Volcanoes National Park is popular for the Mountain Gorillas that most visitors to park go to track. However the park has several other primates. One of them is the endangered Golden Monkeys. The Golden Monkey (cercopithecus kandti) is subspecies of the the Sykes Monkey, also known as the Blue Monkey. It is endemic to the high altitude forest of the Volcanoes National Park area. The Golden Monkey is identified by a golden-orange patch on the upper flanks and back.
Golden monkeys move in a large group called a troop. There can be as many as 100 of them in a troop. Two troops of habituated Golden Monkeys are available in Volcanoes National Park for tracking. Golden Monkey tracking is quite similar to Gorilla trekking. You need to purchase a permit at USD 100. It is advisable you purchase or book your permit in advance. On trekking day, you assemble at the park offices at about 6.30am for briefing and start the tracking by 7.00am. The trek to find the monkeys is quite an ambience with lots wildlife and beautiful sceneries to savor. The trek takes you through bamboo forest where the monkeys live. It is less strenuous compared to the gorilla trek being that they are found in the foothill of Volcanoes National Park.
The Golden Monkeys do not remain very high up in the trees. Quite often they are just above eye level. Since a troop has many members you are have a good chance for great views of quite a number of them scampering about the trees. You are allowed not more than one hour with the Monkeys.
