Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda -- The Complete Guide
While gorilla trekking gets all the attention, Volcanoes National Park offers another primate experience that most visitors overlook: golden monkey trekking. These brilliantly coloured, fast-moving monkeys are found nowhere else in the world except the Virunga Volcanoes, and spending an hour with them in the bamboo forest is genuinely extraordinary -- and costs $100 versus $1,500 for gorillas.
What Are Golden Monkeys?
Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti) are a critically endangered species found only in the Virunga Volcanoes ecosystem across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They live in the bamboo zone of the forest at 2,500-3,000 metres altitude. They are social, fast-moving, and strikingly beautiful -- bright orange-gold patches on their backs against black fur, with vivid blue skin around their faces.
Golden Monkey Trekking vs Gorilla Trekking
- Cost: Golden monkey permit $100 vs gorilla permit $1,500
- Physical difficulty: Usually easier than gorilla trekking -- golden monkeys tend to stay in lower bamboo zones
- Group size: Maximum 8 people, same as gorillas
- Time with animals: One hour, same rule as gorillas
- Experience: Gorillas are more powerful and moving. Golden monkeys are faster, higher-energy, more playful -- a different kind of magic
- Permit availability: Far easier to book -- no months-in-advance requirement
How to Book a Golden Monkey Permit
Book through the Rwanda Development Board at rdb.rw. The permit costs $100 per person. Available most dates -- book 2-4 weeks ahead in peak season (June-September) to be safe. The briefing is at Volcanoes NP headquarters in Kinigi, same as gorilla trekking, at 7:00 AM.
What to Bring
- Waterproof hiking boots (the bamboo zone is often wet)
- Light waterproof jacket
- Camera -- golden monkeys move fast, use a fast shutter speed
- 1 litre of water minimum
- Small daypack
Combining Golden Monkeys and Gorilla Trekking
Many visitors do both on consecutive days -- gorilla trek day 1, golden monkey day 2. This is the complete Volcanoes NP primate experience. Two nights in Musanze, two extraordinary mornings in the forest. The $100 golden monkey day feels almost free compared to the gorilla permit.
Getting to Volcanoes NP requires a rental car -- 120 km from Kigali, depart by 5:00 AM for the 7:00 AM briefing. Book your Musanze rental car here.
