Golden Monkey Habituation in Mgahinga gorilla national park
The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience is a unique wildlife encounter offered in the bamboo forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to biggest population of the endangered golden monkeys, which are a species of primate found only in the Virunga Mountains of East Africa.
The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience is a full-day activity that allows visitors to spend several hours in the company of a group of habituated golden monkeys. During the experience, visitors will have the opportunity to observe the monkeys as they go about their daily activities, such as feeding, playing, and grooming. Visitors will also learn about the behavior and social dynamics of the golden monkeys from experienced guides and researchers.
The habituation process involves gradually introducing the monkeys to human presence and helping them become accustomed to the presence of humans. This process can take several years, but it allows researchers and conservationists to study the monkeys in their natural habitat and develop strategies for their conservation.
The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience is a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close and personal with these rare and beautiful primates, and to learn about the important conservation work being done to protect them. The experience is suitable for visitors of all ages and fitness levels, but it’s important to note that visitors will need to be prepared for a full day of hiking and walking in the forest.
Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) is a rare and endangered primate species that is found only in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Volcanoes in East Africa. The Virunga Volcanoes are a chain of volcanoes that straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the golden monkeys are found in all three countries.
Golden monkeys are medium-sized primates, with males weighing up to 10 kilograms and females weighing up to 7 kilograms. They are known for their distinctive golden-orange fur, which is long and dense, and their black faces. They have long tails, which they use for balance when moving through the trees.
Golden monkeys are primarily arboreal, spending most of their time in the trees of the bamboo forests where they live. They are social animals and live in groups of up to 80 individuals, although the average group size is around 30. Within the group, there is a strict hierarchy of males and females, with dominant individuals having priority access to food and mates.
Golden monkeys are omnivores, feeding on a variety of plant and animal foods, including bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, insects, and small animals. They are active during the day, and spend most of their time foraging for food and socializing with other group members.
The golden monkey is classified as an endangered species, with an estimated population of fewer than 5,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The main threats to their survival include habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion, as well as hunting for bushmeat and the illegal pet trade. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the golden monkey and its habitat.
The Golden monkey Habituation Process
The Golden Monkeys live in troops of about 100 and are led by an Alpha male. They primarily feed on bamboo shoots, various seasonal fruits, bamboo leaves, lichens, sprouts, flowers, and small invertebrates. They live in the Bamboo Forests, one of the six Afro-Montane zones on the Volcanoes, and it is the same area where Gorillas are trekked. Compared with other monkey species, the golden monkeys are beautiful and have bright-colored fur and long golden hair mixed with orange.
Golden monkeys have to be habituated for tourists to trek them. The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience allows you to be part of that Habituation Experience. You are in the company of Rangers and researchers and will be with the Golden Monkeys for about three hours. The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience takes about six hours, and the trek is less challenging than Gorilla Trekking. One reason is that they do not move to build new nests each day as do the great apes such as Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.
Habituating the Golden monkeys is them getting used to humans without running away but going about their daily lives. The Golden Monkey Habituation allows you to be part of that process. The longer times will enable you to take more pictures and observe other primates, birds, and wildlife.
The Golden Habituation Experience Permits cost 100USD plus 40USD Park Entrance. Porter Fees are reasonable. If you are on a Safari with us, porter services, walking sticks, and bottled water are automatically provided.
What to wear for the golden monkey habituation experience
The Golden Monkey Habituation Experience requires that you have the same gear as on a Gorilla Trek, and it is about protecting you from thorns, nettles, ants, and flies. At this elevation, you will not have Mosquitoes or Tsetse flies. The things to pack include, Daypack, Hiking Boots, Long socks, Long Trouser, Long-Sleeved Shirt, Rain Jacket or Poncho, Tough Gardening Gloves, Wide Brimmed Hat, Camera Equipment – Binoculars, Packed Lunch and Bottled Water, Insect Repellent, Sun Lotion and Sunglasses.
Golden Monkey Habituation in Uganda , Mgahinga National Park .
Golden Monkey Habituation is a very exciting Safari Activity carried out in Mgahinga National Park and the Habituation Permit costs US $140 per person interested.
The Golden Monkeys live in big families of about 30-40 and above making it very interesting to go on the habituation experience which involves following the monkeys for a period of 4 hours watching them jump, communicate, play excitedly as they watch you walking beneath them in the forest.
Golden Monkeys live hierarchically with a dominant Male/ Alpha leading the groups followed by the Adult Females then the juveniles/ babies.
Unlike Golden Monkey Tracking which costs US $90 per person spending only an hour with the monkeys, Golden Monkey Habituation takes 4 hours in the presence of the Monkeys.
What to Carry for Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
- Leather Rainy Jacket
- Hiking/ Trekking Boots
- Hut
- Sun Glasses
- Binoculars
- Camera with no flash
- Woolen Gardening Gloves
- Bottled water and Snacks
How to Get to Mgahinga National Park for the Habituation Experience
Transferring to Mgahinga National Park can be done by public road transport, private road transport where you can hire a driver guide to transfer you to the park to experience remarkable Golden Monkey Habituation Adventure Experiences.
Flying There:
Travelers on a fixed schedule can fly to Mgahinga National Park by boarding a flight from Entebbe international Airport or the Kigali International Airport which takes them to Kisoro Airstrip where they are picked up and transferred to Mgahinga National Park to enjoy Golden Monkey Habituation.
By Road:
Travelers can hire a Car with a driver to transfer them to Mgahinga National Park and can as well as opt to board a bus (public means) to transfer them from Kampala to Kisoro South West of Uganda.