Volcanoes National Park is a known destination of Rwanda’ to the world it is most sought after when it comes to endemics of the Virunga volcanic region, it hosts 5 of the 8 series of mountains that make up the Virunga, (mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, mountain Gahinga, mountain Sabinyo, and Muhabura) some of these peaks are shared with other east African countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are key creatures famous in the park the Golden monkeys and the mountain gorillas, these live amicably together with other forest creatures, the angelic destination was made famous during the shooting of the movie “Gorillas in the mist” and the great works of the American primatologist Dian Fossey golden monkey tracking is one of the most key activities to do while in the national park.
Golden monkeys live in the bamboo forest of the Volcanoes National Park along the foothills of the mountains situated within the national park, the golden monkeys are a subspecies of the blue monkey, and they stand out from the other species due to their color difference in the fur is coated in black and gold with cheeks that seem to always be filled with bamboo shoots as this one if their favorite food in the forest, they are considered to be the most beautiful monkeys of Africa, with the ray of cute pictures that circulate the pose for the best photos, they generally feed on bamboo shoots, leaves, and occasionally fruits of the forest, they are very beautiful, fast, and are playful they keep jumping from one branch and another and if you must take pictures it is important to set your Camera ready the golden monkey just like the mountain Gorillas has been listed to be critically endangered and few are left out there they are restricted to the Virunga ecosystem.
There are 2 habituated golden monkey troops in the Volcanoes National Park the others are believed to be in the Gishwati Mukura National Park, golden monkey tracking begins in the morning with a briefing from the park rangers, the activity does not restrict by age, tracking time takes a shorter time to reach the primates in 2-3 hours, the hike to the primates is less strenuous as they live in the bamboo forest of the national park, once you meet the primates, an hour is allowed while with them, trackers easily locate them from the food they love to eat and leftovers because of the constant movement of the primates taking a picture of them may seem challenging and hence wise to have your cameras on set, guests have the chance to get involved in the habituation process, which involves following the primates all day long for them to get used to human presence.
While considering a golden monkey tracking safari it is important to pack waterproof covers for phones and cameras, hiking boots, hand gloves, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellents, and any other items of personal nature, the park is placed in the northern part of the country and can be accessed by road from Kigali city, helicopter flights can be arranged to the destination.