Golden Monkey Tracking

Sharing the high altitude montane forests of the Virungas with its great ape relatives, the Golden Monkey is found mainly in the bamboo forests of the volcanic mountain chain that forms part of the boundary between Rwanda, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Named after their distinctive golden or coppery patch on their upper flanks and backs, the Golden Monkeys can be tracked at the Mhaginga National Park in Uganda and in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

The main Kachima Group in Uganda has over 100 individuals, however the terrain at Mgahinga in Uganda is more challenging than in Rwanda, and if you would like to see these endangered and extremely beautiful monkeys, we recommend that you track them at the Volcanoes National Park. Small numbers can also be found in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest area, and plans are underway to habituate the Golden Monkeys at Rwanda’s Gishwati Forest.

Golden monkey tracking is less arduous and challenging than gorilla tracking, as they live close to the base of the volcanoes. There are currently two known groups of Golden Monkeys at the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The Musongo Group lives way up on the flanks of the Mount Karisimbi and the Kabatwa Group can be visited in its range on Mount Sabyinyo.