Golden monkey trekking is one of the most done activities done in Rwanda’s volcanoes national park after mountain gorilla trekking. Seeing Eye to eye the smaller and nimbler monkeys is amazing and adventurous way to visit volcanoes national park in northwestern Rwanda. The volcano forest is a habitat of the rare endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Golden monkeys are called so because of their bright orange bodies, the can only be found in this park or Mgahinga national park in the whole of east Africa. Golden monkeys have a golden body, tail and cheeks with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail – end. Their behavior is not that much known but they stay in groups of about 30 individuals and they mainly feed on bamboo shoots, leaves, insects and fruits. Golden monkeys stay high on the mountain in bamboo and they leave in the same areas with mountain gorillas. They face the same threats with mountain gorillas such as snares, poaching, diseases and human encroachment.

Golden monkey trekking starts with briefing at the park headquarters from where you head to the forest to look for them with the help of a guide. Golden monkey trekking can take you 2 to 4 hours but when you find the habituated families, you will spend one hour with them as you see how they go about their daily life. You will see golden monkeys feed on the bamboo leaves and leap from one tree branch to another while female ones breast feed their young ones.

For one to do golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park, they must possess a golden monkey permit and this is purchased at $100 and this price includes park entrance fees and ranger guide fees.

At the beginning of the golden trek, you are given walking sticks free. Those with heavy luggage can hire porters at a fee of $10. With about 8 members in the group, you are led by a park ranger guide into the jungle and within 2 – 4 hours you will have already allocated these monkeys although they are shy and reserved. The habituated golden monkeys are very comfortable around human beings. After meeting golden monkeys, you are given a maximum of one hour to be with them but it’s truly amazing because these monkeys don’t run away. You can take them photos and record videos of golden monkeys swinging on the bamboo trees to go and share with your families and friends.

Volcanoes national park has so many activities to do and so many things to see but taking part in golden monkey trekking g is one of the exciting experiences that are very unique to this park as these monkeys only live in this park and Mgahinga national park in the whole world. Golden monkey trekking is not as difficult as gorilla trekking because they are easily found within a short time.

Visit volcanoes national park and have enough time to see and photograph the golden monkeys and it’s easy to take photos as these monkeys don’t move and they can come close to people but a good camera with a longer lens is recommended as they can be more active and move away from you if you decide to come close. The jungle has very large and aggressive stinging nettle so you are advised to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and be careful when touching the plants around you.

Apart from golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park, many tourists visit the park to take part in a once in a life time gorilla trekking and meet eye to eye with mountain gorillas. Seeing mountain gorillas is a great experience that will be unforgettable in your life. Gorilla trekking is expensive in Rwanda with a gorilla permit bought at $1500 but is worth it. Gorilla trekking is not only done in volcanoes national park but also Virunga national park at $400 in DR Congo, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park at $700 in Uganda.

Apart from golden monkey trekking and gorilla trekking in Rwanda; you can take part in chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park, birding watching, primate watching in Gishwati Mukura national park and wildlife game safari in Akagera national park.