Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

The Golden Monkeys are like tree cats: curious but jumpy. While Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, they actually get pretty close to people. It’s a special experience that is perfect for those who don’t want to shell out USD 1,500 on the gorillas but also want to see primates at Volcanoes National Park. Golden Monkeys are in the bamboo forest and if you’re lucky, they may move out to the nearby potato fields as well.

Read about other things to do in Musanze, the gateway town for Volcanoes National Park,

The Basics

• Price: USD 100/pp
• Morning activity from 7am-11am (ish).
• There is only one trek a day.
• Book in advance online.
• PCR test required.

Golden Monkey Trekking Preparation

At Volcano National Park, make sure you have your covid test handy. A PCR test is required. You can’t visit without one. Rapid tests are acceptable only for nature walks. Also, bring a mask as you’ll be required to wear one during the visit.

You’ll need to show the test both at the entrance (and your driver will have to drop you off and wait unless he has one too) and at check-in.

Book well in advance at the Visit Rwanda official site. This is the only authorized site! It’s not as intense to book the Golden Monkey trekking as the gorillas but you don’t wanna miss out, so check availability before booking your accommodations/transport.

You don’t need to book with an official tour guide. There is a group for people who booked without a “driver-guide,” you just need to ask an official when the intro talk starts.

If you do this option, ask your accommodation to hire a driver (USD 60) for your transport from Musanze. You’ll need a driver not only from town to the park entrance (20 min) but then again from the entrance to the trailhead (15 min), and then back to town. There are no motos waiting for you.

The hike is very easy and the group will go as fast as the slowest person.

If you need to use the bathroom, triple-check the main entrance as there is no other bathroom option once at the trailhead. That said, the guides are carrying spades to dig up a little natural toilet for you if very necessary.

What to wear for Golden Monkey Trekking

From our experience in the dry month of July, there was no need for intense hiking boots or gators (which are recommended for gorilla trekking). It’s a little chilly in the morning so I was glad I wore 2 layers and a rain jacket. I heard it could get misty/light rain in the morning so you may want to bring a light rain jacket as I did as well.

Golden Monkey Trekking Timeline

Check-in is easy with your covid test, permit number, and passport. You can show the covid test and permit number on your phone.

Then, you’ll be able to head over for free coffee and tea. Question Coffee is served here, a social enterprise from Warren Buffett to support rural development in Rwanda.

This timeline is what your Golden Monkey trekking adventure will probably look like:

• 6:30am—  Leave the lodge in Musanze to get to Volcanoes National Park’s main entrance.
• 7am— Arrive at Volcanoes National Park and check in.
• 7:40— Get a briefing about the monkeys.
• 8ish— Transit to the trailhead in the car and then start the hike around 8:20.
• 9:10— First monkey spotted after a lovely hike through potato fields.
• 9:50ish— Leave monkeys and hike back to starting points
• 10:30— Leave the park and drive back to town

The Golden Monkeys started off in the bamboo forest. We saw them jumping around.

Then, they moved out into the nearby potato field! This was such a funky experience. Our guide says this usually happens during visits.

About Golden Monkeys

The monkeys were smaller than I expected. Think of a fat house cat with a long tail and you’ll get somewhat close to the size of a Golden Monkey. They weigh just around 15kg.

The female Golden Monkeys are red-ish in color whereas the males are gray and a little larger. The female Golden Monkeys are very protective of their babies and it’ll be quite hard to spot a baby.

Volcanoes National Park has three troops of Golden Monkeys. The troop we visited had around 120 Golden Monkeys in it, 10 of which are large males. Other males return in the rainy season to mate.

Golden Monkeys have some predators like feral dogs from the surrounding villages and even eagles who swoop up the babies!

There is a 45 min limit on your Golden Monkeys trekking time for conservation purposes that starts once the first monkey is spotted.

I had at least 2 monkeys come super close to me!

Tipping your guides and porter

It is expected you tip the porters and trackers.

Porters: There are helpers to help carry your backpack. This is totally unnecessary in my opinion since the hike is so short (walking and time). However, these helpers rely on tips. The minimum tip is USD 10 for this. Before you reach the monkeys, you must take your bag off anyway. We didn’t use a porter.

Trackers: There are 8 guides that go ahead of the tour group to find the monkeys. We tipped a total of USD 10 (5 each for the 2 of us).

Extras: are some souvenir shops at the trailhead, if you wanna shop.

Got any questions about Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park? Let me know in the comments!