Golden Monkeys

Many travelers in Africa’s Virunga Mountains visit expressly to spend time with the region’s famous gorillas. But another Virunga primate adventure awaits visitors in the Virunga Heartland: trekking the golden monkey, a subspecies of blue monkey found only in the bamboo forests of the volcanic mountain chain that forms a part of the boundary between Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC. It’s a natural history experience that anyone planning to trek gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda should consider.

The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) weighs 10-25 pounds and has a golden body, cheeks, and tail with contrasting black limbs, crown, and tail-end. Little is presently known about the ecological requirements of the golden monkey, and the subspecies population numbers have never been determined. Sharing the lofty montane forests of the Virungas with its great ape relatives, this primate faces some of the same threats as gorillas, including snares set for small antelopes, human encroachment, and people entering their habitat to collect wood.

Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades, guided groups of hikers make their way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence and will show themselves to a group of humans. Though viewing is typically kept to a maximum of an hour, travelers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers.

Two groups of golden monkeys have been habituated – one in Volcanoes National Park and the other in Mgahinga National Park – and tourists now have the chance to see another endangered primate in its natural habitat. The benefits of this habituation project are threefold. First, researchers are able to learn more about a little-known species so that measures can be taken to better protect it. Second, tourists are able to observe another rare primate in its native habitat. And, finally, this relatively new adventure will bring more tourists to this region and encourage others to extend their stay. The economic and conservation benefits to the national park, the local community and, in the long term, the monkeys are clear.