Rwanda Golden Monkey : Opt for the Rwanda Golden Monkey tracking experience – Rwanda Golden monkeys are endemic in the Virunga Mountain Ranges, Massif are often found in bamboo forest at the base of the mountains. Blue monkeys have also been sighted there. The monkeys mostly feed on bamboo shoot, bamboo branches and young bamboo leaves .Coexistence between the two sub-species in the same forest is a recommendable fact which merits further research on the subject. Rwanda and Uganda are the only two countries where visitors have the chance of trekking to see these beautiful monkeys up-close. There are two habituated troops of golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and the larger herd in Sabyinyo volcano with 80 to 100 members is the most visited.

Rwanda Golden Monkey tracking/ trekking

The age limit to do the Golden Monkey tracking in Rwanda is a minimum of 12 years. The golden monkey trekking permit or ticket or pass costs USD100 for international tourists. The tourist must have purchased a golden monkey trekking permit in advance. Tourists report to the Kinigi Park Headquarters at 7am where they will meet the park ranger guides for briefing and then drive to the start of trek which is 15 minutes away at the edge of the park.

There is one session in a day for the golden monkey trek and takes place in the morning like all other activities in the Volcanoes National Park.  The monkeys are easily followed by clues of fresh left over eaten leaves of bamboo and shoots. Tourists are allowed only one hour with the golden monkeys watching them in their natural habitat. The golden monkeys like making huge jumps from one bamboo tree to another which is supported by their extra-long tails that offer good balance. You might see some monkeys with short tails; they are cut off by bamboo which can trap them as they jump around using their tails as support.

The monkeys spend most of their time at the top of the bamboo, but sometimes climb down along the tree to eye level and even move on ground. Flash photography is permitted which is not allowed for other primate quests like chimp trekking and gorilla trekking. At times the monkeys will go out of the park into the open potato fields to eat the Irish potatoes left behind after the harvest. The monkeys’ act of digging and cleaning the potato before eating is remarkable to watch.