Golden Monkey Trekking
Did you know there are no wild monkeys or apes living in North America or Europe (except a small group in Gibraltar)? That’s why many people travel to Africa to see amazing primates like mountain gorillas—and they often discover other rare ones too! One special primate is the golden monkey. These colorful monkeys live only in a small area called the Virunga Mountains, which stretch across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They used to be very hard to spot because they are shy and live in thick forests. But in 2002, a group called the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund started working to help people see them in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Now, you can go on guided golden monkey treks in that park and two others. Golden monkey trekking is a fun and exciting way to add to your gorilla adventure in Rwanda or Uganda!
What Makes the Golden Monkeys So Special?
Most people visit the Virunga Mountains to see mountain gorillas, but the golden monkey is a hidden gem worth seeing too! These monkeys are not only fun to watch, but also very beautiful. They love living in bamboo forests and have striking golden-orange fur on their backs, which makes them stand out. They look a bit like blue monkeys, but instead of a plain blue-grey coat, golden monkeys wear a flash of color that really shines in the forest.
Golden monkeys are endangered, which means there aren’t many left in the wild. They used to live in more parts of the Albertine Rift Valley, but now you can only find them in the Virunga Mountains and a small park called Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Even though their range is small, they are actually the most common monkey in that area. A study in 2003 guessed there were 3,000 to 4,000 golden monkeys in Uganda, but experts now think that number was too high.
Where to Go for Golden Monkey Trekking?
1. Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
Volcanoes National Park, created in 1925, is famous for gorilla trekking. But if you stay a bit longer after seeing the gorillas, you’ll find golden monkey tracking is a real treat too!
There are two groups of golden monkeys in the park that are used to seeing people. The bigger group, called the Sabyinyo Group, has around 80 to 100 monkeys and is the one most visitors go to see. This park is the easiest and most reliable place to spot golden monkeys.
Since it was the first place where they were trained to be comfortable around people, they are now calm, playful, and great for photos. Sometimes, they even wander into nearby farms to eat potatoes and other crops! Local farmers don’t mind too much—they get paid back if the monkeys cause damage. Often, the guides can find the monkeys right outside the park, making it super easy for visitors. While that makes the viewing simple and fun, it doesn’t quite match the magical feeling of finding them deep in the forest.
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda)
In Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is actually more famous for golden monkeys than for gorillas. That’s because it has only one group of gorillas you can visit, while nearby Bwindi has more than 25. But Mgahinga is the only place in Uganda where golden monkeys live!
Seeing golden monkeys here takes more effort than in Rwanda. You have to hike uphill for about an hour or more through forest to reach them. But the reward is amazing—you get to watch the monkeys jumping, playing, arguing, and happily munching on bamboo in their natural home.
There are two ways to see the golden monkeys in Mgahinga. One is a regular visit where you spend one hour with them, just like in Rwanda. But the second option is even more special—a full four-hour experience called the “habituation experience.” This lets you stay with the monkeys and the scientists who study them. You’ll learn all about their behavior and get a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers work with wild animals.
3. Gishwati-Mukura National Park (Rwanda)
Gishwati-Mukura is Rwanda’s newest national park, officially created in 2015. It was started thanks to the efforts of local communities who wanted to protect two small forest areas and grow them by planting more trees around them. Altogether, the park covers just 35 square kilometers (14 square miles), making it one of the smaller parks in East Africa. This park is the only place outside the Virunga Mountains where golden monkeys still live in the wild.
There are around 170 golden monkeys here, living in an isolated group. The park only opened to tourists in 2020, and guided walks in the forest are available—but only for people who stay overnight at the community-run Forest of Hope Guest House and campsite. While golden monkey trekking isn’t officially offered yet, a group of the monkeys is slowly getting used to people. Visitors often spot them during forest walks, along with other wildlife like chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and special birds that live only in forests like these.
Why You Should Track Golden Monkeys Before Seeing Mountain Gorillas?
A Golden Monkey Trek Helps You Get Used to the Altitude
Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Parks are both quite high up—starting around 2,200 to 2,400 meters (7,200 to 7,900 feet) above sea level. You won’t be climbing to the top of any volcanoes on your treks, but you could still reach heights of around 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). And that’s where many people start feeling the effects of high altitude—like headaches, tiredness, or shortness of breath—especially if they’ve just flown in from lower places.
The good news? Golden monkeys usually live lower down on the mountain slopes, so trekking to see them is easier. The hikes are flatter, shorter, and not as tough as gorilla treks, which often go higher into the forest where the gorillas hang out.
Since your body needs time to get used to the high altitude, it’s smart not to push too hard right away. That’s why it’s a great idea to spend your first day or two doing something gentler—like a golden monkey trek! It’s a fun and active way to adjust to the height without overdoing it.
One Hike in the Virungas Just Isn’t Enough!
Here’s another great reason to go on a golden monkey trek as well as a mountain gorilla trek—you get to spend more time in the stunning Virunga Mountains and explore different parts of the forest! The Virungas are made up of eight big volcanoes, with the tallest being Mount Karisimbi at 4,507 metres (14,787 feet). At the bottom of the mountains, you’ll see beautiful farmland. You walk through these farmlands at the start of any trek to reach the forest trails.
Along the way, you’ll likely step over a “buffalo wall.” It’s a simple wall built to keep wild buffalo from wandering into farmers’ fields. Little things like this add a rich cultural touch to your hike, along with the amazing views. And don’t forget—you won’t just see golden monkeys or gorillas. The Virungas are full of other animals and tons of colorful birds. Uganda alone has over 1,080 bird species, which is more than Russia—even though Russia is way bigger!
The forest itself is also a big part of the experience. The lower slopes are filled with farmlands, but above that you enter thick, green mountain rainforest. It’s wild, tangled, and beautiful—even if you didn’t spot a single animal, the scenery would still be worth the trip. And when the trees open up, you often get jaw-dropping views of the land below.
Golden Monkey Trekking Is Budget-Friendly
Here’s some great news—golden monkey trekking is much cheaper than a mountain gorilla trek! No matter if you’re in Uganda or Rwanda, the permit to see golden monkeys costs just $100 for foreign adults. In comparison, seeing gorillas is much more expensive—$800 in Uganda (as of April 2025) and $1,500 in Rwanda. So, if you’re already spending money on a gorilla trek, adding just a little extra to see golden monkeys is a smart and affordable way to enjoy another amazing wildlife experience.
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