Experience
Golden Monkey Trekking
Endangered monkeys crashing through the bamboo
01What it is
A guided trek in Volcanoes National Park's bamboo zone to spend an hour with a habituated troop of golden monkeys.
Golden monkeys live in the bamboo belt on the lower slopes of the Virungas, and finding them is far less work than finding gorillas.
They are also completely different to watch. Where a gorilla family sits and eats, a golden monkey troop is constant motion — leaping between bamboo stems, dropping into the undergrowth, entirely unbothered by you.
It makes an excellent second day in Musanze, and a good option for anyone who wants the forest without the climb.
- Where
- Volcanoes National Park
- Duration
- Half day
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Habitat
- Bamboo zone
02What to expect
- 01
A gentler walk
Usually one to two hours, on lower and less punishing ground than the gorilla trek.
- 02
Constant movement
The troop rarely settles, which makes for difficult photography and excellent watching.
- 03
The bamboo zone
A distinct habitat on the lower volcano slopes, dense and green and quite unlike the hagenia forest above.
- 04
An hour with the troop
The same one-hour limit as the gorillas applies.
03Best time
Year-round, with easier ground in the drier months.
- JanJan: best
- FebFeb: best
- MarMar: shoulder season
- AprApr: shoulder season
- MayMay: shoulder season
- JunJun: best
- JulJul: best
- AugAug: best
- SepSep: best
- OctOct: shoulder season
- NovNov: shoulder season
- DecDec: best
04What to bring
- Waterproof jacket
- Walking shoes or boots
- Long sleeves
- A camera with a fast shutter
05Requirements
- A separate permit from gorilla trekking is required.
- The same distance and health rules apply as for other primate visits.
- Current permit costs are confirmed before booking.
Permit costs, age limits and park regulations are set by the Rwanda Development Board and its partners and change from time to time. We confirm the current position with you in writing before anything is booked.
07Journeys that include it
Tours
3 days · 2 nights
3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Experience
The shortest trip that does the gorillas justice
Kigali, then straight to the Virungas for a mountain gorilla trek, with a golden monkey trek or a community visit on the second morning.
ClassicChallengingPrice on request
10 days · 9 nights
10-Day Rwanda Complete Experience
The whole country, at a pace that lets you enjoy it
Kigali, Akagera's savannah, the Virunga gorillas, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe's rainforest — every landscape Rwanda has, without a forced march.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
Yes, particularly as a second day. It is a different animal, a different habitat and a much easier walk, and it costs a fraction of a gorilla permit.
Add it to your trip
Plan golden monkey trekking
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and what you want to see. We will come back with an itinerary built around it, not a package pulled off a shelf.