About the Project
This award-winning gorilla volunteer project gives you the chance to get up close and personal with captivating and endangered mountain gorillas in their natural Ugandan habitat. The work undertaken during this gorilla conservation tour is essential in bridging the gap between indigenous communities and the gorillas who share their vulnerable rainforest homes.
As a volunteer, you will not only be able to actively contribute to the ongoing protection of these incredible creatures but will also be able to experience them roaming freely in their natural habitat. Your gorilla trekking tours will take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - a sanctuary that is home to half of the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas, and the other in Mghahinga Gorilla National Park. Here you will collaborate with the local communities on reforestation efforts and will work towards educating these communities on the importance of gorilla conservation.
As well as two permit-inclusive gorilla treks, this volunteer project also includes a three-day excursion to Uganda's renowned Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you and your fellow volunteers will have the opportunity to track wild chimpanzees on a chimpanzee trek, join an unforgettable boat trip on the Kazinga Channel and accompany game drives searching for elephants, lions and other species.
Not only is this an incredible opportunity to experience the majesty of Ugandan wildlife species in all their natural splendour, but it is also a chance to make a real difference to the conservation of one of the continent's most treasured great apes.
The success of this tour, founded in 2011, was recognised and celebrated by leading travel experts and was voted as one of the most innovative eco-travel initiatives in the Guardian's Green Travel List 2011. This is the most responsible and sustainable manner in which to view endangered mountain gorillas in the wild, as the programmes that this project supports have truly remarkable positive impacts on local communities.
One of the most remarkable of these is the Kisoro Demonstration School for blind and deaf children, which this project supports financially. This school provides a safe learning environment for blind and deaf children in the area, who may not otherwise have access to effective education. We are thrilled to be able to support these children on a year by year basis, and seeing their progress each time volunteers visit is a real thrill and a privilege.
Volunteers in Uganda are essential in all the work and success of this project, as their enthusiasm and passion help to empower the local people with knowledge and strategies. Both the initiatives the project supports and the interaction of the volunteers helps greatly to bridge the gap between local communities and the endangered mountain gorillas that inhabit the same land.
Prior to Arrival
You will need to arrive into Entebbe International Airport on the start date of your project.
You will need to apply for your visa online via https://visas.immigration.go.ug/, you will require a tourist visa for entry into Uganda which costs US$50.
You will be taken to see the national parks, boat rides and game drives.
Game Drives
Join game drives in Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of various species of African wildlife. The parks offer some incredible opportunities for elephant views, lion viewing, and even the occasional leopard and hyena have been spotted!
Boat Trip
Spend an afternoon aboard a boat on the Kazinga Channel to spot large pods of hippos, incredible birdlife and occasional elephants and lions coming to drink. You will spend 2 hours out on the water, with your camera in hand, taking some of the most incredible wildlife pictures. This is a definite must for bird enthusiasts.
Two gorilla-tracking permits and one chimpanzee-tracking permit - A monetary contribution to the two charities involved in the project - Transfers to and from the airport - Full orientation and support from the project managers - Accommodation and meals as indicated.
You will need to arrive into Entebbe International Airport on the start date of your project, where they will be met by a project representative and transferred to Entebbe Airport Guesthouse for your first and final night stay.
You will be transferred back to the airport on the final day of the project.
On arrival, you will be transferred to a guesthouse in Entebbe, close to the airport where you will spend your first and final night of the project. You will be allocated a twin-share room with an en-suite bathroom.
The accommodation provided at the project base in Kisoro includes basic but comfortable twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms and mosquito nets. There is also a bar/lounge area with free Wi-Fi available.
In Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will stay in tented accommodation in the middle of the park’s wildlife. The tents are raised on platforms and have beds and electrical outlets. The Lake Mburo accommodation have their own bathrooms with bush showers and eco-toilets and the Queen Elizabeth bush lodge had a shower block and western-style toilets a short walk from the tents. Both parks offer incredible views and wildlife from the accommodation alone!
All rooms are allocated on a same-sex, twin-share basis unless travelling as a couple. Upgrades to single rooms may be available for an additional fee.
3 meals are provided a day and you have a full menu to choose from daily. Beverages (including alcoholic) are also available at the guesthouse but are not included in the cost.
Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking
Enjoy the thrill of a gorilla trekking tour on this conservation project, set in a sanctuary that is home to half of the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas.
$1498/week
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