Avoid these common mistakes when reserving permits for golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda - 1 views
started by davsafaristrip on 22 Jul 22
started by davsafaristrip on 22 Jul 22
/ Tours and travel/ Avoid these common mistakes when reserving permits for golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda
started by davsafaristrip on 22 Jul 22
Tour Company: Dav Safaris
Website: https://davsafaris.com/
Email: info@davsafaris.com
Tourists that travel to Uganda and Rwanda, particularly those who take journeys to the Virunga Mountains, frequently reserve golden monkey permits in order to observe monkeys in their natural habitat. The Golden monkeys that inhabit the Virunga Mountains resemble the Chinese snob-nosed monkeys in appearance. They frequently clamor for any attention left over from the famed mountain gorillas that live in the same area as them.
On the slopes of the Virunga Volcano, between 2,100 and 3,550 meters above sea level, bamboo (Sinarundinaria Alpina) is the main food source for these gregarious animals. Tourists come to these parts of Africa to see these tiny, endangered primates because it is the only location they can see them.
Golden monkey families that have become accustomed to humans can be seen in Mgahinga National Park in the southeast of Uganda or its neighboring Volcanoes National Park on the border with Rwanda. You will, however, require a ticked permit, also known as a golden monkey permit.
It's not easy to obtain permits for golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda, especially when you're a foreigner traveling to another continent. When trying to schedule golden monkey safaris, tourists frequently make costly blunders.
In light of that, we go through several frequent blunders to steer clear of while reserving permits for golden monkeys in Rwanda and Uganda in this piece.
Not getting ready for the experience
The golden monkey experience does include some physical effort, though it's not as demanding as trekking with gorillas. Visitors may make the error of reserving the trip in the mistaken belief that they will just stroll over to the small primates, but they actually have to climb quite a tough distance to get there.
In Volcanoes National Park, there are two golden monkey groups with between 80 and 100 individuals that can be visited, however in Mgahinga, there is only one group with a similar number of members. The bamboo forest zone of the mountains is where they live, and getting there and trying to find them entails a one-hour climb up the steep hills. It's impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy how long it will take you to go to the monkeys, so plan on taking anywhere from an 1 hour to 3 hours.
The daily treks to see the golden monkeys depart at 8:00 am and last for virtually the entire day. You will join a small group of trekkers with a trekking guide and two armed park officers at the briefing location at the park's visitor center.
To ensure you see the golden monkeys, your guide will be in radio contact with trackers on the ground. Your guide will bring you through the initial forest vegetation until you reach the bamboo zone and spot the golden monkeys. When you locate the golden monkey group, you will have exactly one hour to observe the entertaining monkeys. They might start out climbing bamboo trees and hopping around, but after a while, they'll descend to the forest floor where you can see them up close.
Not getting golden monkey permits through a booking agent
Logistics for travel are still a problem because the travel infrastructure in Uganda and Rwanda does not yet meet international standards. Making independent plans for the trip can result in costly errors.
Even though some people are capable of organizing a trip on their own, it is more advisable to work with a tour operator that can assist you with both planning your complete trip and purchasing the permission from RDB or UWA. Travel agents can handle your permits and make appropriate recommendations because they are familiar with how local service providers operate.
Your preferred trip date will often be requested by the operator, who will then look into permit availability. They will then want a copy of your passport and the cash payment required for the permit purchase. They'll book the space for you, provide you a copy of the permit, and then get to work organizing the other activities you've planned.
The main difference between booking permits for golden monkeys and gorillas is that gorillas receive more attention than golden monkeys do. As a result, it's not too difficult to find availability.
How to obtain permits for golden monkeys
Booking permits for golden monkeys depends on availability, however even during peak seasons, availability is more assured than for permits for gorillas. The online application process for Rwanda involves applicants to complete required forms, upload required files, and pay appropriate costs online. However, in order to purchase Uganda's golden monkey permits, you must go to the UWA office in Kampala.
Any application for a permit, whether submitted online or through a tour operator, must include all of your information, including a copy of your passport page, contact information (including an email address and phone number), and of course, complete payment of the fee. The system operates on the first-come, first-served principle.
Aiming higher than what the permits' provisions cover
The guided trek and ranger security are the only things that are included with the permits. Therefore, avoid making the mistake of ordering golden monkey permits thinking you'll also get lodging, food, and water.
The age requirement to purchase a golden monkey ticket is 12. Up to sixteen (16) tourists, two armed rangers, a senior tracker guide, and some porters to help you carry your kit can be in one trekking party.
Meals, snacks, porter fees, lodging, water, or anything else not specifically mentioned in the trip period are not covered by the permit.
Incorrectly ordering trekking permits for the incorrect location
In Uganda's Mgahinga National Park and Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, you can go golden monkey trekking. Additionally, both of these locations include gorilla trekking. The misconception that purchasing a gorilla permit also grants you access to the golden monkeys is one that many tourists make. It doesn't necessarily follow that you can access both with the same ticket, even though you could run into the other while trekking either of them, which would be really fantastic.
In addition, due to the presence of mountain gorillas, some tourists mistake Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a home of golden monkeys. In order to observe golden monkeys, they purchase gorilla permits. We suggest tourists to book with a tour operator so that they may receive advice on which permits to purchase and steer clear of the usual bugling error because of this.
Making a last-minute reservation may result in disappointment
It can be disappointing when you least expect it, despite the fact that only a small number of people are interested in primates and last-minute booking is frequently possible. Perhaps the only occasion you went all the way to the park without making a reservation was the only occasion the permits were unavailable.
We typically suggest our visitors to get their permits weeks in advance, particularly if they plan to see both golden monkeys and mountain gorillas on the same trip. Getting both permits for your vacation dates is quite likely if you make your reservations early.
To acquire the most recent booking details for Uganda and Rwanda permits, get in touch with our safari staff at info@davsafaris.com
Committing fraud and overpaying than advertised price
For a single trek, Ugandan and Rwandan golden monkey licenses cost $100 per person. Visitors are only permitted to watch the endangered primates for an hour under the permit. However, if you reserve a $140 per person habituation permit for the golden monkeys in Uganda, you can spend more time with them.
One can easily make the error of paying an operator more than the advertised price because golden monkey licenses are less expensive and less rare than gorilla permits. Keep in mind that only UWA and RDB are permitted to sell the permits at the quoted price, so you only pay what is stated in the advertisement.
Even in the peak of the tourist season, there are still plenty of golden monkey permits available. However, we advise booking yours sooner rather than later so that you can handle the logistics and reserve the gorilla permit for the same trip. Dav Safaris can handle all the booking requirements, including lodging and travel-related transportation.
Booking without reading the terms and conditions
A frequent error that causes tourists to complain about outcomes when they might have technically avoided them is failing to read the booking terms. When buying anything, it's customary to disregard the terms, but you should make an exception when ordering licenses for golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda.
First off, you have two years from the date of purchase to use golden monkey permits unless you reschedule no later than seven days before the visit date.
Second, you must make a complete payment when making a reservation; a partial cash deposit is not allowed.
Thirdly, each tourist must check-in at the visitor center from 7:00 am to 7:30 am with their passport, the booking reference number from their golden monkey permit, in order to validate their permit before the encounter.
Fourth, you have the option to reschedule your permits due to unanticipated events or planned itinerary modifications. However, you may do that, subject to availability, once within 12 months of the purchase or booking date, with notification, and at least seven (7) days in advance.
With Dav Safaris, obtaining permits for golden monkeys in Uganda and Rwanda is simple
With Dav Safaris, you can reserve permits for golden monkeys as well as safari travel to Uganda and Rwanda. For a perfect primates experience, we handle all the little details, including other local issues like lodging reservations, transportation plans, and other activities.
We can help you plan a special trip to the Virunga mountains where you can trek golden monkeys and mountain gorillas simultaneously.
For a free estimate and planning assistance, get in touch with our safari staff at https://davsafaris.com/contact-us