Golden Monkey Tracking in Rwanda.
Golden monkey tracking in Rwanda is a unique and rewarding wildlife experience that allows nature lovers to encounter these awesome monkeys in their natural habitats. This amazing activity is done in Volcanoes National Park, found in the northwestern part of Rwanda. It’s the smallest national park in the country, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers. It’s famous for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas, which attracts thousands of visitors to see these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. Golden monkeys are considered an endangered species, a subspecies of the Sykes monkey, which is also known as the Blue monkey.
They live in bigger groups of up to 60 individuals in a family. They are easily identified by bright orange fur covering their entire bodies. They feed on bamboo shoots, small insects and fruits, and they spend most of their time swinging from tree to tree. These creatures are so playful, which makes photography challenging as they can’t be in one place for a minute. Golden monkeys are endemic to the Virunga region and are also found in Mgahinga National Park and Virunga National Park, though those in Virunga National Park are not habituated to human presence due to insecurity in the DR Congo. Visitors visiting the park can combine it with gorilla trekking, bird watching, hiking and nature walks, all of which allow travellers to explore the park’s rich biodiversity.
Golden Monkey Tracking Experience in Rwanda.
Golden Monkey tracking begins early in the morning at the park’s headquarters about the rules and regulations of the activity and verification of the permits. All participants must acquire a tracking permit issued by the Rwanda Development Board, which costs $100. Later, participants are grouped into a small number, and each group meets their assigned armed ranger who ensures their protection and gives them more important information about the park’s residents that they might encounter, like bird species. Participants will walk through the bamboo forests in search of these playful monkeys. The duration for tracking is between 1- 3 hours, depending on the movement of these monkeys as they keep on moving from one place to another in search of food. Once they are located, participants spend strictly one hour with them observing and learning more about their behaviours. They will see how they play, jumping from one tree to another, feeding, mothers taking care of the young ones and of course, participants will take as many pictures and videos as they wish. Primatologists planning their safari in Rwanda should include golden monkey tracking, as it provides unforgettable experiences to all nature lovers visiting the park.
What is the best time to see Golden Monkeys.
Golden monkey tracking in Rwanda can be done at any time of the year, and the best time differs depending on individuals’ preferences. The park receives two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season runs from June to September and from December to February. During this period, the park receives little to no rainfall, and the trails are less muddy and slippery, making it easy to search for golden monkeys. The wet season runs from March to May and October to November. During this period, the park receives enough rainfall, the trails are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate them.
