Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park Introduction

Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park is an activity which is carried out during a tour to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.

In volcanoes national park in Rwanda, the golden monkeys can be seen in the bamboo forests where they live and this is at the bottom of the mountain. Due to the nature of the terrain in the national park which is flat, the golden monkey trekking experience can be done by tourists with little hiking experience.

Apart from Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, golden monkeys are known to be seen around the Virunga conservation area and in Uganda the golden monkeys can be seen in Mgahinga national park which is found within the area.

Golden monkeys are considered an endangered species and the kind of habitat that they live in is made up of bamboo vegetation or bamboo forests. The golden monkeys feed on bamboo shoots as well as leaves. They also eat fruits.

The appearance of golden monkeys in Volcanoes and other destinations can be described by their golden and bright orange fur and a small face. They are endemic to the Virunga area and the scientific name for these golden monkeys is Cercopithecus kandti.

A golden monkey permit in Volcanoes national park costs 100 USD for each individual. These permits are issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Foreign residents and East African residents are charged a fee of 65 USD to engage in golden monkey trekking, Rwanda citizens pay a fee of RWF 4000 and East African foreign residents are charged a fee of 80 USD.

Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park starts from the park headquarters at Kinigi and there are 2 groups of habituated golden monkeys that tourists visit in the national park.

Groups of golden monkeys in Volcanoes national park have about 30 individuals and golden monkey trekking at the destination is carried out once a day. One of the groups of habituated golden monkeys in the national park can be seen around the Sabinyo area during a tour.

Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park can be done as a day tour in Rwanda or as a tour which includes other activities at the destination such as gorilla trekking.

What to pack for the golden monkey trek in Volcanoes national park includes good hiking shoes, long trousers, long sleeved shirt, sunglasses, rain jacket and also snacks. Cameras with flashes are discouraged. Walking sticks are also provided for the golden monkey trek.

Guidelines for Golden Monkey Trekking In Volcanoes National Park

There are rules and regulations which are to be followed during golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park and they include the following;

During golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park, individuals below the age of 12 years are not allowed to engage in the activity.

The tourists interested in engaging in golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park are expected to be around the park headquarters by 7:00 am.

A maximum of 16 people are allowed to engage in golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park.

Some of the requirements for golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park include that foreign residents of Rwanda and other East African countries are expcted to have a minimum of 4 consecutive months residency status or work permits in their passport of diplomatic card.

For diplomats with resident visas can trek golden monkeys and resident rates are charged for their spouses or legal children including those that do not have resident visas.

For East African residents visiting Volcanoes national park for golden monkey trekking, they are expected to show East African ID cards or passports.

Other activities in Volcanoes national park

Apart from golden monkey trekking, tourists can also engage in gorilla trekking, visiting the Dian Fossey tombs, visiting the twin lakes, a cultural tour in Iby’iwacu village and also volcano climbing.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is a popular activity when visiting Rwanda for a tour. This activity involves seeing mountain gorillas and a permit for gorilla trekking in the national park costs 1500 USD, 500 USD for a foreign resident in Rwanda, 200 USD for a Rwandan citizen and an East African citizen. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is 15 years.
Volcano hiking is another activity to do in Volcanoes national park and it involves hiking volcanoes such as Bisoke, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhavura. The highest of these volcanoes in Volcanoes national park is Karisimbi which is also the second highest of the Virunga volcanoes at 4507 meters. Bisoke is at an altitude of 3700 meters, Muhavura at 4127 meters, Gahinga at 3474 meters and Sabinyo at 3669 meters.
Visiting the Dian Fossey tombs is another activity that tourists on tour around Volcanoes national park can engage in. during the activity tourists can enjoy views of the Virunga mountains, engage in a short hike from the park headquarters along Mount Bisoke. Dian Fossey is remembered for her contribution towards promoting conservation and protecting the gorillas.
Visiting the twin lakes in Volcanoes national park is another activity to do in Rwanda. The twin lakes are Burera and Ruhondo and activities to do around these lakes include sightseeing, boat rides and also guided nature walks.
Cultural tours in Iby’iwacu village can also be done when visiting Volcanoes national park. Iby’iwacu village is also known as the gorilla guardian’s village and it is located in Musanze. The cultural tour in the village involves interactions with the locals and an insight on the life of the people in Rwanda, their culture, food, traditional dances and so much more.