According to research, there are over 3000–4000 golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, and there may be more endangered species, such as mountain gorillas. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris

Golden Monkey tracking is more like gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking since these magnificent primates live in large groups of about 30–60 members since they love to roam large territories in search for food in the bamboo shoot forest, which makes Golden Monkeys so spectacular to view compared to other primates. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.

Golden monkey tracking is an activity that requires one to be physically fit since it involves looking for these glorious small, curious golden-colored monkeys that move faster through the forest looking for food. It is a unique chance to get close to golden monkeys and learn their behaviors.

To enhance the golden monkey experience, one may opt to go for golden monkey habituation that allows visitors to spend at least four hours with golden monkeys. Golden monkey habituation is the process of slowly introducing golden monkeys into the presence of human beings.

It allows visitors to go with researchers and guides hiking in the forest to study and learn more about golden monkey behaviors like feeding, happiness, and anger, among others.

Normal Golden Monkey tracking starts at 7:00 am from the park headquarters where a briefing takes place and you are taken through the dos and don’ts of the trek. Golden Monkey tracking takes a minimum of 2 hours and more depending on their availability near their nest constructed the night before.

While the Golden Monkey habituation experience requires visitors to be as early as 6:00 am at the headquarters.

Mgahinga national park golden monkeys are a beautiful primate species that live only in the bamboo forests of the Virunga ranges. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a troop of about 40–60 golden monkey groups that are habituated and ready for visitors to hike higher altitudes within the bamboo zones, where they mostly stay all the time. Golden monkeys are striking to photograph because of their golden and silvered black fur. Because golden monkeys move swiftly, you have to be good at taking pictures.

Mgahinga National Park offers chances of golden monkey habituation where travelers can spend the whole day with these golden monkeys, compared to the normal golden monkey trekking, which only allows travelers to take 1 hour. Golden monkey habituation can only be done in Mgahinga National Park.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) habituates golden monkey troops for an experiential tourism experience. Travelers should never miss encountering the rare golden monkeys, either in the morning or in the afternoon, depending on everyone’s interest. This experience is done by a well-trained tour guide who will take you to the higher slopes of the Virunga ranges, where these golden monkeys live.

Mgahinga national park golden monkeys can easily be seen because they don’t move too far, but instead move up in the bamboo trees in this thick forest, where they can easily be seen. When encountering the normal golden monkeys, visitors are only permitted to spend one hour observing and photographing these primates before returning.

Uganda Wildlife Authority experts estimate that there are over 3,000 golden monkeys inhabiting the bamboo forests of Mgahinga national park at 2,000 meters above sea level and habituated to above 40-60 golden monkey groups for visitors led by an experienced guide to closely encounter the rare primates that are not seen anywhere else within Uganda.

Golden monkey tracking can be carried out anytime of the year, although the best time to trek golden monkeys is in the dry season, which is considered the peak season and lasts from June to September and from December, January, and February.