There are so many trips on my bucket list that include visits to the natural habitats of animals. One that I was recently able to check off was Rwanda’s Golden Monkeys. These endangered creatures are only found in Africa and are lovingly protected by rangers that patrol the mountains. Since 1000 Shades of Green Tour and Safari Company was my choice for my encounter with Rwanda’s Gorillas, it made sense that I’d chose them for this one as well.
My group met with a ranger who briefed us on the dos and don’ts of trekking up to see the monkeys. Again, mostly it was for the monkey’s protection, which is how it should be. A bit more elusive than the gorillas, it took us a bit longer to find them. Once we did we were thrilled by the size of the family we came upon.
As they often eat leaves, fruits, and bamboo most of them were in the trees. They are not shy so we were able to get quite close for pictures. I was fascinated to find that their teeth were very human like and it seemed that they liked being photographed!
Mostly reddish in color, their features are petite. I found they make pretty funny facial expressions that I learned later was a way of communicating with each other. (Probably wondering what these funny looking animals were doing pointing eyeballs at them!)
One of the larger males delighted us by jumping to the ground to eat a grub, another of their favorites. He was cheeky, situating himself among some vines so clear pictures were hard to capture.
We caught a few babies traversing a tree limb that spanned about 5 feet and connected to another tree. Some were unsure if they’d make it and turned back while others were fearless and ran across. Honestly it was a delight watching them.
All too soon it was time to go. It’s amazing how fast an hour flies by when you’re doing something fun. As we trekked out we noticed a small group of the monkeys following us. The ranger asked if any of us had food in our packs and sure enough one of the trekkers had bananas! Luckily there were no thieves in the monkey troop! (For more pictures of these cute little guys click here.)
This encounter added to my amazing time in Rwanda. The country is full of lush rainforests, mountains, and beautiful animals and people. I would highly recommend any of the safaris or trekking tours that 1000 Shades of Green Tour and Safari Company offers. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable with unmatched service but they do great things with conservation and awareness for Rwanda and her inhabitants, both animal and human, that call her home.
Have you been on a Golden Monkey trekking adventure? Share your adventures with us!
For more information or to book a tour:
1000 Shades of Green Tour and Safari Company
P.O.Box: 21142
Kampala, Uganda
Plot 11 Portal Avenue, Adam House
Website: http://www.gogreensafari.com/
Skype: Morgan1825
Email: info@gogreensafari.com
Phone: +256 414597306
Mobile: +256 711788272 ,+256 704357042
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