How To Book Rwanda Golden Monkey Permits 

How to book Rwanda Golden Monkey permits for Volcanoes National Park. Doing golden monkey trekking in Rwanda takes you to the pristine Volcanoes National Park, with extraordinary fauna and flora that has thrived through decades. Golden monkeys are a primate species that only live in the Virunga area, with about 3000 to 4000 population.  

It would be best to secure the golden monkey permit from Rwanda Development Board to access these charming monkeys. Volcanoes National Park lies in North Western Rwanda, adjoined by five rugged volcanic mountains and deep valleys adjoining the Albertine rift valley.

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Five volcanoes, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Karisimbi, and Mountain Bisoke, condition the climate of this park. The montane forest vegetation of this park currently favors the survival of 15 gorilla trekking families. They are open for public booking.

Some gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park include Hirwa Family, Susa Family, Karisimbi Family, Muhoza Family, Amahoro Family, Umubano family, and others.

 This biologically rich park is home to other primates like golden monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons who find a haven in volcanic forests.

Keen birders on golden monkey trekking safari get a double opportunity of identifying a number of birds, including Albertine rift endemics.

What Are Golden Monkeys?

Golden monkeys are special monkey species with golden brown hairs on the lower body and a larger body structure than other monkeys. Scientifically, golden monkeys are called Cercopithecus mitis kandti. In nature, they are charming, and although habituated to human presence, they still possess their natural traits and, while with them, prepare to keep on your toes.

How To Book Golden Monkey Permits in Rwanda

Golden monkey permits are sold and regulated by Rwanda Development Board, but 8 permits are allowed per troop.

Have a date when you wish to do gorilla trekking and the number of people participating in this activity. Just like gorilla trekking, only children aged 15 and beyond can do golden monkey trekking for reasons like the nature of the topography where their primates live is mountainous, making this activity quite challenging.

When you enquire from us, our safari consultant checks availability from Rwanda Development Board. Suppose there is positive availability of the golden monkey permits. In that case, we advise clients to secure their golden monkey permit in advance, especially during the high season when Rwanda safari is highly demanded, that is, June to September and December to January.

How Much Is A Golden Monkey Permit For Rwanda?

Each golden monkeys permit for Rwanda currently costs $100 per person per trek; however, you need to book these permits.

The cost of golden monkeys includes a ranger guide fee, security during the trek, one hour with the golden monkeys, local community support as a portion of profits from golden monkey trekking per year are shared with the community, and forest conservation support.

Exclusions of golden monkey permit cost are transport, tips, snacks, and any other items of personal nature.

When Is The Best Time To Book Golden Monkey Permits For Rwanda?

Doing golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is all year round; however, the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December, and January, is a high season, so demand Rwanda's adventurous activities like golden monkey trekking is high.

Most tourists prefer to use the dry season for golden monkey trekking when forest life is at its peak. Even birds in the forest are busy during the dry season. Volcanoes national parks receive high precipitation, including rain falling without warning, but in the dry season, the forest has less humid conditions.

The low season, usually March, April, May November, typically comes with low demand for Rwanda safari activities, including golden monkey trekking. This is a season to take advantage of by one with a limited budget. Chances of getting discounted services from accommodations, driver guides, and vehicle hire are more open in the low season.

How Long Is Golden Monkey Trekking In Rwanda?

The time it takes when doing golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is unpredictable because of a number of factors;

The Weather Conditions On The Golden Monkey Trekking Day

During the dry season, golden monkeys are quicker to spot because they are all over the place. A wet day pushes the monkeys up the trees, making viewing them challenging. 

Even the trails are more passable during the dry season as more sun rays penetrate the dense canopy of volcanic forest, while in the wet season, the ground is soggy and slippery to go through.

Pace Of Golden Monkey Trekkers

When other golden monkey trekkers are slow, locating these primates may take a long, so prolonging your stay in the forest.

Are Golden Monkeys Difficult To Locate in Volcanoes National Park?

The community of golden monkeys is habituated to human presence; however, their natural traits are not altered. Getting to where these monkeys may be spending the day may prove challenging because of the topography of this area.

 In general, volcanoes national park has highlands with montane forest vegetation where golden monkeys spend their daytime.

You may sometimes need a pair of binoculars for clearer visibility of the golden monkeys, especially during the wet season.

The escorting ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker so that nobody is lost in the wilderness. Another ranger holds a machete to trim the way and allow tourists to better view and locate the golden monkeys.

Do some exercises to stretch your muscles a little more than usual in case you need to hike to get where the golden monkeys may be spending the day or napping.

Are Golden Monkeys Aggressive?

Golden monkeys are first habituated to human presence for some time without altering their nature. Although this process is pre-done, they are still wild animals, so respect the guidelines during the briefing before the golden monkey trekking.

The golden monkeys may not be calm because of their charming nature; do not mimic or provoke them because you may not know what you are communicating.

When angry, the golden monkeys may hoot, through fruits at you, giggle and showcase more signs of being angry. When this is noticed, the ranger guides will direct you on what to do but refrain from disperse throughout the forest to cause a stampede.

What Else Can I Do With Golden Monkeys Trekking In Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

In Volcanoes National Park are mountain gorillas, with 15 gorilla families open for public booking. To access gorilla trekking activity, one must pre-purchase a gorilla permit from Rwanda Development Board.

Gorilla trekking is one of Africa's most sought-after experiences. However, you need to be 15 years and above to participate, yet the number is limited to a maximum of 8 permits per day.

Every tourist is required to attend a gorilla trekking briefing at ORTPN to learn more about the behavior of mountain gorillas. Although the mountain gorillas are habituated to human presence, only one hour is allowed when you locate them to minimize disturbance.

The current cost of Rwanda gorilla permits is $1500 per person per trek, including park entrance fees, ranger guide support, local community support, gorilla conservation support, one hour with the mountain gorillas, 

This Rwanda gorilla permit cost doesn't include accommodation during gorilla trekking, snacks, packed lunch, and any other items of personal nature.

Hike To Dian Fossey Grave In Volcanoes National Park

A visit to the grave of American primatologist Dian Fossey takes you through the last steps of this heroin who defended the mountain gorillas and their habitat where golden monkeys are residents.

This guided walk is one of the supportive ways to the mountain gorilla and other primates research that was started by Dian Fossey when she set up Karisoke Research Station in Rwanda.

Dian Fossey was brutally murdered by unknown assassins at her residence in 1985. Before her death, she had carried out a mountain gorilla population census with her team. The results were disturbing to the conservation community, as 300 mountain gorillas existed in the world by the 1980s. This brought the mountain gorillas to one of the top lists of highly endangered species.

According to the last population census, her efforts were well-spent, as currently, about 1000 mountain gorillas live in the world.

Birding In Volcanoes National Park

Keen birders on golden monkeys trekking safari have a double opportunity of spotting a number of birds that linger in Volcanoes National Park, of which over 300 have been registered, but the list is still expanding. On the vegetation placed on the slopes of the volcanoes in volcanoes national park, you can spot a number of birds. Higher up, resident birds with several Albertine endemics can be spotted.

Some resident birds of volcanic forest in Rwanda include Acher's Robin-Chat, Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, and others.

 Community Walks Around Volcanoes National Park

Ex-poachers formed these community walks to create conservation awareness about the evil of encroaching on the mountain gorilla habitat. This projects member are taught other activities like weaving, pottery, craft making, and others; when tourists visit, they are given a chance to do some of these activities.

Game Drives In Akagera National Park

The only national game park of Rwanda is Akagera National Park, located on the eastern side of Rwanda and is still recovering from the effects of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. A number of survivors of this tragic 

100 days of ignorance in Rwanda used this park as their turn to point after the genocide.

 A number of animals lost their habitat to human encroachment, but in 3009, Rwanda's development board patterned with African parks to revamp its glory. 

During the game drive in Akagera National Park, you may spot animals like giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, cape buffaloes, zebras, rhinos, impalas, and others.

Taking a boat ride on Lake Ihema within Akagera National Park gives you one of the most stunning views of its surrounding. Enjoy sport fishing on Lake Shakari, where you can catch tilapia, catfish, and mudfish.

This park hosts a wide range of birds because of its incredible vegetation habitats.

Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park

Rwanda’s chimpanzee trekking haven is Nyungwe National Park. The headquarters of the park is at Uwinka. This park has two chimpanzee communities, including one in Cyamudongo at the periphery of Nyungwe National Park.

You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board to be allowed to be part of the chimpanzee trekking for the day. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen daily: early morning and afternoon.

Note that the Rwanda chimpanzees are semi-habituated, so expect them to possess some wild behaviors like going into hiding, hooting, and others. These chimpanzees are exciting and charming to follow as they do their day's activities.

Kigali City Tour

Taking the Kigali city tour takes you to the urban side of Rwanda, but you need a well-organized itinerary to beat traffic jams at peak times. Kigali City is divided into three main districts: Gasbo, Kicukiro, and Nyangenge. During the Kigali city tour, you may visit the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology and genocide memorials stuck in Rwanda for life, like the blue beret memorial site, St Famille church, and others.

What Not To Do In Rwanda While On Safari

• No transacting in drugs while in Rwanda, as it is well posted on billboards as you cross its borders. Expect to receive a punishment for violating this law.
• Dumping garbage in Rwanda as it is punishable by law
• Do not carry plastic bags into Rwanda, as this is a pro-ecotourism country.
• Keep your identification documents close to you when you travel in Rwanda so that the law enforcement of Rwanda does not mistake you.
• Please do not smoke in public while in Rwanda, as you receive a punishment for it
• If coming from a country where you are required to apply for a visa, do this in advance

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