Ugandan Golden Monkeys
Although they may not be well-known among Uganda’s primates, golden monkeys are incredibly rare and unusual in the country. The scientific name for the golden monkeys is Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti. In Uganda and other African countries, golden monkeys are a critically endangered species of primates. This is the real cause of the scarcity of golden monkeys in Uganda. One of the golden monkeys’ defining characteristics is the golden-orange and black-silver hue of their fur, which gives them their name.
Even though they are extremely scarce, golden monkeys are still the most fascinating and greatest primates to hike in Uganda. Trekking for golden monkeys is an exciting pastime that takes place in the highlands of Mgahinga National Park, which is located in the country’s southwest. Golden monkeys can also be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Note that only the national parks that comprise the Virunga conservation region are home to golden monkeys. Accordingly, golden monkeys and mountain gorillas are not lowland primates; rather, they prefer to live in regions with rather high terrain elevations.
If you’re interested in trying something new, consider following golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park, which is the finest place to find them in Uganda. The rare golden monkeys have the ideal area to live in Mgahinga National Park’s bamboo jungle. You may witness the peaceful coexistence of golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees in Mgahinga National Park. In contrast to mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, golden monkey trekking safaris are less prevalent in Africa.
The golden monkeys’ distinctiveness
The characteristics that set golden monkeys apart are numerous. The golden monkeys’ presence on the outlook makes them incredibly alluring. Compared to other primates, golden monkeys move quickly, therefore you will need to be quick to take pictures of them. The golden monkeys enjoy jumping high in the bamboo forest and are quite playful. The majority of Mgahinga National Park’s golden monkeys are accustomed to tourists.
In contrast to the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, golden monkeys do not live at very high elevations, even though they are present in highland regions. Because of this, golden monkey trekking is now accessible to nearly everyone, regardless of the obstacles. The lowland bamboo forests in Mgahinga National Park are a favorite hangout for the golden monkeys. Since golden monkeys are frequently found in the lowland bamboo trees of Mgahinga National Park, there is no need to worry about climbing the mountain to discover them.
Like other members of the Hominidae family, golden monkeys are very gregarious primates. On the lower slopes of Mgahinga National Park, they reside in sizable colonies. They are incredibly quick animals. As they play among the bamboo trees, they move swiftly. You must have a certain amount of speed if you wish to follow them at all. The unique diet of golden monkeys is in line with the type of habitat they live in. In Mgahinga National Park, the golden monkeys consume bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, and tree and small shrub flowers. Because they both eat bamboo shoots, you can compare golden monkeys to pandas in Japan.
Ugandan permits for trekking golden monkeys
Only Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park is home to golden monkeys. They are also present in Rwanda and the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, though. In Uganda, tracking golden monkeys is not as well-known as hiking for chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. However, the Uganda Wildlife Authority set costs for visitors who would like to participate in this fascinating pastime at Mgahinga National Park anyway.
Foreign non-residents can purchase golden monkey trekking licenses for as little as USD 50; foreign residents can do the same; and East African citizens can get them for UGX 20,000. Although these costs are far lower than those of the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, you will also be able to see a lot more golden monkeys while hiking there.
The opportunity to spend an hour with these unusual monkeys of Mgahinga National Park makes your golden monkey trekking ticket purchase worthwhile. Along the trekking trail, you can also observe other primates like baboons and monkeys, and if you’re lucky, you can spot the mountain gorillas. Thus, visiting Mgahinga National Park to experience the golden monkeys is a real-life lottery for Uganda’s top primate safari.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for issuing golden monkey trekking permits, but you don’t need to visit the headquarters to obtain one; instead, rely on your tour guide to ensure a seamless and unforgettable trip. When you travel on safari in Uganda, make sure you participate in the golden monkey trekking permits in Mgahinga National Park, which are far less expensive than the chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale National Park.
