The Virunga massifs that comprise of various volcanic ranges have been set as a gazette of Virunga Conservation Area by interstates of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The area is covered by the National Parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga in Democratic Republic of Congo, commonly known for Congo Gorilla Safaris Tours.

Not only are these areas known for the populations of mountain gorillas which have formed the base for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo, the Virunga area is also known for sheltering the rare and endangered golden monkeys that only exist in this area which have also formed the basis for golden monkey tracking.

The golden monkeys are descendants of ancestral monkeys and belong to the group of primates. They are endowed with stunning golden skins and unique nose structure which always leave travelers on safari in Rwanda who wish to do golden monkey tracking in state of happiness.

The golden monkeys dwell mostly in the bamboo zone on the slopes of these volcanic highlands which are slightly easy to reach than some of the gorilla families that dwell in the higher slopes of Karisimbi which tend to pose a challenge to those trekking gorillas in Rwanda .

The golden monkey tracking is well developed in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park and the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

In Rwanda it starts at the Park headquarters – Kinigi at 08:00am and tend to go for 4 hours. It can be done alongside Rwanda gorilla tracking , Dian Fossey hiking, Karisimbi mountain climbing, Twin lakes walk, caves walk or can be incorporated in the general Rwanda safari tour alongside Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park and Wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.