Is Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park Worth It.

Is golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park worth it is the most asked question by travellers planning to visit the park to encounter these playful monkeys. Yes, a golden monkey encounter is worth it in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The park is situated in the far northern part of Rwanda, bordering Mgahinga National Park and Virunga National Park. Its one of the oldest national parks in Africa, established in 1925 to protect the endangered animals that existed at that time. It is surrounded by five volcanoes like Mahabura, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo and Gahinga, which offer stunning views. Golden monkey tracking in the park allows primatologists and nature lovers to search for these endangered monkeys and see them up close in their natural habitats. Golden monkeys are a subspecies of the Sykes monkey, which is also known as the Blue monkey. They live in bigger groups of up to 60 individuals. They are easily identified by a bright orange fur spread out all over their bodies. They feed on bamboo shoots, small insects and fruits. These playful monkeys spend most of their time swinging from tree to tree. Seeing the awesome monkeys in their natural habitats provides an exceptional experience to all nature lovers and primatologists.

Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Golden monkey tracking is an amazing safari activity for travellers visiting the park, and it involves walking through the bamboo forests in search of the endangered monkeys. They are Albertine Rift endemics, which are only found within this area. Participants planning to do this activity must obtain a golden monkey tracking permit directly from the park or the Rwanda Development Board, and a permit costs $ 100. Tracking begins early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity. Later, participants are assigned a game ranger who leads them in search of these playful monkeys. Tracking between 2 to 3 hours, depending on their movements as they keep on moving from one place to another in search of food. Once found, they will strictly observe them for one hour, and they will see them swinging from tree to tree, feeding, and interacting with each other, which provides exceptional experiences. Having a close encounter with these playful monkeys and watching them play from tree to tree is such an incredible moment and makes golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park worth it.

Best Time to See Golden Monkeys.

Volcanoes National Park is open throughout the year, and the best time to see golden monkeys depends on the traveller’s interests. They can visit in the dry season or in the wet season. The dry season is the most preferred time of the year by travellers, which is from June to September and from December to February. During these months, the park receives little to no rainfall, and the trails are dry, making it easy to search for these playful monkeys. The vegetation cover is scattered, which creates clear views and shots. The wet season is from October to November and March to May. During these months, the park receives enough rainfall, making it muddy and slippery. The vegetation cover is tall and dense, which creates unclear views. However, this season favours budget travellers as most lodges and tour operators give discounts