey trekking difficult.

Other Tourist Attractions and Activities in Mgahinga National Park;

Other scenic sights and adventurous activities at Mgahinga include;

Gorilla Tracking:

Following a trail of trampled and snapped vegetation across the slopes of the Virungas to spend an hour in the company of a family of mountain gorillas ranks among the World's most sought-after wildlife encounters. Contact time with Mgahinga's habituated gorilla group is restricted to one hour and participants must be aged 15 years

Volcano Hiking or Mountain climbing:

Mgahinga National rises upwards to three of Virunga's six volcanic summits, all of which can be hiked in a day. The Peaks provide beautiful scenic views of Rwanda, Congo, Albertine Rift Valley, and Bwindi impenetrable Forest. The Park's highest is Muhavura at 4,127 meters, and the access passes through montane forests, bamboo stands, and heather grows, before encountering bizarre giant lobelias, and groundsels at the summit.

The summit is adorned by a crystal clear crater lake, 40 meters in diameter which provides panoramic views of the Virunga chain. Mount Gahinga is the smallest of the Virunga Volcanoes, and its bamboo-covered slopes rise to a lush, swamp-filled crater, about 180 meters wide. The jagged crown of Mount Sabinyo bears several summits, with the highest at 3,669 meters whilst in 3 countries at once - Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo at once.

Birding:

Bird lovers can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds in a range of scenic locations that include the Sabinyo Gorge, the saddle between Mounts Gahinga and Sabinyo, and the Boundary Trail at Ntebeko, with its incomparable volcanic backdrop.

The Batwa People Trail Experience:

For centuries, Mgahinga's dense forests were home to the indigenous Batwa Pygmies, hunter-gatherers, and warriors, who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine. Today the Batwa guides lead visitors through the lower slopes of the forests, introducing them to their old home, and demonstrating skills they used to survive in it. The highlight of the Batwa trail is the descent into Garama cave for a subterranean performance of music and dance.

Ntebeko Visit Center:

This is a trailhead for nature walks, volcanic climbs, and golden monkey and gorilla trekking. Exhibits inside the building explore themes relating to the Virunga environment. A Trailhead along the adjacent drystone Buffalo Wall (Built to keep animals out of the neighboring farmland) provides good birding and views of the Park's dramatic volcanic backdrop.

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