Volcanoes National Park is the hotspot for golden monkey trekking adventures. It is the only park in the country that harbors rare golden monkeys. Volcanoes National Park is part of the famous Virunga conservation area, a popular primate region of the world. The park was established in 1925 and is one of the oldest parks in Africa. It is situated in the northern region of Rwanda in the Musanze district. Volcanoes National Park borders Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is a famous primate destination after it hosts the endangered mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkeys, plus other small primates. The park is a geographical marvel as it houses five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga massif. These include Mount Karisimbi, which is the tallest in the entire Virunga massif, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhavura. The park offers two exclusive treks of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, giving visitors a chance to encounter these primates in the wild.
Golden monkey trekking adventure
Golden monkey trekking is traversing the dense vegetation in the park, looking for the golden monkeys and having an hour in their presence upon locating them. In Volcanoes National Park, trekking golden monkeys is the second major tourist activity after gorilla trekking. Golden monkey trekking is quite similar to gorilla trekking. However, golden monkey trekking is done in the lowlands at the base of the volcanic mountains in the park. Golden trekking is a highly anticipated activity in the park since the golden monkeys are rare specials. Their distinctive look makes these primates stand out as unique species. They have golden-orange fur on their backs and golden fur on their faces with dark limbs. The golden monkeys can easily be trekked in Volcanoes National Park because they dwell mostly in the bamboo trees at the base of the mountains. These primate species are fast movers. Thus, trackers follow the bamboo shoots leftovers as they are ever on the move. The golden monkeys’ diet is mainly made up of bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, small insects, and moths. Golden monkeys are also endangered primate species, with only 5,000 individuals left in the wild and found in the Virunga conservation area.
The golden monkey trekking experience begins at the head offices with a pre-trekking briefing. This short briefing emphasizes the rules and regulations of trekking these primates and also the expected code of conduct within their presence. Although the golden monkeys dwell in the relative lowland areas, the trekking experience is not a walk in the park. It requires some level of fitness as visitors walk for hours, battling exhaustion and the dense forest canopies of undergrowth. After the briefing, visitors are assigned a guide ranger who guides them straight to the habitats of these primates, following their movements from their leftovers. The trekking experience of golden monkeys is very adventurous as it does not require any age limits to participate in it.
What are the other tourist activities in the park?
Volcanoes National Park is a vast protected area that offers unmatched adventures that do not spot the golden monkey adventures. Several other activities can be experienced in Volcanoes National Park, as unmasked below.
Gorilla trekking
Mountain gorillas are the face of Volcanoes National Park and the major attraction. Gorilla trekking is the main activity in the park and involves traversing through the dense forest, searching for these primates. After finding them, you spend an hour in their presence. Volcanoes National Park harbors 10 habituated gorilla families that can be trekked through the park. This experience begins with a pre-trekking briefing, and after being grouped in groups of 8 and assigned a guide ranger. The gorilla trekking experience takes about 4-5 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Visitors get a chance to spot the gorillas as they go by with their daily chores.
Hiking
Volcanoes National Park has five volcano mountains of the Virunga massif. These mountains present the perfect hiking experience. Hiking adventures take place on the different mountains in the park, including Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhavura. As visitors hike these mountains, they encounter other species like colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons, to mention but a few.
Birding
With over 200 bird species in Volcanoes National Park, it is a marvel spot for birding experiences. Birding takes place along the designated birding trails with guidance from experienced professional birding guides. The park hosts 17 of the 24 rare Albertine Rift Valley endemics. Some of the bird species in the park include Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, dusky crimson-wing, Archer’s ground robin, francolins, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, collared apalis, etc. These bird species are scattered across the various ecological systems in the park.
What is the cost of trekking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park?
Trekking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park requires one to obtain a trekking permit. This document allows visitors to access the park and trek the golden monkeys. The golden monkey trekking permits can only be purchased from the Rwanda Development Board through a local registered tour company. These costs range on the nationality and region of the visitors. The trekking permits cost USD 100 for foreign non-residents, USD 65, and Rwf 40,000 for East Africans.
What is the best time for golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park?
Golden monkey trekking can be done all year round. However, the best time is during the dry season. Volcanoes National Park experiences two dry and wet seasons every year. The dry season runs from June to September and December to February. During this season, the park receives dry and humid temperatures with little or no rainfall. This ensures that the trekking trails are dry and easily navigable. The vegetation in Volcanoes National Park is also sparse, henceforth giving clear and uninterrupted views of the golden monkeys in their natural habitats.