Golden Monkeys Trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park + Photos
We spent our first morning in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park trekking to see golden monkeys. The day before, we had an unsuccessful Chimpanzee trek, so we hoped for better wildlife sightings.
Luckily, it didn’t take long to realize this would be a magical day with our furry little friends! Under the watchful eye of the park rangers and trackers, our group spent 45 minutes with Golden Monkeys, watching babies cling to their mothers’ chests, juveniles run around as if they’d had too much coffee, and others look at us humans with immense curiosity.
If you’re looking for a less expensive and less strenuous wildlife encounter in Rwanda, this is a really fun tour to take. However, I’m sure many readers don’t have a Rwanda trip on the books (though it is worth it), so I hope you enjoy the photos from our monkey day!
Trekking to see Golden Monkeys in Rwanda
Our day started pretty early near the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. After a great breakfast, we loaded up the SUVs and headed northeast towards Kinigi and Volcanoes National Park.
Once we arrived at the national park staging location, we met with a park ranger who would serve as our guide. After a quick debrief about the day, we piled back into our Safari-Style Land Cruisers for the 10-minute drive.
Book a tour to see golden monkeys in Rwanda
On the Ground to Visit with Golden Monkeys
A unique aspect of Rwanda and Volcanoes National Park is how farmland juts up directly against the national park boundaries. This means we have to walk through farms (a lot of potatoes) to reach the monkeys.
It’s a bit strange at first, with people out working and us gallivanting around, but you eventually get past the weirdness.
We would have reached the monkeys much sooner, but we came across a couple of chameleons on the vines and fences along the path. Our group was enamored with them. I mean, they’re super cute, so how could you not be? We each took turns holding one and letting it walk on our hands.
We crossed a wooden bridge 45 minutes into the hike, marking the end of farmland and the beginning of the bamboo forest. Just a few minutes later, we connected with the trackers (they stay with the monkeys throughout the day), donned our masks, and began the final approach to the monkeys.
Golden Monkeys of Rwanda
Our group entered an open, grassy area and put down our bags. One by one, almost as if instructed, the monkeys came out to play around us. At least one mom had a baby clinging to her chest, while plenty of others ran around and played. It was truly incredible.
While these are wild animals, they are habituated to a degree. This means they are quite comfortable being around humans and getting close – but not too close. Though I do think we had a couple of cases where they came within 6 inches of a few of us.
The biggest takeaway was how darn cute they are! Their chubby, furry faces, bright yellow/orange eyes, and orange chests were captivating. How they moved and interacted with their comrades was incredibly playful and fun to watch!
After 45-ish minutes with them, it was time to head out. Looking back, I’m not sure if that’s the allotted time you get with them or if our group had places to be and we left sooner than usual. Granted, after that much time, I’m not sure what else we would get to see. It’s not like they are going to go hunt or showcase a new skill before us.
So, while it was somewhat fast, I had no qualms about the experience and how it all went.
Easy Booking: Expedia.com | Hotels.com | VRBO | Booking.com | Airbnb.com
Need Gear: Find Gear at REI
Find Awesome Tours: Viator.com or GetYourGuide.com
First time here? Stay in touch by following on IG: @Alecoutside and my newsletter
Iceland on your bucket list? Get my Iceland guide + 144 pinned locations on Google Maps
Please stay safe out there and follow Leave No Trace principles as best you can.
Tips for photographing Golden Monkeys
First, yes, you do want to bring a nice camera on your Golden Monkeys trek. Will a phone work? Sure. But if you have a camera, bring it. You won’t be disappointed with the wildlife photography.
I used a Sony A9III with a 400 f/2.8, along with a Canon R5 and 100-500 f/4.5-7.1. This is a unique setup, as the 400 is likely overkill. But I had it for our safari in Akagera National Park, so I figured why not bring it along! I also had the Canon’s variable zoom lens to capture wider shots if I needed it.
If you’re in a similar geographic layout as us, a 100-400 would be just fine. I’d also suggest 70-200 for this. Could you go wider? Yes, but the monkeys may not be that close, and a little more zoom will help.
Photos from my day with Golden Monkeys
FAQ For Visiting the Golden Monkeys in Rwanda
The trek costs $100 per person, making it one of Rwanda’s most affordable tours. This includes a park guide, but does not include a tip or hiring a porter. (Both of these are less than $10 each.)
The entire trek can last anywhere from 2-4 hours, though you are limited on how long you can actually spend with them – similar to gorilla trekking. For us, we started walking around 9am, reached the monkeys at 10am, and were on our way out at 10:50am. However, we arrived at the national park staging location at 8:30am.
Yes! I thought it was a fun trek to see them, and if you’re going all the way to Rwanda, you might as well experience as much as possible! They’re super adorable and come close, so you’ll have great photo and video opportunities.
For our trek, it was an easy walk to reach the group of Golden Monkeys. We walked up a gentle incline through farmland before entering the forest to see them. While the ground is uneven, it’s not a difficult walk and most people with basic fitness can do it.
You’ll spend 45-60 minutes with them. It’s not a long time, but after a certain point, the monkeys won’t do much else. It takes 25-30 minutes to walk, though we stopped for a while to look at chameleons.
Yes. Wearing masks helps decrease the transmission rates of illness from humans to monkeys. Wearing them is our small part in keeping them healthy.
Since this isn’t a long or strenuous day, you don’t need to bring much. Make sure you have a rain jacket (you’re in the mountains), water and snacks, your camera, a hat, sunblock, and bug repellent. You’ll also want hiking boots, as the monkeys aren’t always easy to find and you may have to go farther into the forest.
It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali to Kinigi. It’s a lot of winding, hilly roads, so drive carefully.
5,000 Rwandan francs is a bit below $3.50 USD. Because we were with the tourism board, we stopped at places that took credit cards. But at other places, you might have to pay in local currency. I suggest bringing about $250 USD and converting it to local currency. We did this on our layover in Brussels.
Rwanda Lodging Options Near Kinigi
If you need lodging suggestions, click here or browse the map below.
Final Thoughts on the Golden Monkey Trek and why it’s worth it
If you’re looking for a worthwhile experience in Rwanda, see the Golden Monkeys. They’re rare and endangered, so while you get to see them in person, you’re also supporting their conservation and protection.
It’s a fun time; they’re super cute and friendly, and you’ll come back with some really great photos and memories.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
Follow on social media: TikTok || Instagram || Facebook || Newsletter | YouTube