Duties

Volunteers will engage in a wide variety of activities as part of the project, involving themselves with the local community and supporting areas of conservation, tree planting, aiding in the education of the people living around the national parks and of course, taking part in 2 (quite literally) breathtaking treks to see the beautiful mountain Gorillas.

Volunteers can expect to take part in the following:
• Two Gorilla Treks, one with Ian Redmond
• One Chimpanzee trek
• Assist in a pedal powered film session to educate remote schools and communities.
• Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and in Mgahinga National Park.
• Tree planting and nursery bed work with the local community.

• A trip to National park to see the children you have enabled to visit the national park alongside the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda
• A visit to the honey bee keeping project.
• A four day visit to Queen Elizabeth national park.
• A boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.

The role of the volunteer is a supporting one, to inspire and encourage a will of the locals that already exists, of the importance of preserving Gorilla habitats and how the survival of the Gorillas can ultimately help improve their daily lives and how they can protect the environment they both share.

Itinerary

For a detailed itinerary please click below:

The Great Gorilla Project with Ian Redmond itinerary

What Makes this Project Great

In June 2011 we ran the first of Ian Redmond's 'The Great Gorilla Project' voluntour in Uganda. The success of the tour was picked up by experts in travel and was voted as one of the most innovative ecotravel initiatives in the Guardian's Green Travel List 2011. (Guardian - UK leading newspaper). Back by popular demand, we are proud to yet again welcome celebrity conservationist Ian Redmond back to Uganda to lead our Great Gorilla Project.

With The Gorilla Organization:
Last year, over 10,000 people in Uganda witnessed the amazing BBC and National Geographic wildlife documentaries through pedal powered cinema. Travellers will leave the tour with a sense of global responsibility knowing that the cost of their wildlife holiday helped educate thousands of children about gorillas and that they were in the thick of the action, making the difference.

We are calling on all wildlife travellers to be part of this experience and help us use conservation films to bridge the gap between local people and gorillas who share the same vulnerable rainforest habitats. It also provides an Ian Redmond’s insight into the gorilla treks, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity to understand the world of gorilla conservation from someone that worked so closely with Dian Fossey.

FAQs

What is the currency:
As the project is mainly based in Kisoro the volunteers need to use Ugandan shillings. There is a place to exchange at the airport that is even open through the night and gives an ok exchange rate. Banks in Kisoro town can also exchange in emergency but can be tricky to find a time when anyone is available for foreign currency exchange.
How much money will I need to take with me?
How much you take with you will depend on what you do in your spare time, but £250 should suffice.

What is the food like?
The food is delicious and in both of the areas you will stay there is a good range on offer. When in Kisoro the guesthouse does amazing things with cooking on fires and even manage to make pizzas for those craving a bit of western food! The local mixed vegetables and beans is yum! Obviously the more western dishes are slightly more expensive but overall food is very reasonable.
Where does my donation go?
Straight to the local community groups who are engaged in regular conservation projects and to pay for the materials used to build the infrastructure for the community (trees for planting, materials for nursery planting bed etc.).

What do I do if someone is begging?
Please do not give directly to children or adults who beg. Great efforts are being made to wipe out begging from Uganda and the communities in Kisoro have done a great job, you will hardly notice any there, but please do not ruin the great work they have done by even giving a gift to one of the children directly. They are trying to teach the younger generations to work out of poverty and earn a better life for themselves; therefore proper structures are in place for you to give to the children and communities but through the right channels like giving to the school so it can be handed out amongst the children in the proper fashion. If in doubt ask your project leader.

Should I take offence at being called “Muzungu”?
No. It is a term that people in Uganda use to refer to white people, it is not meant in a racist sense, it is just an observation, and way of greeting. Bear in mind they also call cute Ugandan babies “mzungu” as a term of beauty and endearment.

For more FAQs please see our FAQ section here

Reviews

Absolutely fantastic experience, volunteering on The Great Mountain Gorilla Project. I loved every aspect of our 2 weeks including both work and social activities. The itinerary was excellent, it was so varied. I really enjoyed volunteering for a project that combined wildlife and the community.
We were so well looked after from the moment we landed in Uganda, definitely a project I would recommend!
Emily Clarke (2011)

It’s been such an amazing experience to be part of this project. The friendly enthusiastic on site staff made me feel so welcome. The itinerary was really well thought out with something interesting and meaningful to do every day.
I really felt the project design of promoting wildlife conservation through hands on community involvement was really effective and makes me feel hopeful that the gorillas and locals have a sustainable future together.
Please keep this truly GREAT project running!
Alexandra Turnbull (2011)

Important Information

Accomodation:
In Entebbe: Here you will be staying for your first night in a lovely guest house in a quiet road off the main road through Entebbe, a few minutes drive from the airport. Clean beds with mosquito nets and a great breakfast provided. Based on 2 sharing.
In Kisoro: Basic accommodation just outside Kisoro, offers a cosy stay for tourists, who come to see the endangered mountain gorilla.

In Queen Elizabeth: Here you will be staying in shared rooms and there will be shared shower and toilet facilities, this hostel is right in the middle of all the wild life, be warned; the warthogs will try to steal your dinner!
Community Guest House in Kisoro: Accommodation at the project base is much more basic; this is a community guesthouse and is much more African in feel. Rooms are very basic, based on twin share, with mosquito nets. Most rooms have now been outfitted with en suite bathrooms./

Visas:
Ugandan visas are issued at the Missions/Embassies abroad and also at the Entry/Exit Points such as Entebbe airport. Ugandan visas are required by the citizens of the European Union, the USA and Japan. Not required by nationals of many African countries, Bahamas, Seychelles, Jamaica, Mauritius, Madagascar, Italy (only Diplomatic Passports), Cyprus. Other nationals should check. A valid passport is mandatory in all cases. Must have enough leafs for visa stamping and monitoring. For a stay not exceeding 6 months, the single-entry visa fee is US$30.

What's Included:
• All volunteer activities
• Accommodation
• Food
• All Transfers and transport
• 2 gorilla trekking permits
• 1 chimpanzee trekking permit

What's Not Included:
• Flights
• Visas
• Vaccines
• Insurance
• Bar bills
• Personal insurance

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