Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti), a subspecies of blue monkeys are endemic to the Virunga Mountains and two tropical forests of the Albertine rift valley in East and central Africa. Virunga Mountains, a chain of 8 virunga volcanoes that straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo contains 3 protected areas which include Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park, and Virunga national park.
The Albertine rift valley harbors golden monkeys in two remarkable tropical forests which include Rwanda’s Gishwati Mukura and the UNESCO world heritage site Kahuzi Beiga national park in DR Congo. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Regional Golden Monkey Conservation Action Plan (2023–2028), the highest population of golden monkeys is found in Volcanoes Rwanda with estimates of 4,165 to 5,088 followed by Mgahinga gorilla with 467 to 1,511 and Gishwati Mukura with 154 to 190 individuals.
Characteristics of golden moneys
Golden monkeys have a golden-orange fur on their upper flanks and lower back and dark grey fur on their legs, arms, and tail. They live in a group also known as a troop/barrel and the size of a single troop may consist of 30 to over 100 individuals. Each barrel is led by a dominant male and is assisted by females in defending their territory against intruders. The monkeys make nests on top of bamboo trees and sleep in smaller troops of 4 members.
When foraging during day, they can move away from their nests for a distance of 1-2 km, depending on seasonal food availability. The primates communicate through vocalizations and facial expressions which help them to stay together while foraging in dense bamboo forests. They use all four limbs to climb and swing through trees with agility a behavior known as arboreal quadrupedalism and leaping as the main form of locomotion.
In the Virunga Mountains, golden monkeys spend most of their time in the bamboo vegetation zone (Yushania alpina) between altitudinal ranges of 2,100 m to 3,550 meters above sea level. Young bamboo shoots and leaves are the main source of food especially during the rainy season from March to May and October to November when the shoots are abundant and rich in nutrients. In addition to bamboo, the golden monkey diet also includes pupae of lepidopterous larvae of insects, flowers, leaves and over 100 fruit plant species including wild pear (Dombeya rotundifolia) and mountain water berry (Syzygium guineense).
This is especially in places that have less bamboo vegetation such as Gishwati Mukura national park which is a mixed montane tropical forest. As such, the ecology feeding patterns and group sizes of golden monkeys varies in the two places. For instance, golden monkeys that live on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga have relatively smaller home ranges and increased troop cohesion due to the nature of terrain. The primates tend to have consistent feeding patterns often returning to the same areas within the bamboo zone.
Due to the predictable behavior, golden monkeys in the Mgahinga and Volcanoes national parks are easier to locate, making for a reliable trekking experience. Golden monkeys in Gishwati Mukura national park live in relatively smaller groups and larger home ranges given that the primates have to move frequently to forage for fruits, shrubs other than bamboo.
Threats to golden monkeys
Conservationists assert that Virunga massif and Gishwati Mukura were once a large continuous and interconnected habitat, however. The two habitats became separated as a result of human activities leading to isolation which is one of the major threats for conservation of biodiversity including mountain gorillas, which share the same habitat with golden monkeys specifically in the Virunga Mountains. The major threats to golden monkeys in Virunga and Gishwati Mukura national parks include human infectious diseases, illegal bamboo harvesting, poaching, water and wood collection, stoning and chasing, and snaring.
As a result, the golden monkey population is declining and the species is categorized as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Regional Golden Monkey Conservation Action Plan was created to combat these threats through several strategies including golden monkey tourism development, strengthening law enforcement to prevent illegal activities in protected areas, and conducting more research on golden monkey ecology and behavior.
Golden monkey tourism and conservation
The primates have been habituated for research and tourist visits only in Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla and Rwanda’s Volcanoes and Gishwati Mukura national parks. Visiting the golden monkeys and other primates helps to generate revenue through purchase of trekking permits and directly supports conservation and community development. The 10% in Rwanda and 20% in Uganda of the permit fees are dedicated to impact positively on the conservation efforts including ranger monitoring, research and habituation, and community livelihood projects such as the Gorilla Guardian’s village in Volcanoes and Batwa Trail in Mgahinga that reduce over dependence on the forests.
Rwanda offers golden monkey trekking safaris in two different places which include Volcanoes and Gishwati Mukura national parks. Visitors to Volcanoes can track one of the two habituated golden monkey troops. Treks wind through the lower montane forest (1,600-2,600 m.a.s.l) to the bamboo zone and Hagenia-Hypericum zone where the monkeys tend to dwell most of the time. As such, golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is categorized as easy to medium and is ideal for first time visitors and seniors.
The permit cost is $100 per person for foreign non residents, $65 for East African citizens and foreign residents in Rwanda, and RW 4,000 for Rwandan nationals. Permits are available for booking through a tour operator or RDB online portal and their head offices in Kigali capital city. The minimum age for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is 12 and the permit cost for children and students is RWF 2,000 for Rwandan nationals, $45 for foreign residents and East African citizens. The number of visitors allowed to visit the golden monkeys is 16 people for 1 hour per day.
Golden monkey trekking in Gishwati Mukura national park
Gishwati Mukura national park is located in the Albertine rift valley along the Congo-Nile Divide east of Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful parts of Rwanda. The protected area contains montane tropical forest rich in biodiversity including chimpanzee, over 170 golden monkeys, and 130 species of birds of which 14 are Albertine rift endemics. The park was established in 2015 and opened for tourism in 2020 following a long-term biodiversity restoration plan supported by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund through Bird Life International in partnership with RDB. The habituation process for chimpanzees and golden monkeys is still ongoing at the Gishwati Research Station however.
The primates are frequently encountered during guided forest walks starting at 7:00AM. The Forest of Good Hope Guesthouse and Campsite are the only places that offer accommodation for visitors to the park located just 4km away from the park entrance. The guesthouse offers 4 self contained rooms with en-suit bathrooms and the campsite can accommodate 8 people. I
n addition to forest walks, a wide range of activities are well established in and outside the park and are gaining momentum including waterfall trails, birding, tea plantation and livestock farm visits, and visiting a traditional herbalist for his stunning metaphysics. Among other community projects include handicraft centers and cultural dance troops. Those intending to visit the park can include it in their Rwanda safari itinerary along with Lake Kivu, Nyungwe forest and Volcanoes national parks.
Where to see golden monkeys in Uganda
Golden monkeys in Uganda live only in Mgahinga gorilla national park and share the same habitat with mountain gorillas. The protected area forms part of the Ugandan section of the Virunga Mountains and includes 3 of the range’s 8 spectacular volcanoes which include Mount Sabinyo, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Gahinga. Trekking golden monkeys in Mgahinga can be challenging due to the nature of terrain. The vegetation in the park includes woodland, dense montane forest on the slopes of Mount Muhabura, bamboo zone on the slopes of Sabinyo and Muhabura volcanoes, hagenia hypericum and Afro-Alpine zone which contains rare plant species including giant scenecios and lobelias on top of Mount Muhabura.
UWA has habituated 2 troops of which one is meant for standard trekking and the other for the research and habituation experience. The standard trekking permit cost is $60 for foreign non residents and 40,000UGX for East African citizens. The habituation experience permit cost is $100 and 100,000 UGX respectively. Each option offers an opportunity to see the primates in their natural habitat, however. The habituation experience allows visitors to spend up to 4 hours with the monkeys that are still undergoing habituation.
After your trek Mgahinga offers a wide range of activities to do including Mount Sabinyo and Mount Gahinga volcano hikes. For a cultural experience go for the Batwa Trail walk meet the Batwa pygmies the original forest people as they demonstrate their ancient ways of life including the pre-historic ancient fire making activity the Batwa style.
The best time to track golden monkeys
The dry season from June to September and December to February is the best time to go for golden monkey trekking activity. The forest trails are relatively drier and easy to navigate through with the help of expert rangers. However, the primates tend to roam frequently in search of fresh foliage through the forest as a result treks might be longer than usual. Hiring a porter is recommended as a way to make your trek easier and also support the local community.
What to pack
Good preparations in terms of what to pack also ensure a memorable experience. The packing list should include sturdy hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, and long pants for protection against stinging nettles. Warm clothes are recommended given that temperatures at night can drop on average to 9 from 17 degrees Celsius due to high altitude ranging at 2,227-4,127 meters above sea level.