Golden Monkey Tracking Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Trip Safari

Our 1-day Golden Monkey tracking safari in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, is an ideal adventure for travelers with limited time who want to encounter Rwanda’s rare and playful primates.

Unlike the more strenuous gorilla trekking, this activity takes place in the lower bamboo forests and is generally easier to navigate.

The golden monkey trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park from Kigali usually lasts 8-10 hours total, starting with a 0430 Hours or early morning pickup from Kigali (about 2.5–3 hours drive). The actual trekking experience, including briefing, hiking through bamboo forests, and spending one hour watching the endangered monkeys, takes 2-4 hours.

Our 1-day golden monkey tracking safari in Volcanoes National Park typically includes the $100 USD permit, round-trip transportation from Kigali (0400 Hours pickup) in a 4×4 tourist vehicle, a professional English-speaking guide, park entry fees, a briefing, one hour of viewing the monkeys, bottled water, and lunch.

1-Day Golden Monkey tracking safari in Volcanoes National Park Itinerary

0400 Hours  – 0430 Hours: Pickup & Departure. Pickup from your hotel in Kigali or Musanze by a professional guide. Drive through the “Land of a Thousand Hills” to Kinigi, the Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
0700 Hours – 0730 Hours: Arrival & Briefing Arrival at the park headquarters for registration and a briefing by ranger guides regarding the golden monkeys, their habitat, and safety regulations.
0800 Hours – Start the Trek: Begin the guided hike into the bamboo forest at the base of the Virunga Mountains. The trek is generally less strenuous than gorilla trekking.
0900 Hours – 1130 Hours – Golden Monkey Encounter: Locate the habituated troop, which can number up to 100 members. Spend one hour observing the monkeys feeding on bamboo shoots and leaping through the trees.
1200 Hours – 1330 Hours: Trek End & Lunch. Return to the park headquarters, receive your trekking certificate, and have lunch in Musanze town.
1330 Hours – 1730 Hours: Return to Kigali. Drive back to Kigali, arriving by late afternoon or early evening

Essential Information

✓ Best Time: Dry seasons (June to September & December to February)
✓ Physical Fitness: Moderate fitness required, but easier than gorilla trekking
✓ Flash Photography: Unlike gorillas, flash photography is allowed for golden monkey tracking
✓ Tucking in: Tuck trousers into socks to prevent stinging nettles and ants from crawling up legs
✓ Terrain: Golden monkeys inhabit the lower bamboo forest areas, but trails can still be steep and slippery
✓ Timing: The 1-day tour typically starts with a 4:00 AM pickup from Kigali, followed by a 2-3 hour drive to Kinigi park headquarters
✓ What to bring: Sturdy hiking boots, long-sleeved clothing, a rain jacket, a camera (fast shutter speed recommended for active monkeys), and insect repellent.Permits: Must be booked in advance through the Rwanda Development Board or a tour operator

1-Day Safari Inclusions

✓ Meals: Lunch is usually provided, along with bottled water
✓ Golden Monkey Permit: The mandatory USD 100 permit to track the primates
✓ Guide & Ranger: Services of an English-speaking driver-guide and expert park ranger/trackers
✓ Activities: Pre-trek briefing, park orientation, and 1 hour of active observation with the golden monkeys
✓ Transportation: Private 4×4 safari vehicle pickup and drop-off in Kigali (approx. 2-3 hour drive each way)

Essential Packing List

✓  Protection: Insect repellent (DEET), sunscreen, and a hat
✓ Optional: Walking sticks are often provided at the briefing point
✓ Footwear: Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good traction for steep/muddy trails.
✓ Permit & Documents: Valid golden monkey trekking permit (USD 100 for foreign non-residents) and passport
✓ Permit & Documents: Valid golden monkey trekking permit (USD 100 for foreign non-residents) and passport
✓ Gear: A comfortable daypack (with rain cover), camera with extra batteries (flash is allowed for golden monkeys), and binoculars
✓ Clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, long hiking trousers (lightweight, neutral colors), a rain jacket/poncho, and a warm fleece for early morning chills
✓ Essentials: Reusable water bottle, snacks (energy bars), gardening gloves (for protection against thorny plants), and cash for tipping guides/porters

Golden Monkey Tracking Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Trip Safari; Have a day to spare in Kigali? Opt to explore Volcanoes National Park on a golden monkey expedition in the company of an experienced African Spice Safaris guide.

Spend half a day in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda tracking the Golden Monkeys. The golden monkey has a prominent golden fur coat and is an endangered species.

Given the scientific name of Cercopithecus mitis kandti, the golden monkey is considered to be a subspecies of the Sykes monkey. They are exclusive to the Virunga mountain range.

The only places where one can trek to see them up close include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. These monkeys live in bamboo forests at higher elevations in the Virunga Mountains, as well as at the foot of Sabyinyo Mountain.

There are two habituated troops within Volcanoes National Park, and the larger one, found in Sabyinyo, has between 80 and 100 members; it is the most visited troop.

There is always one golden monkey tracking session per day, which takes place early in the morning in Volcanoes National Park. Here, visitors must report to the headquarters by 0700 hours, where they will meet the ranger guides for a briefing, then drive to the trek’s starting point.

Those who need porter assistance to carry photographic and other equipment can hire them at the trek’s base point. The drive takes only 15 minutes from the edge of the park.

Trekking with golden monkeys and gorillas is a similar experience – in a small group of no more than 8 guests, and you can spend one hour with the monkeys once you find them. The time to spend in the jungle is not specific.

It can range from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the monkeys’ speed. Most trackers can locate them within an hour as they hike along the trail.

As you approach the monkeys, your guide will point them out in the trees, and you can watch them swing above, foraging for food. Golden monkeys are small in size, around 15 Kilos, get their name from the long golden hair on their backs, and move around the bamboo forest like they are court jesters.

You will spend about an hour watching these fast-moving little creatures, which live in social groups of up to 100 individuals and are very entertaining as they constantly swing through the bamboo or chase each other in circles around you.

They’re also very pretty, with shiny reddish-gold backs that blend in perfectly with the golden bamboo. The two groups of habituated monkeys are getting more used to their human visitors.

So don’t be surprised if they jump quite close, and be aware of standing directly underneath a group in the trees, as they can easily poop on you at times! After an hour in their company, you will trek back to the park headquarters. Transfer back to Kigali city reaching in the afternoon.

0430 Hours: Depart Kigali for Volcanoes National Park. The park is located in Northwestern Rwanda and runs along the Border of Uganda and the DRC. Volcanoes are 105 km West of Kigali Town. By road, it takes only 2 hours to drive on a comfortable tarmac road to the Park.

Guests who stay in Kinigi or Musanze are closer to Volcanoes National Park, so they are picked up a little later for the trip. The Golden monkey trek begins by reporting to the park headquarters at 0700 hours for a briefing.

Professional, friendly guides offer a brief on what to expect on your trip and the guidelines (the do’s and don’ts). After the briefing, you will drive to the trailhead at the edge of the park about 15 minutes away.

For a small fee, you can also hire a porter to accompany you on the trek, help carry your backpack, and offer a hand during tricky parts of the hike. Even if you don’t really need them, hiring a porter is a helpful way to contribute directly to the local economy.

The actual trek in search of these wonderful creatures begins at 0800 hours in the company of your trekking guides. You travel through villages and farmland before getting to a higher elevation.

The duration of your trek depends on the location of the golden monkey group. The monkeys can cover a fair amount of distance daily, so it can sometimes take a while for the trackers to locate them.

They can easily be found (within about 30 to 60 minutes) since they usually inhabit the foothills of the mountains in the bamboo forest.

The two groups of habituated monkeys are getting more used to their human visitors, so don’t be surprised if they jump quite close, and be aware of standing directly underneath a group in the trees, as little presents can drop down at times!

Once you’re with the golden monkeys, you’re allowed an hour, maximum, with them before heading back.

* You won’t be allowed to eat or drink when you’re with the golden monkeys, and smoking is not allowed during the trek
* When you’re with your group, you should try not to make sudden movements and to keep your voices low so that the group remains relaxed. Although these monkeys are now used to seeing people, do bear in mind that they are still wild animals and can sometimes react unexpectedly, so always heed your guide’s and trackers’ instructions

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