What to expect on Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga

Are you interested in Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda and you are searching online about what to expect on Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga, golden monkeys in Uganda are only found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the trekking to see golden monkeys in Mgahinga timings and conditions vary tremendously as the golden monkeys move continuously through the forest this also determines how long and challenging the golden monkey trek will be that day of your trek.

What to expect on Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga, it is good to be prepared and remember the weather can change with very little warning. The terrain is often steep and through areas where there are no marked paths. The distance walked during golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga can take up to more than 6 miles that is approximately 4 to 5 hours to find the golden monkeys in Mgahinga and back, this means you will spend approximately 2 hours each way. You will set off for the golden monkey trek at 8am and be back by 2pm.

Here is the highlight of what to expect on Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga

• Expect to step into mud on the rainy day
• Expect to a long trek and hike, you will need to be fit enough to trek golden monkeys
• Expect rain showers especially during the rainy season this means you need to pack a rain coat
• Expect to follow the set rules and guidelines during the golden monkey trek
• Expect to be guarded by well-armed ranger guides with guns, don’t worry these are aimed to keep you safe in the forest against the wild animals and strangers.
• Expect an off the path experience, that is at some points you will need to make a way off the usual walking trail.

About Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park home to endangered mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys, Is golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park worth the money other species including birds, reptiles and forest mammals can be sighted during your visit at this park. It is one of the national parks that make the great Virunga ranges with others including Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. Golden monkey trekking is one the main activities to do in Mgahinga National Park and many who have done it have had an experience worth the money spent and time.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is worth the money, it is one of the unique activities to do in Mgahinga National Park for any traveler visiting Uganda and is interested in seeing golden monkeys in their natural habitat. Golden monkey trekking is only done in this park, this takes 3 to 4 hours, half day or full day depending on the movement of the monkeys in the forest, once they are found you will stay for one hour with these amazing shy monkeys to watch them eating, resting and playing great experience and worth the money.

How is Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda worth the money?

Golden Monkey trekking is one of the major activities mostly booked by travelers visiting Mgahinga National Park and many have reviewed the experience as unforgettable, magical and life-changing worth the money spent.

What you pay for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park that is $60 for the golden monkey permit and $40 for park entrance fees, this gives you an opportunity to learn more about how the endangered habituated golden monkeys that are still surviving in Mgahinga National Park as this gives you a great travel and learning experience. The money paid also helps in conservation of the only remaining golden monkeys in Uganda and their natural habitat Mgahinga National Park. If here was no golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park, Gahinga bamboo forest would be all destroyed by now through encroachments from the local communities but with the existence of this activity which also brings in foreign exchange to the country and the local communities around the forest when you visit and pay the entrance fees this has encouraged the local communities and the government of Uganda through Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the original home of these golden monkeys which has in turn promoted environmental conservation in Uganda, this makes the money spent on golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park worth.

Money spent on golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park through your golden monkey trekking permit and park entrance fees also helps to benefit the local communities that leave around Mgahinga National Park this in turn encourages the local communities to conserve and protect these golden monkeys since their importance is known by the local communities through the 20% money they receive every year off the permit and park entrance fees paid by tourists who do golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park. This money goes directly through payment of the local communities who are on the lead committees and indirectly through infrastructure and projects that help contribute to a better life of the local communities through construction of schools, hospitals and practicing agriculture, this thus also makes the money spent on golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park worth.

What is the cost and money spent on golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

The cost of golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park depends on days to spend and places where to stay that is budget, mid-range or luxury lodge on your safari to Mgahinga National Park for this activity. A golden monkey trekking permit costs $60 for a foreign non-resident, $60 for a resident and 40,000 Uganda Shilling for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this permit gives you an opportunity to spend 1 hour encounter with the habituated golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park. On top of the permit you will also pay other services which include park entrance fees, transport, accommodation and guiding. Below are the popular golden monkey trekking safaris in Mgahinga National Park for you to choose from;

How to book Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda

You will need to have your golden monkey trekking permit secured in advance to confirm that you are booked for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for the availability of golden monkey trekking permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your golden monkey permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park. It is advised to book your permits in advance atleast 2-3 months prior your visit given the fact these sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.

Best time to do golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park

The best time to do golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is during the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Uganda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in the Forests, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for viewing the golden monkeys offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetations grow high making the sightings unclear and its is muddy and slippery in the forest however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact golden monkeys don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available in the forest compared to the dry seasons. Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is a very well organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park anytime of the year.

Where to stay on your golden monkey trekking safari in Mgahinga National Park

Lodges near Mgahinga Gorilla National park include Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Kisoro Travelers’ Inn among others.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

By Road; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be accessed through the main high-way road from Entebbe/Kampala which approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will pass through Kabale town and proceed to Kisoro town from Kisoro town you will drive toward your lodge which close to the park for overnight. The Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda which is approximately 2-3 hours drive.

By Air; You can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip to access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Scheduled and chartered flights are available and operated by domestic airline operators of Aero link and Fly Uganda. You will need to plan with your tour operator for a transfer from the airstrip to your Lodge you are booked for your stay.

Why book Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda with Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris is experienced in organizing amazing gorilla safari experiences to Uganda and Rwanda. We are also highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions and Cultural encounters to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia. Contact us here about what to expect on Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga.