5 Activities to Add To Golden Monkey Trip In Mgahinga National Park

There are 5 activities that can be added to golden monkey trip In Mgahinga National Park, Golden monkeys trekking in Africa is only known to Virunga area and Mgahinga National park is one of the lucky parks to host them other than Volcanoes National park and Virunga national park. The golden monkeys are different from the common monkeys because of there physical appearance. They have a larger body structure covered with golden brown hairs on the lower back and abdominal area.

Scientifically there monkey are called Cercopithecus mitis kandti at the moment only 2000 to 4000 golden monkeys are thought to be living in the world. This census brings them to the list of some of the endangered primates in the world. They live in troupes of about 100 golden monkeys under an Alpha male.

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Mgahinga National park may be the smallest national park in Uganda covering close to 33.7 square km of virgin vegetation cover. This rich vegetation merits a visit simply to appreciate the scenery composed of three distinctive mountains that is Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga and Mountain Sabyinyo.

Booking a safari to Mgahinga National park to do golden monkey trekking with a combo of other Uganda safari activities is memorable.

Although the park lies in fur south western Uganda, a variety of activities are available to add to the itinerary. Some of these include

Highlights

• Gorilla trekking In Mgahinga National park
• Hiking the Virunga Mountains
• Birding In Mgahinga National Park
• Local community visit around Mgahinga National park
• Game drives and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth  National Park

Gorilla trekking In Mgahinga National park

The highlight of Mgahinga National Park is gorilla trekking. At the moment only 1 gorilla trekking family is open for tourists visits that is Nyakagezi gorilla family. This family sometimes wonders into Rwanda and this is the reasons why booking gorilla trekking permits for this park depends on gorilla presence.

Making a combo of gorilla trekking with golden monkeys trekking gives you chance to enjoy almost all the primates in the country. During this adventure, you may get to spot primates like L’Hoests’, black and white colobus, blue monkeys,  vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons to mention but a few.

You must purchase a gorilla permit, which costs $700 per person per trek. Ensure you pack the right gorilla trekking gears to cover you up during this adventure. Allowing yourself to partake all the wonderful features and sceneries in the forest apart from focusing on gorilla trekking or golden monkeys trekking is fun.  Walk in with a free mind and everything will beautifully unfold for you and this is what makes visiting Mgahinga national park a special Africa safari

Hiking the Virunga Mountains in Mgahinga National Park

Adding golden monkeys trekking with a hike to the Virunga ranges is an absolute choice that creates everlasting Africa holiday memories. Mountain Muhavura offers you an insight into marvelous alpine vegetation and superb panoramas. Taking the Muhavura trail provides a quick ascent into dramatic plant cover. On a clear day Rwenzori, ranges and Lake Edward come into view.

Hiking Sabyinyo Mountain is a chance to gets a 360 view of Rwanda, Uganda and D.R.Congo border from one pivot at the summit. Sabyinyo locally means old man’s teeth and this park gained this name from the weathered ring of stubby peaks.

Mountain Gahinga hike takes about 6 hours of a return trip going through bamboo and then descend into the lush swamp at the crater summit.  

Birding In Mgahinga National Park

Making a combo of golden monkey trekking and birding in ancient Mgahinga National park is worth all your effort. This montane forest with extensive bamboo are regenerating pastures on the lower slope heath and Afro alpine moorland on the upper slopes. Providing a comfortable habitat to over 115 bird species. These are suitable birding habitats providing some of Africa’s most spectacular birds.

An early rise to start the birding adventure in Mgahinga National park may bring into view birds like Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Rwenzori Turacos, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Malachite Sunbird, Montane Double-collared sunbird, mountain buzzed, Oriole finch, pink footed puff back, African hill babler, African green broadbill and others. You need atleast two days to have the best birding safari in Mgahinga National Park.

Local community visit around Mgahinga National park

The Mgahinga National park offers exciting tours to glimpse life of the Batwa pygmies who lost there ancestral home to conservation of mountain gorillas in 1990s. Although this is a demonstration community visit, the performer try to go into the details of the forest life. A Mutwa guide leads you to where their community gathers for these performances at the Garame cave.

In the past, the Garama caves were the council chambers for the Batwa and a go to point after raiding the Bafumbira gardens.  This 342 meters long cave was initially immersed in forest cover but now is the auditorium for their performances. The cave lies beneath the plateau close to the northern edge of the park about 3 km from Ntebeko the Mgahinga National Park headquarters.  

Game drives and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drive in Queen Lizabeth National park with golden monkey trekking is the totality of an Africa safari experience. When you travel you want to broaden horizons and experiencing this in unspoilt locations is fabulous and rare. The combo of golden monkey trekking Mgahinga National park and a game drives in Queen Elizabeth National park speaks this out loudly and clearly.

During an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may get to see animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, topis, cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, giant forest hogs, water bucks and bush bucks, warthogs, mongoose to mention but a few.

Different tracks in the park provide amazing views on the rift valley floor. When you drive on the Kasenyi trail, you may have the chance to see lion in action as they love sneaking on Uganda kobs that are regular attendees of this grassland. The Ishasha sector in the south is famous for tree climbing lions that act detective on prey.

Taking on the spectacular launch cruise on Kazinga Channel is the highlight of nay safari in queen Elizabeth National park. The channel is a connecting link between Lake George and Lake Edward. This three hours return trip starts from Mweya Peninsular to Lake Edward and its shoreline host huge Nile crocodiles and Hippos.  Look out for thirsty wild animals like herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, water bucks, bush bucks that love quenching thirst from the shore.

Variety of birds both domestic and foreign birds make a stop at the shores of Kazinga Channel. You may spot birds like black-rumped button quail, broad billed roller, papyrus gonolek, greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, African Fish skimmers, western-banded snake eagles, great blue turaco, African finfoot and others.

How To get To Mgahinga National park For Golden Monkeys Trekking.

By Air

Daily domestic flights leave Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airstrip and you can reserve a seat in advance because they get sold out especially the peak seasons. You must hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge because the Airstrip is not located in the park.

Charter flight services are in place for you to book but advance preparations are required to enjoy them better.

By Road

The easiest way to Mgahinga National park is by road at a distance of 540 km from Kampala city. Driving through Kabale to Kisoro is about 80 km passing a winding road for approximately 2 hours. The drive to Ntebeko the park headquarters is 14 km south of Kisoro

An alternative is crossing from Rwanda Kigali airport passed Cyanika border then Kisoro town  finally you can get into Mgahinga National park .

Which accommodation To Book For Golden Monkeys Trekking Safari in Mgahinga National Park

Luxury, to Mid-range to budget accommodation facilities are in place for you to book close to the lodge or outside or in Kisoro town. A few of these facilities include Volcanoes Camp, Majambere Iwachu,  Traveller’s Inn, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Mountain Gahinga Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Community Camp

How to Book Golden monkeys Trekking Permits For Mgahinga National park

At Uganda wildlife Authority, the golden monkey trekking permits can be purchased. The cost of the golden monkey permit is $100 per person per trek. Checking availability is the first step since there is a limit to the number of people allowed into the forest. Do not forget to purchase park fees for this park in case you are doing golden monkey trekking. Mass tourism destroys the vegetation, which feeds the mountain gorillas that inhabit the forest.

How To Book Gorilla Trekking Permits For Mgahinga National park

If you are combining golden monkeys trekking with gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National park, you need to purchase a gorilla permits. Ensure you check availability of the mountain gorillas in this park because the only family known to be open for tourists booking in this park wonders into Rwanda at times.

You pay for Mgahinga gorilla permits on ground when they are confirmed to be present in the park.

You need to provide some personal details like your full names on the passport, nationality, expiry date for your passport, date of birth and others. These details help in issuing the gorilla trekking card from Uganda Wildlife Authority. After gorilla trekking you are awarded a certificate of gorilla trekking accomplishment as souvenir.

When Is the Best Time To Book Golden monkeys Trekking In Mgahinga National Park

All year around golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National park is open for the public to book. You need to pack the right trekking gears because the forest is water logged at times. This is because of the dense network of rivers. At times the rains falls intensively and then water over flows in the forest creating a boggy ground.

The most exciting time for golden monkey trekking, are the drier months, which is usually June to September and December to Mid-January when the ground is drier, and the monkeys feed closer to the ground. The golden monkeys are habituated for human presence but there nature overpowers.

Get ready to stay on your toes during golden monkeys trekking because these busy monkeys are fast in movement. Ensure you are physically fit to enjoy the entire experience.

What To Pack For Golden Monkeys Trekking In Mgahinga National Park

• Camera for taking photos of the golden monkeys trekking experience and another safari
• Safari Long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers to save your entire body from rough jungle surfaces and when they get dirty, you are not afraid of the stains
• Tracking boots for wearing in your feet to go through soggy surfaces and slippery ground
• A pair of stockings to tack in your trouser and prevent insects from climbing into your trousers.
• First aid to carry emergency medication in case you need it.
• A pair of Binoculars to get a clearer view of far ranging attractions.
• Energy snacks to munch on when you get hungry because you need to re-energise
• Medicated Insect repellants to keep away stinging insects in the jungle
• Torch in case lights go out in the night as you are sleeping
• A pair of garden gloves for protecting your palms when you slide and holding a tighter grip on creepers.
• Safari large brim hat to safe guard your head from dripping water off the leaves and buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• Carry some hard cash to change into local currency and use when purchasing personal items on ground.
• An extra fully charged for exchanging with when one runs low
• Travel adapter and charger just in case you need to charge your electronic equipment
• Bug spray to use in case you locate the bugs while on safari
• A light water proof bag with for carrying your belongings when you get in the jungle. Incase you tripe, you do not scatter your items. Even when it rains they are safe from humid conditions like rain
• A shoe bag to put in your shoes when they get dirty and you have no time to clean them

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